When the weather starts warming as it is now, we may dream of some tropical get-a-way. For those of us fortunate enough to get a one or two week vacation it means supplementing our Spring and Summer wardrobe. Or even as was the case for me this Spring break, where circumstances meant a stay-cation, at least that means more in the budget for Spring/Summer essentials. Yes, even if the only palm you will be lounging near is the potted palm tree 
on the patio, a quick fashion pick-me-up can be well within the budget.
…As long as I am reveling in Mittyesque day dreams of some tropical locale, why not take a fashion inspiration from those who could own a private tropical island. Designers of resort wear, (or cruise wear), once upon a time solely catered to the wealthy. This elite group would “winter” in warmer locations or perhaps take a winter cruise on the Mediterranean or Caribbean seas. This inter-season clothing was designed to be easily portable and lightweight and included warm weather casual looks as well as evening wear.
Resort collections availability in stores fall sometime around November, between the Autumn/Winter and the Spring/Summer lines availability. Today’s resort clothing lines are marketed at a range of price points. Resort wear can be found in affordable brands like the Gap as well as pricier options like Dior. The collections usually incorporate at least some nautical inspirations or warm weather themes such as prints and motifs featuring the flora and fauna of tropical climes.
If you are actually not going on holiday but just dreaming about it, you can still ‘shop ahead’ while waiting out the cool weather. Looks include more than Hawaiian prints, swimsuits and open-toed shoes but clothing for all occasions and incorporate trends that are forerunners of the Spring/Summer collections. Below are photos of celebrities and other jet-setters sporting higher-end resort wear pieces.
Aside from the nautical themes and tropical prints, key looks included in the resort 2104 collections include lace, crochet and needle work, cropped tops, denim and wide-legged trousers. Michelle Dockery in Erdem Resort 2014, Lupita Nyong’o in Peter Pilotto Resort 2014, Keira Knightley in Mary Katrantzou Resort 2014, Rihanna in Stella McCartney Resort 2014 modified, wear floral and print looks. Gwyneth Paltrow in Saint Laurent Resort 2014, Bar Refaeli in Michael Kors Resort 2014, are pretty in lace. Victoria Beckham in Chloe Resort 2014, Selena Gomez in BCBG Max Azria Resort look chic in wide-legged trousers. A gallery featuring more resort wear celebrity fashion follows.
Resort Collection Pieces
