Your Beach Holiday Dressing Guide

Resort wear is my jam — I live for planning a holiday wardrobe and pore over images of breezy dresses and sandals in the depth of winter. This is somewhat ironic, given I’m not exactly the most relaxed person on holiday. In fact, my husband has coined the term “Holiday Marisa” for when I get slightly stressed when we’re away, and I’m pretty sure he doesn’t mean that as a term of endearment! It does take me a while to unwind as I’m a routine mum/person through and through… but it’s nothing a few Spritzes (and a few meltdowns) can’t fix.

While Holiday Marisa might be slightly neurotic, I can assure you her wardrobe is not. When I’m near the beach and don’t have the daily grind of laundry/meal prep to deal with, I’m suddenly a person who wears a red lip during the day, switches from a statement earring to a chunky necklace from day to night, and who isn’t opposed to an outfit change or five to take me from beach to bar. I just love the freedom that comes with getting dressed on holidays, and taking advantage of all the accessories on offer — hats!, sarongs!, sunglasses!, totes!, jewellery! — always seems like a real treat.

Australia has some of the very best resort wear on offer at the moment — Matteau, Alemais, SIR, Peony, Venroy, to name a few — and you can take your pick from seasonal prints or clean neutrals depending on your beach style. I personally love a mix of the two, and can’t wait to get my hands on some new pieces before the summer holidays roll around.

If you’re in holiday mode, or plan to be soon, let this be your shopping guide for a very stylish start to the new season. And if, like me, it takes you a while to unwind when you’re away… try a red lip and statement earring, it helps a little, I promise.