Holiday wardrobe 2025: How to pack light, look luxe, and own every resort moment

What to wear on a holiday: Printed and silk kaftans are perfect over swimwear by the day and can be elevated with a belt or statement earrings for evening. (Images: Navvi)

As the holiday season rolls in, thoughts of long, lazy seaside escapes begin to take over, and style feels as effortless as the ocean breeze. But a polished resort wardrobe isn’t just about throwing a few beachy pieces into a suitcase. It’s about building a smart, versatile capsule that lets you glide from poolside lounging to sunset cocktails without any fuss.

Light-weight, high on style

Modern resort wear has evolved into a blend of relaxed glamour and functional elegance, and the coming season captures that spirit beautifully. As the story of contemporary resort wear goes, flowy kaftans, sleek co-ords, and breezy shirt dresses take centre stage. They offer a quiet sophistication while keeping comfort non-negotiable.

Printed and silk kaftansare perfect over swimwear by the day and can be elevated with a belt or statement earrings for evening, recommends Vidhi, Co-Founder of fashion brand Navvi. She tells Moneycontrol, “Co-ords, such as kaftan-style tops with flared pants, create polished yet breathable looks. Relaxed-fit shirt dresses offer easy daytime styling for resort strolls. To elevate these classics, belt a kaftan for structure, mix and match co-ords by pairing tops with neutral linens or bottoms with solid tanks, and use cover-ups creatively by transitioning oversized shirts or kaftans from poolside to dinner with jewellery and sandals.”

It’s the kind of styling that registers instantly on Instagram without looking overly curated.

Colour coded

This season’s mood leans heavily toward soft neutrals like sand, cream, olive, and ivory paired with muted florals and artistic prints to add personality. These tones are appearing across kaftans, co-ords, palazzos, and maxi silhouettes, creating a cohesive palette that photographs beautifully against sea, sky, and sunlit stone. To keep the vibe refined, use light layering: delicate necklaces, sculptural earrings, or a silk scarf tied loosely around the neck.

Packing light is all about strategy and a thoughtful holiday wardrobe isn’t about excess; it’s about intention. A capsule of two kaftans, two co-ord bottoms, three tops, and one fitted dress can take you through an entire vacation without repeating a look. Vidhi maps out the new wave of vacation dressing and recommends, “Silhouettes are leaning toward maxi lengths, wide-leg palazzos, fluid kaftans, and breezy co-ords, perfect for warm climates. For a curated holiday wardrobe, start with neutral staples like a beige kaftan or cream co-ord — and add one or two printed statement pieces. Mix silhouettes for balance with kaftans for evenings, co-ords for outings, and shirt dresses for daytime.”

Style hacks to pack for holidays

1.   The secret lies in reusability like styling a co-ord top as a swim cover-up, pair a printed kaftan with metallic sandals for dinner, or transform an oversized shirt into a beach layer by day and a chic overshirt by night.

2.   Accessories are your best friends when you’re trying to stretch a small wardrobe into endless looks. Raffia totes, woven clutches, oversized sunglasses, metallic or leather sandals, and bold resort jewellery instantly lift even the simplest silhouettes.

3.   Lightweight scarves or pareos pull double and triple duty as cover-ups, headwraps, or layered accents. Pack fewer pieces, choose smarter silhouettes, embrace breezy fabrics, and let your accessories work overtime.