The Newest Resort Wear Fashion Trends from Haute Couture for Hot Weather Wear You Can Wear Now   

Although the resort/cruise season has come and gone (it’s generally at the beginning of the new year), trends from the 2017 collections have made their appearance in the last couple of months, with a bigger impact than ever before. Why? Because although originally the cruise season was designed for high-end customers who vacationed in exotic, exclusive places during the chilly winter months, these collections have now evolved to reach a customer base invested in maintaining a fashionable wardrobe 365 days of the year. 

Sensational, International Showcases for Collections

The ascent of the cruise/resort wear movement in fashion was particularly evidenced in the 2017 collections which have become buzzy, extravagant events specifically crafted to echo beyond the fashion world. In other words, resort wear now has status and appeal beyond the one-percenters.

Thus, Chanel, the season opener, delivered precisely the sort of major event that would be seen by many, even if only on the web: creative mastermind Karl Lagerfeld inaugurated the season by inviting 700+ guests on a cruise that docked in Havana, Cuba, and then the fashion house provided a spectacular show with 86 outfits for women, men and even children. Showcasing one of the most luxurious brands in the world on Communist soil served as a fascinating juxtaposition that underlined the emergence of a new relationship between the U.S. and Cuba – and also between a new customer base and the creative world of high fashion.

Other major fashion houses executed shows of the same scale with a similar kind of offbeat/splashy tone: House Dior’s Resort 2017 collection was held in Blenheim Palace, a location previously used for Dior couture collections in the 1950’s, while Louis Vuitton launched its collection in Rio de Janeiro at the Niterói Contemporary Art Museum, a utopian structure in the home of the 2016 Olympics.

And of course, in practical terms, beyond the lavish production of the shows, the season also provided a platform that allows fashion-lovers to stay on trend in the warmer months of the year. To that end, SharpHeels has evaluated the most talked-about collections and identified influential trends of the season, divided into two categories: the expected and unexpected. (Because let’s face it, we all have preconceptions about resort/cruise collections, and it’s possible that some fashionistas may try to be more pragmatic when it comes to investing in wardrobes and staying on trend, and thus miss out on the newest developments.) We hope that such preconceptions are about to change!

Delivering the Expected, In Gorgeous Terms

What we expected: 

• Florals and prints: Of course! After all, resort wear is, by definition, apparel for a sunny, easygoing climate, and once you start packing for your trip, it’s time to put away the dark colors that characterized your winter and fall wardrobe anyway. A standout: Erdem incorporated flowers in print or appliqué to dresses and separates with lovely, light, pliable fabrics that allow the body to breathe and move even when covered head-to-toe.
• Sportswear: The resort season is perhaps one of the few times of the year when major fashion houses can dedicate a majority of their creative efforts to sportswear. A big revenue driver for many brands, sportswear is also one of the more accessible and relatable iterations of high fashion. DKNY, a brand known for its adept exploration of this style, did not disappoint in delivering a wide array of options for women to wear in the hot summer months. Even Fendi and Louis Vuitton explored more casual themes and fabrics this season. (In fact, such was the importance given to this trend that Vuitton’s Met Gala muses were dressed in fabrics and styles inspired by athletic wear!)  Lastly, although color-blocking is common in these styles, we observed a major use of all-white in numerous collections as well.
• Maxis and Caftans: The word “resort” is arguably synonymous with “comfort in the heat,” and there is truly nothing more comfortable than a maxi dress or caftan.  You can wear these to the beach, on vacation, or while meandering around a busy city. What this season taught us is that when it comes to making a choice about a single item, especially a boho-inspired one, a woman can add as many patterns and colors as she likes.

The Unexpected: The Casual, Versatile Vibe of T-Shirts, plus Leopard Prints & Eye-Catching Texture

• Leopard Prints: One of the surprises of the season was the predominant use of the leopard print. From coats and pants to accessories and handbags, there are plenty of ways to incorporate this usually-only-seen-in-cold-weather trend into your wardrobe. (Since, actually, leopards in the wild exist in the hot savannahs of Africa.) Pair an item with black capris and slinky sandals for a perfect look.
• T-shirts: The style and designs of major fashion houses are typically synonymous with that of luxury products. Thus, you are forgiven if you did not expect to see t-shirts on this year’s runway. Gucci incorporated its iconic logo and stripes onto white tee’s. What is exciting for women is that t-shirts are an inexpensive way to adopt this summer trend. Find a luxury item in your closet, and pair it with a casual t-shirt you can buy from more affordable vendors such as H&M, Urban Outfitters or Zara.
• Sweaters and Layering: Whether you’re spending your summer at the beach or at home, it’s always important to keep a sweater handy for those breezy summer evenings or leisurely days indoors next to an air conditioner blasting its chilly comfort. But what surprised us this season was the prevalence of these items: Christian Dior, Christopher Kane and Gucci were some of the design houses that explored cruise styles via sweaters. Additionally, hot temperatures were clearly not a literal — or, rather direct — inspiration for this year’s collections, since House Dior completed several looks with colorful vests, while other major designers added heavy coats to their collections.
• Embellishment and Texture: Cruise-wear is typically the place where designers mostly experiment with prints or color-blocking. Nevertheless, the 2017 resort season featured embellishments and details characteristic of couture collections: items rich in sequence and appliqué graced the runways of Christian Dior, Gucci and many others.

The introduction of resort/cruise collections in the early 2000s has revolutionized the world of fashion, allowing luxury brands to expand their customer base to that of non-jet-setters! Whether you’ll be traveling during the remaining hot months, or enjoying the scorching summer climate in your city, if ever there was a time to modernize your wardrobe with exquisite new options, it’s now.