I went to San Jose del Cabo in Baja Mexico with my daughter to scope out hotels and restaurants for her wedding there. My weather app said it would be 75 degrees so I brought along jeans and long-sleeved tops thinking it might get chilly in the evening. Was I ever wrong? From the moment I got there, I was sweating like a pig.
The weather may have been mild but there was some humidity and I wished I had brought flowing cotton dresses, or at least some shorts. I brought one dress with me that wasn’t cotton, and wore it each of the four days we were there. I also took along my Alembika two-piece tunic and punto pants to take some photos and I was glad I did.
We went back to San Jose del Cabo for the wedding, and I made sure to wear clothes that were cool and breezy.
Natural fabrics breathe
If you are going on vacation to a resort in Mexico, Hawaii, the Caribbean, or the tropics, I suggest leaving your jeans, jackets, and anything polyester at home. Stick to cotton, poplin, silk, or linen. That’s why I love wearing flowy dresses because you can feel the breeze coming up from underneath.
Sundresses rule!
As women over 50 who may not have a perfect figure, like most of us, opt for loose sleeves and midi or maxi length dresses if you don’t want to show off flabby arms or gnarly knees.
I also suggest that you avoid shapeless dresses, pant outfits, and caftans if you have bulges you want to hide. They only make you look larger.
The next question is where to find resort and summer wear that will fit and look flattering for older women. I have several suggestions below.
This pretty sundress is available on Amazon and comes in a variety of colors. It’s comfy and cool.
The Somerset Maxi Dress Cutwork Edition by Anthropology.
Chicos Ruffle Neck Tiered Dress.
Shorts are always appropriate
This Kirundo summer dress on Amazon has a rick rack design and comes in several colors.
For the evening try this jumpsuit
Jumpsuits are classy and flattering as they present a monotone and slimming look. This BTFBM Jumpsuit on Amazon is a knockout and comes in many colors.
Bring your swimsuit
Lands’End has quality swimsuits that will last. This one is chlorine-resistant, has tummy control, and will make you look slim.
Lands’ End Women’s SlenderSuit Tummy Control Chlorine Resistant V-Neck Wrap One Piece Suit
This is a gorgeous swimsuit cover by SocialLA on Amazon. I love the crochet and it comes in several colors.
You will do a lot of walking
San Jose del Cabo has many flights of stairs that descend from the resort down to the beach and not many elevators. Climbing them can be challenging if you are older. You may not want to wear sneakers if you are wearing a dress, but I would caution you about wearing flat flip-flops and certainly heels. The last thing you want to do is fly out of them and take a tumble.
I suggest strapped sandals or espadrilles with some support on the bottom. You may end up doing a lot of walking and don’t want your ankles to wear out.
These Patos sandals by Tory Burch as divine.
I also love these Ipanema Women’s Sandals because they have a back strap to keep you from falling out of them. No one wants to fall during vacation.
Watch my Ipanema Product review video – available on Amazon, here.
Beach bags
A chic beach bag is lovely and perfect for warm weather but may be difficult to pack. I opted for a small crossbody bag that only held my essentials. However, if you are planning beach outings and need room for sunscreen, snacks and your water bottle, a stylish straw basket bag is perfect.
Check out this adorable Mercedes Salazar handbag at Revolve.
Or these cool bags:
Protect yourself from the sun
Another thing you want to bring long on your resort vacation is a wide-brimmed sunhat. I was surprised at how much the sun beat down on my head in Mexico. If you don’t want to bring one along on the airplane, there are plenty available at tourist shops but may be overpriced. Madewell makes straw hats that are packable.
Don’t forget your sunglasses and sunscreen!
I love these Felt Cute shades from Quay.
Or, these.
Marcia Brinkley says
This is all good advice. I’ve lived on Hawaii Island year round and have found anything polyester will turn me into a sweaty mess. Natural fibers, as you said, are comfortable in the tropics, but I also like rayon voile, which is a semisynthetic fabric. A good source is https://www.blueginger.com/, Blue Ginger is a made-in-Hawaii Company. I feel like I’m wearing nothing when I wear rayon voile. Vacationers should also consider bringing a sun-protective coverup or wrap, along with the hat you wisely suggested. We are close to the equator here so the rays of the sun are stronger than on the mainland.
Rebecca Forstadt-Olkowski says
Hi Marcia, Thanks for the recommendation of rayon voile. That is so good to know. I also believe that sun protection is super important and there are some clothing that is made especially for that.