We may not be ready to travel yet, but there are still ways to trick yourself into holiday mode without needing to get your passport stamped. For me, that means putting on a transporting soundtrack of armchair-travel music, mixing up a summery cocktail (Aperol spritz, Pimm’s cup, or a simple but always-refreshing G&T) and the final touch: dressing for the occasion.
The saying goes “you should dress for the job you want,” but I say you should dress for the holiday you dream of being on, and I’m usually thinking of somewhere by the water, sun-dappled and drenched in color–think the South of France, Morocco and Sri Lanka (seen above). Here are my suggestions for what to wear to jet off on a mental vacation. *Awkward posing brought to you by: I really don’t care for taking my photo.
Fillyboo
Lots of lush embroidery, tassels and flowing nebulous fabrics make up this ultra-femme and folksy line. Based out of Australia but finished off in Indonesia where artisans crochet and stitch the final touches, I feel transported to an exotic island the instant I’m draped in one of their soft tops or button-up maxis–the latter of which I particularly enjoy for their ability to be worn as either a dress or a duster. fillyboo.com
Zalxndra
Linen is the official holiday fabric. Put me in a linen anything and I’ll immediately check out. I want to live in linen. Turn that linen into a relaxed shift dress embellished with hand-sewn embroidery and as far as I’m concerned you’ve hit the holiday-wear jackpot. I particularly love this Dubai-based brand’s pieces, dyed in gorgeous saturated hues and decorated with Ukrainian vyshyvanka embroidery. zalxndra.com
Camilla
While Fillyboo conjures up a casual, folksy island vibe, Camilla (another Australian label) makes me think of super-vibey beach escapes like Mykonos and Ibiza or gypset hotspots like Tulum—or, as I did above, you can still rock silken Aladdin pants while trawling temples. It helps that many of the collections are inspired by destinations, and with bold printed silks and lots of sparkles on maxis, minis, kimonos, playsuits and wide-leg trousers, they innately make you feel like you’re somewhere special. camilla.com
Caroline Constas
These easy-breezy pieces in lightweight fabrics with pastel-toned stripes, ruffles, floral patterns and off-the-shoulder silhouettes refine the holiday vibe, making you feel as though you could be stepping on to a yacht in the Hamptons, Palm Beach or a European riviera (even if you’re only stepping on to your balcony). Coming from a NYC-based designer, this chic holiday turn makes sense, and is probably best paired with a crisp glass of rosé. carolineconstas.com
& don’t forget to accessorize
Whether home or abroad, I am nearly always accompanied by a safari-style tote from Very Troubled Child (that is paired with a matching carry-on bag when traveling). Another must-have is a pair of Moroccan-style babouche slippers. I’ve got… a lot. And while they look right at home when trawling bazaars or kicking back at a resort, I opt to wear them everywhere, all the time (so cute, so comfy). I found the hand-painted ones here in Riad El Caftan in Marrakech (look out for an upcoming post on where to shop in that retail-therapy paradise), but you can find plenty of babouche-looking mule varieties at high-street shops, too. verytroubledchild.com
TRAVELAUREL 