Travel and Clothing

What is resort and cruise wear? While times have changed resort and cruise wear is still an important part of a fashion houses calendar. Resort and cruise wear  originally was meant for wealthy customers and jet-setters who escaped the winter months for warmer climates. Therefore the resort and cruise wear collections usually have light and airy clothing suited to tropical climates .

If you are a history or old movie buff like myself , you will be aware of the traditional "Grand Tour ". While reserved for the leisure set, the Grand tour  was a vacation where young men and women traveled Europe to receive an education on Art , Culture and the roots of Western civilisation .Most noteworthy is that these tours usually were to Southern France, Italy , and Greece . If you have seen the film "A  Room With a View" it is a great depiction of the "Grand Tour" , if not I highly recommend  it.

The Grand tour was the first travel for leisure. In one incarnation or another the idea of a Grand tour lasts until today. How many young people set off to Europe right after high school . Since the Grand tour as such no longer exists , its influence still does . Therefore  the Grand tour still influences the destinations tourists choose. Hence it shapes the ideas of culture and sophistication that surround the act of travel. While travel is still often seen as the folly of the rich and famous , all desire travel and it is now commonplace.

Resort and Cruise Wear

Resort and cruise wear is clothing worn, while traveling and on vacation. Especially relevant is travel to warm climates .While it began as a trend for elites and socialites , resort and cruise wear is now marketed to all. High end boutiques , department stores , and designers all market resort wear. Often department stores have a special department that carries their resort and cruise wear . Most of all these departments stock these items off-season meaning that during the cold winter months you can still buy your vacation fashions.

While mid-season collections (resort/cruise wear) have changed and you can see anything from fur coats to leather pants. While these shows are mid-season , I am interested here in looking at resort and cruise wear , in the traditional sense of clothes intended for holidays.

Vintage influences on Modern Resort and Cruise Wear

I love vintage clothing , and have studied costume history and worked as a costume designer. While the resort and cruise wear of today follows modern trends I often see a throw back to the heyday of holiday and vacation wear. Since the  greatest time of travel in the 20th century is debatable, I look to the 1930's as the time the popularity of travel exploded. While still an expensive proposition travel for leisure or tourism grew with the increase of technology. The first commercial airliners  arrived in the 1940's and both air travel and leisure cruise lines have grown  in popularity ever since . Hence the growth of specific clothing for vacationing has grown also.

Furthermore it was only in the 1930s that resort and beach wear became a specific , widely available and heavily marketed clothing category , both at couture and ready-to-wear levels.

Resort and Cruise Wear Today Has Vintage Influences

The above images show 1930s resort and cruise wear. The influences from the past are still a big part of resort and cruise wear today. The elements of  bold patterns and stripes , light and airy fabrics , and loose and flowing cuts are part of the  past and present.

Hence plazzo pants , caftans and loose long skirts are as common today in resort and cruise wear as they were in the past. The bold patterns and stripes are a signature of leisure wear today. As shown in the images above we see stripes, polka dots and bold florals.

Plazzo Pants Then and Now

 Plazzo pants or as they were referred to in the 1930s beach pajamas are still a very common look today. We have many options today for pants in resort wear culottes, wide legged pants , gauzy pants and jumpsuits. All these are based on the 1930s beach pajamas. These popular looks are perfect for resort and cruise  travel today. 

Light Weight Airy Dresses Inspired by 1930s

The 1930s, is the first time that resort and cruise wear was available to the masses. Therefore some standards were set that still hold today. Long loose-fitting dresses were  as popular then as they are now . While planning your vacation wardrobe consider the climate , occasions and length of stay. 

Formal Wear for Vacations and Cruises

While vacations are a  time to relax , they are also a time to dress up and enjoy . As we are all fashionistas here we can agree that Evening wear is fun. The 1930s was a great time for travel many new cruiseliners were launching and the great hotels were in full swing. To indulge in travel and these fine hotels patrons were required to "DRESS THE PART". 

Resort and Cruise Wear In Conclusion

Resort and cruise wear should be fun to buy and wear. Vacations are important times to all of us and we all want to look our best . I love to  to see people looking good .Since cruises often involve formal nights and dressing up I  hope you get some ideas from tis post have a great vacation Ciao for now Jandrew