We’ve all been there: Your upcoming vacation sneaks up on you, and suddenly you’re staring at an empty suitcase wondering what to pack.
For warm-weather trips, a few breathable, lightweight pieces will get you through beach days and dining without requiring a swap after your midday siesta. Adaptable items like linen shirts and chinos are all it takes to travel light and still look put together.
This flexible strategy works for any getaway, whether you’re packing for your honeymoon or a weekend away with the guys. Read on to learn the ins and outs of resort wear for men, from packing tips to outfit inspiration you’ll want to jot down.
How To Pack for a Resort: 2 Simple Tips
Here are a couple of tips to remember when choosing and packing for your next holiday.
The 3-3-3 Rule
Packing for a trip doesn’t have to mean stuffing your carry-on until it bursts. The 3-3-3 rule keeps your bag light while still covering you for beach afternoons, poolside lunches, and nightlife exploration.
Here’s how it works: Pack three tops, three bottoms, and three pairs of shoes — that’s it. This gives you 27 outfit combinations to work with. Just make sure to stick to one color palette so everything mixes and matches easily.
If you’re heading on a five-day trip, here’s what you could pack using the 3-3-3 rule:
- Tops: Linen shirt, cotton polo, lightweight button-up
- Bottoms: Linen pants, swim trunks, shorts
- Shoes: Sandals, loafers, sneakers
These nine pieces create a variety of outfits that look great and keep you comfortable on vacation.
Pick Vacation-Ready Fabrics
For a resort vacation, pack fabrics built for warm weather. Materials that are lightweight and breathable keep you comfortable and confident throughout outdoor activities and coastal dinners.
Here are a few fabrics to consider:
- Linen is breezy, breathable, and stylish — a go-to for hot climates.
- Cotton wicks moisture and holds up well for casual and slightly dressier looks.
- Seersucker is textured and airy. The soft crinkles lift the material off your skin and improve air circulation.
- Performance fabric is wrinkle-resistant and ideal for daytime excursion. It also packs down small, so it doesn’t take up much space.
Men’s Vacation Outfits for Every Part of the Trip
These outfits will take you from morning to night any day of your trip.
Poolside and Beach Days
Start with swim shorts. Choose a tailored fit — slimmer, shorter cuts look more put together than baggy trunks. Now, layer a linen or camp-collar shirt over a plain tee, and leave the buttons undone. Finish with sandals you can slip on and off easily.
Look for shirts made of linen, cotton, and lightweight nylon. These fabrics hold up well against sun and water without feeling too heavy.
Golf and Daytime Excursions
Breathable performance polos wick away sweat and keep you comfortable in the heat. Look for CHILLFLEX styles for the best temperature control. These pieces are built with cooling tech and UV protection. Pair your performance shirt with chino shorts and casual sneakers for a stylish, simple look that’s easy to throw on.
For daytime activities, stick to neutral tones like navy, khaki, and white. This keeps the outfit looking clean and bright.
Pro tip: Avoid denim. This material looks great, but it’s heavy, hot, and better suited for cool climates.
Casual Evenings Out
For dinner or drinks, swap the tee for a relaxed linen shirt or a knit polo, and trade the shorts for tailored linen pants. Loafers or espadrilles finish the look and are comfortable enough to walk and dance in. This combination elevates your aesthetic to smart casual while still using your 3-3-3 essentials.
If the evening calls for something a little dressier, an unstructured blazer is a great pick. Layer it over the same outfit to instantly make it feel more intentional.
Upscale Resort Dinners
Even when you’re on vacation, you can’t wear shorts and sandals every night. Resort restaurants typically expect guests to put in a little more effort, but that doesn’t mean you have to trade comfort for looking stuffy and overdressed.
A linen or seersucker sport coat is your best bet for pulling a nice outfit together without adding bulk or getting too hot. Wear this coat over a loose linen or cotton dress shirt, and complete the outfit with tailored linen pants and loafers.
As for colors, avoid dark pieces and stick to soft pastels and neutral tones. Sand, light blue, and sea green are great choices. Gentle, pale colors fit a vacation vibe and a more elegant setting.
Pro tip: You can usually leave the tie at home. Skipping this accessory helps you look more like you’re heading out for some fun than to the boardroom.
The Best Shoes For Resorts
You don’t need a suitcase full of shoes to cover a resort vacation. If you’re following the 3-3-3 rule, pick a few from these options:
- Espadrilles are great for daytime wear and casual evenings, especially with shorts or linen pants.
- Leather loafers are the right call to dress up simple outfits for dinners and nights on the town.
- White sneakers are versatile enough for daytime activities and nights out.
- Sandals fit the pool and the beach, but they’re typically not appropriate for dinner.
Add Smart Accessories
Accessories are an excellent way to take basic resort outfits up a notch.
Retro sunglasses like classic aviators or wayfarers add a little polish to almost anything, whether you’re poolside or heading to lunch. A water-resistant watch is another easy win because it holds up through pool days and still looks sharp at dinner. It also saves space because you don’t have to pack a separate dress watch.
A woven Panama hat or thin bucket hat handles sun protection while giving casual outfits some texture, and they pair just as well with swim shorts as they do with pants. For sightseeing, you can’t go wrong with a classic baseball cap.
If you’re the type to carry a few things with you, a canvas or leather tote works for the beach and excursions. It’s appropriate for most places because it strikes a good aesthetic balance — it isn’t overly fancy, but it isn’t a casual duffle or gym bag either.
Another accessory worth packing is an understated belt in a neutral tone. Use this to finish outfits with linen pants or shorts. You can also pack some simple jewelry to add visual interest to any look. Try minimalist leather cuffs or small chain necklaces.
Find Resort Wear at Men’s Wearhouse
A good travel wardrobe comes down to a handful of pieces that know how to work overtime. When your linen shirt looks just as good at dinner as it does on the beach, you’ll spend less time digging through your suitcase and more time enjoying your vacation.
Visit Men’s Wearhouse to build a few perfect outfits for your next getaway. Our in-store experts will help you find what you need, from linen pants to leather sandals, and make sure they fit perfectly.
Visit Men’s Wearhouse’s website or drop by your local store. We’ll keep you looking sharp from day one to the plane trip home.
FAQ
Does Linen Wrinkle Too Much for Travel?
Linen wrinkles, but it’s generally accepted as part of this fabric’s relaxed, vacation-ready look. If you’d rather minimize creasing, look for garments made of linen-cotton or linen-spandex blends, which resist wrinkles better and still keep you cool. Cotton gauze is another fabric that gives you a similar look and wrinkles less.
How Do I Keep Resort Wear From Wrinkling in my Suitcase?
Prevent wrinkles by rolling items instead of folding them as you pack. This keeps your clothing in tip-top shape and also saves a bit of space. For delicate fabrics, pack the garments in plastic dry cleaning bags. This helps the fabric slide around and wrinkle less.
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