Deciding what to wear on your holiday in the evening is easy if you pack pieces you can dress up or down for different occasions.
Credits: Left to Right-Roman/Matalan/V by Very/Oliver Bonas
The summer holiday season is upon us, and there is no better time to start brainstorming holiday outfit ideas!
Deciding what to pack can be stressful, and many of us throw a load of clothes into a suitcase and hope for the best. More clothes do not always translate into more options, and planning your holiday outfits means you won’t run out of things to wear.
For inspiration on what to wear on holiday in the evening, the Style Cadet has hand-selected 13 pieces to get inspired by.
Style Hacks For Holiday Evening Outfits
When putting together your holiday wardrobe, there are a few things to consider to make your clothes work smarter, not harder. Follow these style hacks to make choosing what to wear on holiday in the evening a piece of cake.
Create A Capsule Wardrobe
If you like to buy new clothes for your holiday, embracing a capsule wardrobe approach to your outfits is a great way to save money, as it requires fewer pieces.
Versatility
Packing pieces such as a black dress that can be dressed up or down for special occasions means you are ready for any last-minute holiday parties.
Choose A Lightweight Fabric
Clothing made of lighter fabrics takes up less space in your suitcase which is ideal in the age of cabin bag restrictions. Lighter materials, including linen, cotton and silk, will help keep you cool on hot holiday nights. Add a jumper or denim jacket for an extra layer on chillier evenings,
Plan Your Outfits
If you are going on a week-long holiday, packing a different item of clothing and pair of shoes for each day is not necessary. Select a mix of neutrals and block-coloured pieces, and test how many outfits you can make from them.
Pack Crease Proof Clothes
Unless guaranteed access to an iron, taking items that easily crease will be a pain in the neck. Choose wrinkle-free materials such as denim, silk and lace instead.
Don’t Forget Accessories
Accessories such as a statement necklace, a sequin bag or a belt can change the entire look of an outfit. Take your favourite pieces to enhance your evening look.
Don’t Take All Your Make-Up
Most of us welcome the opportunity to go barefaced as much as possible on holiday, so you can get away with taking a minimal amount of make-up.
Save space by packing multi-purpose products such as a lip and cheek tint, and a palette that includes eye shadow, blush and bronzer.
What To Wear On Holiday In The Evening: 13 Must-Have Pieces
After a day at the beach or chilling around the pool, getting ready to hit the town is a highlight for many of us.
Whether you are off for a relaxing dinner with your significant other or plan to spend all night on the dance floor with your close friends, the Style Cadet has hand-picked 12 stunning pieces.
1. A Sundress
A sundress is a staple piece dressed up or down, and a midi or maxi dress is the perfect choice for a timeless look. A sundress works well as day wear or for more relaxed occasions such as dinner or drinks at a beachside bar.
How To Style a Sundress For The Evening
Style a sundress with a pair of non-chunky sandals in neutral colours such as tan, white, or black, and add a pair of statement earrings and a sequin bag. To elevate the look further, wear a pair of strappy heels in gold or silver.
2. A Co-Ord
Co-ords are stylish and comfortable, and available to buy with shorts or trousers.
How To A Style Co-ord For The Evening
Pair a co-ord with heels and a statement bag, and alternate the top and bottom with different pieces throughout your trip.
3. Tailored Shorts
A pair of tailored shorts screams sophistication, and choosing a pair in a neutral colour, such as black or beige, is a great option.
How to Style Tailored Shorts For The Evening
There are many ways to style a pair of tailored shorts; for an elegant look, wear a crisp white linen shirt, gold hoops, strappy sandals and finish with a belt to bring the look together.
You can also style them with a bodysuit or a waistcoat in a matching colour; the options are endless here.
4. A Black Dress
Black dresses are the perfect example of less is more and one of the most hardworking pieces in our wardrobe. The block colour is a perfect blank canvas to style in many ways. If you are ever stuck on what to wear on holiday in the evening, wearing a black dress will never fail.
How to Style a Black Dress For The Evening
Select a length and neckline to suit your preference, and you can experiment with different styles, such as strapless, halter, or balloon sleeves.
Style a midi or maxi black dress with a pair of wedges or block heels, and the neutral black allows more freedom with shoe colour.
If you have opted for a shorter black dress, pair it with slingback kitten heels, a fun bag, and finish with a blazer if a bit chilly. Applying bold red lipstick always compliments the timeless look of a black dress.
5. Printed Trousers
A pair of printed trousers injects fun into an outfit and is the perfect choice to step out of your comfort zone. There are many prints to choose from, and leopard, dots, stripes and floral are some popular options.
A pair of printed wide-leg trousers in lightweight fabrics, such as silk, will keep you cool and stylish on a humid evening.
How to Style Printed Trousers For The Evening
When working with a busy pattern, it’s best to pair with basics in neutral colours, such as shirts, tank tops and camisoles, to avoid your outfit looking too much A sleeveless bodysuit looks great with a pair of printed trousers, and add heels and statement jewellery for the perfect evening look.
6. Denim Shorts
Are you even on holiday if you haven’t taken a pair of denim shorts? For many, they are the first thing we pack and a well-loved item that requires minimal effort to style.
Denim shorts go with nearly everything and remain a staple in our holiday wardrobes year after year.
How to Style Denim Shorts For The Evening
Mid-length to cutoff shorts are popular styles, but choose a pair that suits you and you feel comfortable wearing.
A white shirt tucked into a pair of denim shorts is a match made in heaven, paired with sandals, gold hoops and a stylish bag for an effortlessly chic look.
You can also pair denim with a graphic t-shirt, halterneck top or wear a crop top with a blazer and heels for a high-fashion feel.
7. Maxi Skirt
Maxi skirts are a trend that is here to stay and a great versatile piece to pack in your suitcase. If you want to rock the Boho-chic look on your holiday, a maxi skirt is a must-have.
How to Style a Maxi Skirt For The Evening
For a put-together look, match the colour of your maxi skirt to the colour of your top.
Style a long black satin skirt with a crop black tank top, and gold ballet flats, for a chic evening look, or go full Boho with a maxi gypsy skirt and a ruffled off-the-shoulder top.
8. The ‘Wow’ Dress
Many of us allocate an evening on our holiday where we go all out, either for an expensive dinner or a date night at a rooftop bar. As holiday plans can change, packing something special is always a good idea.
How to Style the ‘Wow’ Dress For The Evening
Choose a dress that makes you feel like a million bucks; that’s it, no notes.
9. Wide Leg Trousers
Wide-leg trousers are chic, flattering and the go-to style for many of us.
How to Style the Wide Leg Trousers For The Evening
The key to styling wide-leg trousers is to balance the silhouette by wearing a more fitted top like a tank top or body suit. A white line shirt tucked in looks great with wide-leg trousers and heels, gold hoops and a belt for the finishing touch.
10. Sandals
During the day, we often opt for practicality over style, and all day on a sandy beach requires durable footwear. You can switch it up in the evening with strappy or slip-on sandals to elevate your outfit.
How to Style Flat Sandals For The Evening
Choose sandals in neutral colours like black or tan that go with more of your outfits, and you can also wear during the day. If you prefer to wear flats over heels but still want to look stylish, select a pair of sandals in gold or silver.
11. Heels
Taking an outfit from day to night is as easy as slipping on a pair of heels, and that’s why we love them so much.
How to Style Heels For The Evening
Let’s face it; not everyone is comfortable in sky-high heels, so the best way is to choose a style you feel comfortable in.
Whether you prefer a stiletto, block or kitten heel, remember that neutral colours such as black, white and silver are more versatile, but feel free to pack an additional statement colour pair for more options.
12. Bag
A bag is one of the unsung heroes in the accessories world, with the power to instantly elevate an outfit.
How To Style a Bag For The Evening
It is a good idea to pack at least two bags for your evening outfits, a neutral option in black or brown to go with your more colourful pieces, and a sequin or metallic one for a contemporary look.
13. Statement Earrings
Statement earrings are versatile pieces that do what they say on the tin; they make an impact, and there is a perfect pair to suit everyone.
How to Style Statement Earrings For The Evening
With this style, less is more, and statement earrings are more effective worn without other pieces of jewellery.
The key to holiday style is versatility, so choose pieces you can mix and match to suit multiple occasions. If you were undecided on what to wear on holiday in the evening, we hope our 12 selected pieces inspired you.
Enjoy your time away; you deserve it.
