Resort Wear Trends 2016

While many of the international fashion houses produce resort wear collections for the wealthy, jet setting, yacht cruising clientele, we in the Caribbean are fortunate to live in a climate in which we could enjoy resort wear, all year round. As a result of this, resort wear has become a staple in our closets, and is incorporated in our everyday life.

Whether it’s an all-inclusive fete; jazz festival or an art and cultural event that is on the calendar, you can be sure that there will be a heavy resort wear presence. In light of this, I’ve decided to bring to you the top seven Resort Wear trends for 2016.

K a f t a n F e v e r Let’s just call 2016 the year of the kaftan.

Kaftans are trending in a big way right now and they are perfect for the Caribbean.

This weightless, airy, elegant shift lends itself beautifully to cool island breezes, while the _ owing nature of the garment mimics the breaking waves of the Caribbean Sea. A huge part of the allure of the Kaftan is the way it seems to flatter all body types, as the large amounts of cloth used in kaftan design does wonders for hiding a multitude of issues we may not want to emphasise.

Tr o p i c a l P r i n t s

The use of tropical prints in fashion design is another trend that is dominating Resort Wear this year. Resort wear collections of yesteryear saw a heavy Mediterranean influence, as the elite gravitated towards destinations such as the South of France, Spain, Italy and Greece. In recent times, however, there has been an exodus to the Caribbean, as more and more people are discovering the beauty and mystery of our islands. Tropical prints then, reflect this shift.

A l l “ W h i t e ” L o n g

If you’re an avid follower of this column (and I know most of you are), you’ll know that there’s nothing I like more than an all-white event, full of beautiful, fashionable out_ ts.

Well it seems that international fashion houses are on the same page, as all white designs were a hot commodity on the Resort Wear runways this year.

This trend “falls right in our garden” (to use a colloquial saying) since our local promoters are as in love with the idea of an all-white ensemble as am I.

T h e B e a u t y o f B l u s h

The Pantone Fashion Colour Report 2016 advises that this year’s colour palette is calming.

The report goes on to observe that the colours are used as vehicles to “transport wearers to more tranquil environs which encourage relaxation”. In fact, the report’s top two colours, “Rose Quartz” and “Serenity” do just that.

Taking their cue from this, designers are proving that “Blush”, which also has a calming effect on the senses, is the colour of choice for 2016 resort wear collections.

T h e “ B e l l ” o f t h e B a l l

Colour Report 2016 advises that this year’s colour palette is calming.

The report goes on to observe that the colours are used as vehicles to “transport wearers to more tranquil environs which encourage relaxation”. In fact, the report’s top two colours, “Rose Quartz” and “Serenity” do just that.

Taking their cue from this, designers are proving that “Blush”, which also has a calming effect on the senses, is the colour of choice for 2016 resort wear collections.

B l a c k & W h i t e S t r i p e s

The Yacht life is an integral and fundamental part of Resort Wear.

Because of this, nautical stripes of navy and white have always played a significant role in resort wear collections. This year, however, designers are putting a new spin on an old staple by placing the emphasis on black and white stripes. The result of this is classic, timeless, fresh and chic.

C o l o u r B l o c k i n g
Colour blocking is a trend that has been ebbing and _ owing through different eras in the history of fashion. 2016 has revamped it with a burst of vivid bright, bold offerings. Again, designers seem to have taken their cues from this year’s Pantone Fashion Colour Report which suggests that some of its top colours reflect a “contrast of urban design and lush vegetation leading to unexpected colour combinations”.

I would like to proffer however, that these colours reflect the excitement, and sheer abandon that one feels when visiting the Caribbean.

T h e “ B e l l ” o f t h e B a l l

When one thinks of “bell” as a fashion trend, one’s mind is immediately transported back to the ‘70s, when bell bottoms, bell tops, bell everything for that matter was the rave. Believe it or not, this trend is back, and back with a bang, or shall I say bell? What propels it from the ‘70s to this decade, however, is the lightening of the fabric used in this year’s resort collections. The heavy androgynous feel of yesteryear has been replaced by weightless whimsy, all lending itself to a Caribbean get away.

In closing, I’d like to reiterate the fortunate position in which we find ourselves in the Caribbean. We live where others vacation. In this way, resort wear is an escalating trend for many of us, becoming more a closet prerequisite than a style option. As a result, there has been tremendous focus on producing resort wear collections by our local and regional designers, all infusing elements that are unique to the Caribbean. In light of this, shouldn’t we all “resort” to resort wear?