It-Girl Secrets to Being the Best Dressed on Vacation

Have you ever thought about why It girls always seem to look impossibly stylish on vacation? It’s actually rather simple: In addition to possessing a natural fashion savvy, these ladies are constantly traversing the globe for work and play, and they have the well-worn passport books to prove it. The sheer volume of travel is like a master class in the art of jet-setting. Accordingly, a sartorial vacation standard has been established among this stylish set, one Dodo Bar Or dress and Marysia bikini at a time.But just what are their secrets for acing a vacation look? I was able to get the inside story from some of the top fashion influencers themselves on a trip with

But just what are their secrets for acing a vacation look? I was able to get the inside story from some of the top fashion influencers themselves on a trip with MatchesFashion.com to Miami Swim Week. Among a backdrop of palm trees and aqua water, I learned the best vacation style tips from top fashion influencers Evangelie Smyrniotaki of Style Heroine, Tina Leung of Tina Loves, and Carmen Hamilton of The Chronicles of Her. The best news? There are plenty of takeaways that we can all adopt for our next tropical escape.

Scroll down for your vacation style playbook straight from three of fashion’s favorite It girls.

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Isabel Marant is one of the best brands to bring on vacation, especially the jumpsuits. I also love Eres.” — Evangeline Smyrniotaki

Marysia Swim bikinis are super easy, extremely comfortable, and great for tanning. I also pretty much love everything from Lisa Marie Fernandez. Easy sandals from K. Jacques and Castañer are summer appropriate yet still classy. Figue has great raffia bags in all shapes and sizes. Perfect for vacation!” — Tina Leung

Zimmermann has nailed the resort chic. It’s really beautiful with the details and the lace, and I’m not just saying that because it is Australian! I’m also a big fan of Marysia Swim. One of my favorite bikinis I’ve had for about three years is by her, and it’s really flattering. Another brand I really love is She Made Me.” — Carmen Hamilton

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“I think it’s better to pack one-pieces like dresses and jumpsuits to make it easier. You wear a dress, and you are ready. You don’t have to think about pairing a top and a bottom.” — Evangeline Smyrniotaki

“I rely on dresses on holidays because it’s less to pack. A dress is an outfit in itself. You don’t have to spend time pairing things together.” — Carmen Hamilton

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“I really love high-waisted bikinis with a cute little top.” — Carmen Hamilton

“The one-shoulder one-piece is on trend, and it’s great because you can wear it as a top also. They’re so chic.” — Evangeline Smyrniotaki

“I feel like everyone is bringing back the one-piece these days. There’s now a one-piece to suit everyone.” — Tina Leung

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“One-pieces can double as bustiers and be worn with high-waisted cutoff denim shorts during the day and long skirts for the evening. Bikini tops are fine as long as they’re more structured and supportive. A great high-waisted, solid-colored bikini would also look lovely for the evening under a sheer or mesh dress.” — Tina Leung

“If you’re going to wear a swimsuit as a top, make sure the texture is good, and it’s not too shiny. Wear it with a nice pant and go straight into the evening.” — Evangeline Smyrniotaki

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“I always take wardrobe staples. I make sure I’ve got a few fail-safe outfits like a good pair of jeans, denim cutoffs, some nice T-shirts, a white linen shirt, and then at least one pretty dress. That’s the foundation. Then, you can build on that.” — Carmen Hamilton

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“If you’re top heavy, you’ll need something a little more supportive obviously. If you’d like to emphasize the top, then a swimsuit with ruffles or an asymmetric cut brings attention to that area. As for the bottom, I find a smaller triangle cut is actually more flattering than having too much fabric down there.” — Tina Leung

“I like high-waisted because they’re flattering. They make your legs look longer and your waist look tinier. It’s a great illusion.” — Evangeline Smyrniotaki

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“White on white is always great for vacation. Pair it with a pair of quirky or fun sunglasses. You can give your look personality through the accessories.” — Carmen Hamilton

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“Never forget to put on sunscreen, because sunburned tan lines do not match any look!” — Tina Leung

“If I’m sunbathing, I’ll go for strapless to avoid tan lines.” — Carmen Hamilton

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“I always roll my clothing in my suitcase. Don’t fold. There’s a lot of wasted space when you fold things. When you roll them up really tightly, you can get a lot more in. Plus when you pull them out, they don’t have prominent creases.” — Carmen Hamilton

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“Of course, you can wear flip-flops on the beach. But I don’t like it in the city or for going out. Instead, do sandals!” — Evangeline Smyrniotaki

“I either go for sandals or slides. A pool slide is great. Armani is doing some chic black ones at the moment.” — Carmen Hamilton

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What’s your favorite brand to wear on vacation? Let us know in the comments below!

Editor in Chief

Kat Collings has over 15 years of experience in the editorial fashion space, largely in digital publishing. She currently leads the vision for editorial content at WhoWhatWear.com as the site's editor in chief, having risen through the editorial ranks after joining the company in 2012. Collings is a Digiday Future Leader Awards nominee, was named Buzzfeed's best fashion Instagram accounts of the year, and is a member of the CFDA Awards Fashion Guild. Prior to Who What Wear, Collings worked on styling projects for brands such as Vogue, Teen Vogue, Lucky, and Oliver Peoples. She graduated from UCLA with a BA in communications and calls Los Angeles home.