What to Wear in Bali: Your Comprehensive (and Stylish) Guide

last updated 23 July 2020

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There's no denying that Bali is a magical place, but heading to a foreign island that's completely on the other side of the world can be quite stressful as far as your packing situation goes. I recently visited the island myself and was wary of what kinds of essentials I should be packing. After spending an incredible week exploring, I can confidently pass along my short but necessary list of what to wear in Bali.

Most of the items ahead won't come as a shock to you—swimsuits, sandals, the works—but, of course, we took those and added our own fashion-girl spin. Here, you'll be able to shop the coolest sunglasses, most colorful swimsuits, and more, all fit for your most stylish Bali vacation ever.

Go on to find out what to wear in Bali, and shop our picks for each essential.

Colorful Swimsuits

Solid & Striped

The Nina Belted Ribbed Stretch-Knit Swimsuit

Available in sizes XS to L. For Bali, we suggest taking your swimwear game to the next level with bright colors and prints. After all, you are vacationing somewhere tropical.

BooHoo

Halter Neck Bikini Top

Available in sizes 16 to 24.

Peony

Citrus Ruffle Crop

Peony Citrus Ruffle Crop ($89) and Citrus Ruffle Pants ($89)Available in sizes 6 to 14.

Cool Sunglasses

Adam Selman x Le Specs

The Last Lolita Sunglasses

Since your daily look will mainly consist of a bikini and some sandals, make sure your eyewear really pops. Opt for forward shapes and striking colors over your go-to neutral pairs.

Krewe

Conti Zulu Polarized 24k

Illesteva

Vinyl Sunglasses in Mint

Wide Straw Hat

Lola Hats for FP

Cross My Heart Straw Hat

There's no denying the power of the sun in Bali, so a wide-brim hat is very necessary. You'll appreciate the protection while hiking through rice fields, playing with monkeys, visiting temples, and, of course, lounging by the beach.

Lack of Color

Palm Canyon

J.Crew

Wide-Brim Packable Straw Hat

Flat Sandals

Loeffler Randall

Birdie Rickrack-Trimmed Suede Slides

Available in sizes 5 to 11.The majority of your days will consist of trekking back and forth from the beach, walking through temples, and exploring local markets, meaning heels are an absolute no. However, that doesn't mean you have to wear flip-flops. We suggest a fun pair of flat slides.

Parme Marin

V Pair

Available in sizes 35 to 38.

Everlane

Flat Leather Sandals

Available in sizes 5 to 11.

Lightweight Dress

Zara

Striped and Embroidered Tunic

Available in sizes XS to L.A versatile, lightweight dress will be more convenient than you realize during your time in Bali. Throw it on over your swimsuit, dress it up for dinner, or wear it while sightseeing.

March 11

Namibia Embroidered Dress

Available in sizes S to M.

Violeta by Mango

Linen-Blend Shirt Dress

Available in sizes 10 to 18.

Festive Beach Bag

Nannacay

Maldives Medium Pompom-Embellished Woven Raffia Tote

Carry around your necessities in style with a fun raffia tote. They are lightweight, won't create heat against your body when you carry one on your arm, and won't get ruined by the sand that's bound to creep inside.

Pitusa

Multi Straw Tote Bag

Warehouse

Straw Tote Bag

Next up, find out how fashion girls will be wearing plaid this winter.

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Lauren Eggertsen is currently the editorial director of Who What Wear and has worked at the company for over eight years, where she started as an associate editor and has since worked her way up. Lauren has over 10 years of experience in the fashion editorial space, starting her career with internships at Marc Jacobs, Marie Claire, and The Zoe Report, where she was later hired as their editorial assistant. Lauren has worked in the Los Angeles and New York Who What Wear offices but currently calls L.A. home. It is here where she leads and manages Who What Wear's fashion team and oversees all day-to-day editorial content and large tentpole moments. This includes all of the runway, trend, and shopping-driven content that ultimately helps to build a strong brand reputation within the industry. Lauren's role also includes helping to set the fashion direction for all original photo shoots and often styles many of the celebrity cover shoots, including big names like Kaia Gerber, Normani, and Kristen Stewart.

She has also attended multiple fashion weeks, including New York, London, Milan, and Paris, where her personal style has been featured on sites such as Vogue, Harpers Bazaar, and Elle. She prides herself on discovering and supporting small brands and on her knack for a good vintage shopping find. When she isn't working, she enjoys researching and dining at reputable restaurants around both her neighborhood and the globe.