Travel details: key resortwear trends

For Her

Short shorts

2024 is the year to genuflect at the altar of the thigh, with short shorts strutting their skimpy stuff on many runways. From versatile, sporty twin-sets to pairing them with edgy tailoring or just a simple polo shirt, short shorts will be your go-to summer getup.

Vintage-style bikinis

There seems to be a new fist of bikini start-ups infiltrating our inboxes each week. They’re super marketable, and loved by influencers. Among the morass of brands, a vintage trend is floating to the top, harking back to the ’60s and ’70s and Côte D’Azur glamour. Sommer Swim has to be one of our faves – if not for the product, then the campaign imagery.

The white maxi

Leave your florals in the wardrobe and opt for angelic white maxi dresses this season. Floor sweepers, crochet dreams, and barely-there spaghetti straps are this summer’s essential shapes, all set to a pristine white palette. Accessorise with vibrant pops of colour.

Polo shirts and rugby tops

Borrowed from the boys or neatly fitted to the feminine form, the polo shirt and rugby top are must-haves this season. Sporty, sexy, and so easy to style out with short shorts, they are both perfectly proportioned packages of preppiness. Team with a linen blazer and wide-leg trousers for a vintage look, or pair with some short Daisy Dukes for a riff on classic Americana.

For Him

Crochet

Yes, you read that right. Crochet is in for summer 24 – specifically crocheted short-sleeve shirts, long-sleeve tees and shorts. Numerous fashion brands were getting in on the knitted act, from Fendi to Casablanca via Marine Serre. Crochet tops are perfect for beach days, although they might wreak havoc with your even tan. 

Tropical tastes

Bold florals are always a great way to make a summer statement, and this season designers were going big on the tropical motifs thanks to oversized flora and fauna prints and patterns. Shirts and swim shorts are a fun medium to express the trend when it comes to the bright stuff, but also be on the lookout for more subtle motifs, such as the shirts with delicate floral embellishments seen at Dolce & Gabbana.

Flashes of neon

Whether it was slashes of acid green or crescents of fluorescent yellow, elements of neon were sporadically woven throughout the summer 24 runways. The good thing about this trend is that you can dip a toe in and still make a strong statement. Use a neon tee as a base to layer with a short-sleeve shirt, or opt for subtle DayGlo accessories to make your ’fits pop.

Vested interests

From Valentino and Ferragamo to Dolce & Gabbana and Burberry, the vest was doing the rounds in more elevated social circles during the various summer fashion weeks, with silky numbers worn with tailoring, to more traditional styles worn beneath crochet shirts. There is one caveat for the wearing of a vest: a good physique, but you’ve plenty of time to put in the gym hours between now and vacation time. No excuses. 

Ryan Thompson is a UK-based menswear and lifestyle writer, whose work has appeared in, among others, the Financial Times, Mr Porter, The Rake and Ape to Gentleman