What’s the Difference Between Cruise and Summer Clothes?

Skippy and I had a conversation last week before she left for Mexico that quite a few of our ladies have since asked about, so I figured I would share it here.

“Hel — what’s the difference between resort wear and summer clothes? I can’t quite figure it out.”

And you know what? Most people don’t really see the difference but there is one.

“Cruise” and “resort” are interchangeable words in the fashion world. The main difference between a cruise (or resort) collection and a summer collection really comes down to where designers envision the wearer being when she puts these clothes on.

When you’re on vacation, especially on a cruise or at an all-inclusive, there are often dress codes for evenings and certain restaurants. You don’t want to bring your fancy New Year’s Eve jackets because they’ll be far too hot, so designers create clothing that meets those dress-code requirements using lighter, more forgiving fabrics.

Now, don’t be scared of “dress code” , it's not about being uncomfortable or trying to keep up with the 30-somethings. It’s about putting a little extra effort in for an evening out.  

Every piece of clothing is designed with an ideal customer in mind. I’m probably not giving away any industry secrets by saying that but it goes far beyond age or income. Designers ask questions like:

What will she be doing in these clothes?
Where will she be going?
What does she feel self-conscious about?

And insecurity in women’s clothing is a big one.

In my 20 years in this business, I’ve never met a woman who loved every inch of her body 100% of the time, especially as we get a little more mature. I’ll be the first one to say it. I’m not the biggest fan of my arms. I’m not about to go wearing a sweater on vacation though and these designers have really thought about that with their resort silhouettes. 

That being said, we still get hot just like the young ones, and we still need clothes. So designers create beautiful, lightweight garments that are dress-code appropriate, easy to mix and match, quick-drying, and forgiving often without showing sweat.

Summer clothes, on the other hand, are more like everyday basics for warm weather. There’s more variety in fabric and function. Think jean shorts (which you’d never wear on a resort because once they’re wet, they’re wet for days), athletic-style pieces, and items built more for practicality than polish.

Think about it, you’re not driving a car on vacation. Those long, flowy pants and tops don’t get caught in a steering wheel or car door. But if you wear them during your regular summer routine (guilty), your pants get caught when you get out of the car, you’re juggling a heavy work bag, and suddenly you’re wearing sneakers that don’t quite look right with the outfit.

The easiest way to think about it is this:
Would you do groceries in these clothes?

If the answer is no, it’s probably resort wear.

That doesn’t mean you can’t wear these pieces during the summer. It just means you’ll likely wear them differently.

Remember that resort wear isn’t about being fancy, it's about feeling put together, cool, and relaxed. You’re going on a holiday, you’re supposed to relax! Not stress over what to wear to dinner.