How to Pack Resort Wear for Plus Size Women

Packing for a resort holiday in plus sizes involves a recurring frustration: finding pieces that work, then fitting them into a reasonable bag. Resort wear has an advantage here that most people underestimate — the silhouettes that are most flattering in plus sizes (kaftans, maxi dresses, wide-leg co-ords) also happen to be the most packable. Here is how to build and pack a resort wardrobe that travels as well as it looks.

The Case for Packing Light in Plus Sizes

The temptation when packing for a resort holiday is to take options — multiple outfits for every scenario, in case one doesn't work. For plus size travellers especially, where the fear of a garment not fitting perfectly is real, the urge to overpack is understandable.

The counter-argument: resort wear in the right fabrics packs down to almost nothing. A full-length viscose kaftan occupies the same bag space as a folded t-shirt. A wide-leg co-ord set compresses to the size of a pair of jeans. Three or four well-chosen pieces in packable fabrics can cover a week-long holiday without checked luggage.

The key is choosing pieces that work in multiple contexts — beach, restaurant, travel — rather than pieces designed for a single setting.

Fabrics That Pack Well

• Viscose and rayon: The best resort packing fabrics. Lightweight, compress to almost nothing, emerge with minimal creasing, and drape beautifully at every size. A viscose kaftan or maxi dress will look as good out of a bag as it did going in.
• Crinkle georgette: The crinkle texture is designed to look good with wrinkles — which makes it ideal for packing. The creases that form in a bag become part of the fabric's appearance.
• Cotton voile: Very packable and extremely breathable. Can crease more than viscose but shakes out easily, especially in coastal humidity which naturally relaxes fabric.
• Avoid in luggage: Heavy linen (creases badly and holds creases), stiff cotton poplin (holds fold lines), structured fabrics that hold shape when you don't want them to.

Building a Capsule Resort Wardrobe

A functional resort capsule for plus size women typically needs four types of pieces:

1. A versatile kaftan: One maxi kaftan in a bold print covers beach mornings, resort dinners and travel days. The single most versatile piece in a resort wardrobe.
2. A maxi dress: Different from the kaftan in silhouette — slightly more fitted at the shoulders, distinct print. A second outfit with no styling effort required.
3. A co-ord set: The most intentionally dressed option. One co-ord covers any occasion where you want to look slightly more put-together than a kaftan allows.
4. A tunic or short kaftan: Paired with trousers or shorts, this extends the wardrobe significantly. One tunic adds two or three outfit variations depending on what you pair it with.

Four pieces. Four distinct outfits, plus combinations. That is enough for a week-long holiday with room for one repeat.

The Versatile Pieces to Always Pack

• A bold-print kaftan in a neutral palette (black/white, navy/white): Bold in pattern but neutral in colour, it pairs with almost any accessories and photographs well in any light. More versatile than a single-colour kaftan or a highly saturated print.
• Wide-leg trousers in a solid colour: Can be worn with multiple tops — the tunic, a basic tee, even a swimsuit top at the beach. A solid-colour wide leg is the most flexible bottom in a resort wardrobe.
• A co-ord in a strong print: When you want to look like you planned your outfit, a matching co-ord does the work for you. Pack one statement co-ord and everything else can be simpler.

Packing Order and Garment Care

• Roll, don't fold: Rolling viscose and rayon garments produces fewer crease lines than folding. For kaftans and maxi dresses, roll loosely from hem to neckline.
• Pack heaviest pieces at the bottom: Shoes and denim at the bottom, rolled resort wear on top — lighter pieces are not compressed under weight.
• Steam on arrival: Hang in the bathroom while showering. Steam relaxes viscose and rayon without an iron. Coastal air does most of the de-creasing work on its own.
• Hand wash for delicate prints: Bold prints in viscose should be hand-washed or cold-machine-washed inside-out. Avoid wringing — roll in a towel to remove excess water.

Shop the Collection

Also shop: Kaftans  ·  Dresses  ·  Co-ord Sets  ·  Vacation Edit  ·  Tunics

Also read: Resort Wear XS to 8XL Guide  ·  Linen Kaftan Guide  ·  Maxi Dress Styling Guide  ·  Plus-Size Resort Wear for Women Over 50