I used to be the absolute worst absolute overpacker whenever I booked a tropical resort vacation because I genuinely believed that every single activity required a completely different outfit. I would literally pack three different sundresses two pairs of jeans five rompers and a million bikinis for a basic three day weekend and then spend half my trip sweating in front of the hotel closet trying to change clothes. But during my last trip to Chiang Mai I finally got so sick of dragging around a giant exploding suitcase that I challenged myself to a styling experiment. I decided to pack just one incredibly well fitting matte black one piece swimsuit and see if I could make it work for an entire twenty four hour day of continuous activities. Honestly it was the best decision I ever made because I realized that if you buy a swimsuit with thick high quality fabric and a clean elegant neckline it does not just look good in the water. It actually functions as the ultimate summer bodysuit that can blend into almost any environment if you know how to layer it properly.
Morning coffee and tanning sessions by the ocean waves
My day started around eight in the morning because I wanted to grab some fresh iced coffee and catch the early soft sunlight before the beach got completely packed with loud tourists. For this super early part of the day you want a look that is incredibly effortless and comfortable so you do not feel like you are trying too hard. I just wore my black one piece swimsuit as my base layer and threw a completely unbuttoned oversized white linen shirt right over my shoulders to keep the crisp morning breeze off my skin. I added a giant floppy straw hat and some simple leather slides which took me about two minutes to put together. It was the perfect relaxed layout because I could sit at the outdoor café looking totally put together and then the second I finished my coffee I just unrolled my towel on the sand dropped my shirt and was instantly ready to bake in the sun.
Shifting into a casual afternoon at a trendy poolside café
By the time two o clock in the afternoon rolled around the sun was getting incredibly intense and I wanted to head inland a bit to check out a gorgeous jungle café near the resort. Instead of walking all the way back to my hotel room to take a full shower and put on a heavy denim outfit I used a super quick styling trick that took zero effort. I kept the black swimsuit on because it was already completely dry from the hot sun and I just pulled a pair of high waisted vintage denim shorts right over the bottoms. To make it look like an actual shirt rather than a wet swimsuit I buttoned up my white linen shirt halfway and tied the bottom hems into a loose knot right around my natural waistline. Adding a pair of thick retro acetate sunglasses completely transformed the vibe into a cool casual street look and nobody at the café had any idea I was technically still wearing beachwear.
Going full glam for a high end resort dinner at sunset
When the sun finally started dipping below the horizon around seven in the evening the resort restaurant shifted into a much more formal dress code with candles and live music. This is usually the exact moment where most people run back to their rooms to put on a tight uncomfortable dress but I decided to stick to my one piece plan. I went back to my room for just ten minutes to wash the salt out of my hair and then I pulled out my secret weapon for the night. I took a beautiful flowy emerald green silk maxi skirt and slid it right over the black swimsuit bottoms. Because my swimsuit has this gorgeous deep scoop neckline and thick supportive straps it literally looked identical to a high end designer bodysuit from a boutique. I buckled a sleek gold belt around my waist to create a clear separation between the fabrics and put on some waterproof gold huggie earrings that caught the candlelight beautifully.
Late night cocktails at the beach bar to close out the perfect day
After dinner wrapped up around ten o clock my friends wanted to head down to the sand to listen to some acoustic music and grab a few late night tropical cocktails by the bonfire. The great thing about wearing a swimsuit under a fancy silk skirt is that you do not have to worry about sitting on low sandy lounge chairs or ruining delicate dress hems on the damp beach. I just kicked off my high heels grabbed a lightweight knit cardigan to wrap around my arms when the midnight sea breeze kicked in and sat right down on the sand. It was the most liberating feeling to realize I had gone through an entire day of gourmet dining café hopping and beach lounging without feeling restricted or uncomfortable once. Investing in that one perfect one piece completely rescued my vacation wardrobe and it proved that you do not need a massive suitcase to look like the most stylish person at the resort.
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