A coral shirt, a pair of cream shorts, and a mauve dress make a lovely start to a winter-break suitcase. If you're heading somewhere warm while it's cold at home, these three winter vacation outfits give you a look for a slow afternoon, a day on your feet, and dinner outside.
The colors work together, but each outfit has its own shape. There are roomy trousers, a shirt-and-shorts pairing, and a dress with a light cardigan. Start with similar pieces you already own, then choose the shoes and layers that suit your trip. These are ideas for the warm part of your holiday, with room to change the coverage and shoe choice for your plans. Sandals in December do deserve their own little moment.
A coral shirt with a white tank and relaxed trousers
The coral shirt is the fun part here. Worn open over a white tank, it adds color without hiding the shape of the outfit. Stone trousers keep the rest light, and the wide legs fall over flat tan sandals.
Roll the sleeves a little and leave the shirt loose. The open front lets the white tank show through. If your shirt is longer, a small front tuck is another option. Check how the hem sits when you move before choosing one.
A plain canvas tote fits this look well. In the photo, its long handles let it hang low beside the trousers. Pick a bag that holds what you need for that outing. A bookshop stop and an afternoon by the water might call for quite different things.
The trouser hem is worth a quick check with your sandals on. Aim for a length that clears the ground as you walk. You'll see the shoes, keep the loose shape, and spend less time watching the ends of your trousers.
If your own trousers are bright white, try them beside a softer white tank before packing. The shades can sit together without matching exactly. A cream tank, pale pink shirt, or tan bag can fill the same place in the outfit. You can keep the loose shirt-and-trouser shape even when your closet has a different color mix.
A teal shirt with cream shorts and sneakers
A muted teal shirt with cream shorts is our pick for a walking day. The shirt has a soft collar and short sleeves, while the shorts leave room through the legs. A small tuck at the front shows the waistband without pulling the whole shirt tight.
Off-white sneakers carry the light color down to the shoes. Wear a pair you already know feels good on your feet. This is a lovely time to bring the sneakers you've been reaching for all year.
If you're choosing a different pair, REI's guide to walking shoes can help you check the fit. Try the shoes with the socks you plan to wear, then walk around in them. A pale color looks nice with these shorts, but your own comfortable pair gets the final vote.
If you prefer more coverage, swap the shorts for relaxed cream trousers. You can also wear the coral shirt over the white tank with these shorts. That gives two pieces from the suitcase another outing (we're always pleased when that works).
A closer look at the shoulder bag
The brown shoulder bag adds a warm color beside the teal. A zip under the flap keeps the opening neat in the close view. Choose a strap length that lets the bag sit where you like it, then check that you can reach the opening with it on your shoulder.
Try the bag with the things you expect to carry. Your phone, keys, and room for a few small items may be enough for a short outing. A longer day might suit the canvas tote from the coral look. You can change the bag without changing the rest of the outfit.
A mauve midi dress with a cream cardigan
For a casual dinner, the mauve midi dress gets our vote. It has broad straps, a square neckline, and a gathered skirt with a soft tier near the hem. Brown flat sandals keep the shape relaxed, and a small raffia clutch sits beside it.
The cream cardigan works two ways. You can carry it folded over your arm, or wear it over the dress when you want a layer. Worn open, it leaves the neckline and the top of the dress visible.
Check the dress while you're seated, too. The hem moves as the skirt folds over your knees. A quick sit-down before packing tells you more about that fit than a standing mirror check alone.
A dress you already own can take this spot. Look for one that suits your dinner plans, then try it with your actual sandals and cardigan. A similar shade from your closet works here, too. If a place has a dress code, read it before choosing your outfit rather than guessing from the photos.
The raffia clutch changes the texture beside the soft dress. You could use the brown shoulder bag instead if you want a strap, or keep a small bag you already enjoy. The dress and cardigan do most of the work here; the bag can follow the way you like to carry your things.
Mix your winter vacation outfits before packing
Lay the two shirts, tank, trousers, shorts, dress, and cardigan out together. The cream and white pieces give the coral, teal, and mauve room to stand out. You don't need an exact match for every piece to use the same approach.
Try the teal shirt with the stone trousers for another daytime look. Wear the coral shirt open over the tank with the shorts. The cream cardigan can go over the tank and trousers as well as the dress. Try these pairings at home so you can see which lengths and shapes you like together.
Shoes and bags can move between the looks, too. The sneakers may be your choice for a longer walk in the trousers, while the sandals may suit a shorter outing in the shorts. Choose for the route and weather ahead. A photograph shows a combination; your plans decide what comes with you.
For another warm-weather color mix, see our summer outfits with a nautical feel. Its light colors give you another place to start if the coral and mauve aren't the shades you reach for.
Keep a layer for the journey
These looks are for the warm part of the trip. Choose your travel-day layers for the weather at both ends, including the trip to and from the airport. The light cardigan can fit into that plan, while colder weather at home may call for a warmer outer layer.
REI's guide to packing light recommends layers you can add or remove as temperatures change. Check your destination's forecast and the places you plan to visit before making the final pile. You may want a different layer for an air-conditioned room or an evening outside.
Our cardigan outfits for fall show a few longer-layer combinations to try for the cooler end of the journey. Keep your departure outfit beside your suitcase while you pack. That leaves a clear place for the clothes you'll wear before you reach the sunshine.
For this suitcase, we'd keep the coral shirt near the top. It's ready for an afternoon out with the trousers or another day with the shorts.
