Vacation Dresses and Outfits for Women
Vacation dresses, tunics and matching pieces in bright prints that pack flat, skip the iron and go together. Free U.S. shipping over $75.
New Vacation Arrivals
Vacation Styles on Sale
Vacation dresses are the easiest thing to pack. One good dress is a whole outfit, and it goes from a morning walk to dinner with a change of shoes. Barbara Gerwit vacation dresses and vacation outfits for women come in bright prints and solid colors, in fabrics that fold flat, skip the iron and wash easily.
Vacation Dresses for Every Kind of Trip
Choose your dress by the trip. For a beach week, pack sleeveless dresses and halter styles that stay cool in the sun. For a city break, a knit dress with 3/4 sleeves walks all day and looks neat at dinner. For a cruise or a resort with nice restaurants, add a maxi dress or an embroidered dress. You can see every style in our resort dresses.
Prints That Feel Like Vacation
Our prints take their color from warm places: pineapples, palm trees, tropical fruit, big leaves, seashells and flowers in pink, lime, turquoise and coral. Solid dresses in clean colors sit next to them and pair with everything. If you like a theme, try our Pineapple collection, or shop by color in Seafoam and Aqua or Pink and Coral.
Vacation Outfits for Women: Mix and Match
Many of our prints come as a dress, a tunic and a matching bottom. Pack three tops and three bottoms that share prints, and you have nine outfits before you count the dresses. Tunics pair well with palazzo pants, capris and skorts, and our solid dresses and solid basics fill in the gaps.
Complete Outfits in One Choice
If you do not want to plan, start with a set. Our co-ord sets come in cotton knit and French terry, and every piece already matches. A 3 piece set adds a vest or topper. Add a coordinated scarf, and dinner is dressed too.
Fabrics That Travel Well
Our nylon, 92% Nylon / 8% Spandex, is smooth and light and resists everyday wrinkles. Our cotton knit, 95% Supra Cotton / 5% Spandex, is soft, has a little stretch and is easy to wash. French terry adds warmth for cool evenings and long flights. See how each fabric feels in our Fabric Guide.
Day to Night on One Dress
Wear a printed knit dress with flat sandals and a straw tote in the morning. At night, add a wedge, earrings and a scarf. The dress stays the same, but the look changes. This is why a few good vacation dresses can carry a whole trip, whether it is a cruise, a resort stay or a week of beach days.
Vacation Outfits by Destination
For the Caribbean, Mexico or Hawaii, pack light nylon and sleeveless knit dresses, plus a tunic to wear over your swimsuit. For Europe, choose knit dresses with 3/4 sleeves and a scarf, since many churches ask you to cover your shoulders. For a mountain lake or a fall trip, add French terry jackets and vests and a pair of leggings. For a family visit, pick easy pieces that wash at home between wears.
How to Pack a Vacation Capsule
Pick one or two print families. Add each print's dress, tunic and bottom. Then add two solid pieces that go with everything. Ten pieces chosen this way give you more outfits than twenty chosen at random, because every piece already works with the others. Roll your knits, fold your nylon flat, and hang everything when you arrive.
Vacation Dresses for Women Over 50
Our dresses are cut to skim the body, not cling. Many styles come with 3/4 sleeves for more coverage, and the same prints often come in a sleeveless cut too. Most dresses measure about 35 inches long in X-Small (0-2) and grow a little with each size up to X-Large (16-18). Some styles also come in a 40 inch extended length, and select styles come in extended sizes. Check the measurement chart on each product page before you order.
Why Travelers Choose Barbara Gerwit
Our pieces are designed in California for real trips: bright prints, easy shapes and simple care. U.S. orders over $75 ship free, and orders over $200 get a free resort tote. Current deals are in our Holiday Sale.
Vacation Dress Questions, Answered
What is the best dress for a vacation?
A dress that packs without wrinkles and works day and night. A knit or nylon dress in a print you love, worn with sandals by day and a wedge at night, covers most trips.
How many vacation dresses should I pack for a week?
Two or three dresses plus three tops and three bottoms in shared prints cover a week. Add one dressier piece for a nice dinner and a cover up if you will be near water.
How do I keep clothes from wrinkling in a suitcase?
Choose knit and nylon fabrics. Roll or fold them flat, and hang everything when you arrive. Our nylon resists everyday wrinkles.
Are matching sets worth packing?
Yes. A set is a complete outfit in one choice, and the pieces also split up to wear with other things in your bag.
What should I wear on the plane?
A soft knit dress or a French terry piece with leggings is comfortable and still looks neat when you land. Bring a scarf for a cold cabin.
How far ahead should I order before my trip?
Most in-stock orders arrive within 7 to 15 business days, so order once your dates are set. U.S. orders over $75 ship free.