Sun Safe And Stylish Vacation Outfits

March break is just around the corner and many of us are preparing to travel to warm and sunny destinations. But heading into long days in the sun without protection can result in sunburns and worse, sun damage to the skin and eyes. In my post, Sun Safe And Stylish Vacation Outfits, I’m sharing how to be protected from the sun while looking fabulous on vacation.

The Importance Of Sun Safety

I now know more about the damaging effects of the sun than I wish I did, having been diagnosed with Melanoma six months ago. After several smaller procedures culminating with surgery in October, I am now cancer-free and mostly recovered. I learned that even being moderately protective (always wearing hats and sunglasses, wearing sunscreen when I planned to be out for more than an hour) was not enough to protect me from skin cancer. I also learned how serious Melanoma can be since it can metastasize and spread to other parts of the body. Please be sun safe and check your skin regularly and see a doctor immediately if you notice any skin abnormalities. Early detection and treatment are key to Melanoma survival.

Note- I am not affiliated with any of the companies mentioned in this post. This post shares my unbiased opinions of sun-protective clothing.

Vacation Style

We have an upcoming vacation to Florida and naturally, I started packing weeks in advance. Here in Ottawa, we are very much still in the depths of winter with freezing temperatures and 6-foot snowbanks on our street. My current fashion sense consists of wearing whatever I can to stay warm and comfortable. So I am really looking forward to shedding the wool sweaters, sweats, parkas, and hats/mittens/scarves for summer clothing.

When I travel to a warm destination I like to be comfortable and stylish just like everyone else. I typically wear dresses or shorts or capris with flowy tops or t-shirts. This year, I will be wearing dresses and capris pants and avoiding shorts most days. I will also be wearing some form of long sleeve cover each day in the form of a cardigan or wrap/shawl. There are so many beautiful options to choose from. You can check out this post for a glimpse at my travel fashion style and packing tips.

UV Protective Clothing

Ordinary clothing offers some protection from the sun, but the value of the protection varies depending on the colour, weave, and other factors. Since I am now at an increased risk of getting skin cancer again, I wanted to purchase the best possible protection. Therefore, I searched for companies that provide clothing with built-in UV protection. I purchase clothing from two speciality stores, Solibar and Coolibar. Both offer clothing and accessories with superb sun protection, but I found shipping to Canada to be quicker and more economical with Coolibar. I also found that they had more options suited to my fashion sense. I have purchased a couple of pieces from Solibar that I absolutely love though! Columbia, Patagonia, and Mountain Warehouse also offer sun-protective clothing, though their selections are more limited and not all items have UPF50 coverage, which is what I look for.

Coolibar

Coolibar is a clothing company that exists solely for the purpose of providing sun-protective clothing. I love their mission: “Our mission is to keep the world safe from sun damage, protect those who suffer from a sun-related medical condition and prevent everyone else from developing one.” They have the Skin Cancer Foundation’s Seal of Recommendation and donate to and work with charitable organizations in an effort to help end skin cancer. All of their clothing is UPF50+ for the lifetime of each garment. They also sell hats, gloves and other accessories.

Sun Safe And Stylish Vacation Outfits

Beach Or Pool Day

I think beach vacations are the most dreamed about getaways. I can honestly say that beach/pool thoughts occupy my mind every day. The thought of having to give up going to the beach or a sunny day by the pool was disheartening, but I think there is a way to do it safely. All my sunscreen is now 60+ and I will be applying it everywhere, even the most forgotten spots (definitely on the feet if wearing sandals or flip flops), and reapplying as needed. Avoiding the hours of 11:00 am- 3:00 pm and seeking shelter under an umbrella or tree is also a must. I purchased this cute hooded UPF50+ swimsuit cover-up for hanging around the pool with my boys. It’s the Catalina Beach Cover Up from Coolibar. A good hat and sunglasses complete the look.

• Bathing suit- La Vie En Rose
• Catalina Beach Cover Up- Coolibar
• Hat- Artizia
• Sandals- Aldo

I purchased my first long-sleeved swim top, the Lawai Ruche Swim Shirt from Coolibar. It has a built-in bra and adjustable side ruching so it can be worn long or shorter. I can pair it with a variety of swim bottoms to change up the look. I’ll be wearing this swim top on days that I plan to actually be in the water swimming or playing with my kids. I love the hidden thumbholes, a must-have feature for me since my wrists are high-risk areas for cancer reoccurrence.

• UPF50+ Lawai Ruche Swim Shirt- Coolibar
• Swim bottom- La Vie En Rose
• Hat- The Gap
• Sandals- Aldo

For more coverage while sitting poolside or going for a beach stroll, I would add a pair of quick-dry capris or pants. It’s a fun and sporty look.

• Capris- Lululemon
• Shoes- Sorel

Sightseeing or Theme Park Day

For sightseeing or theme park days, I like to wear capris, a short-sleeved breezy top and a UPF50+ cardigan to cover up while out in the sun. Of course, a hat and sunglasses and maybe my sun protective gloves are essential accessories. For days with intense walking, I would wear runners. Sandals or flip flops are good for hot days where there is less walking planned.

• Striped top- The Gap
• Capris- The Gap
• UPF50+ Cardigan- Coolibar
• Hat- The Gap

For a cool and breezy look, I’ve paired navy linen culottes with a linen stripe tank top, both from Not Perfect Linen. I purchased the LumaLeo Sun Wrap from Coolibar in three colours (Light Grey Heather, Aegean Teal Heather, Berry Heather).The crochet navy hat ties in beautifully with the culottes. This outfit is more casual worn with flip flops or runners, but can be dressed up with the right shoes and perhaps a pretty patterned scarf.

• Linen top- Not Perfect Linen
• Linen culottes- Not Perfect Linen
• UPF50+ Cardigan (LumaLeo Sun Wrap)- Coolibar
• UPF50+ sun hat- Coolibar
• Sandals- Aldo

For cooler days, a UPF50+ long sleeved top paired with capris or jeans works well. A pretty patterned hat, the reversible wide rim sun hat from Solbari, adds personality to this outfit. The hat is reversible, which makes it quite versatile and worthy of the suitcase space on a trip.

• UPF50+ Shirt (Morada Long Sleeved T-Shirt)- Coolibar
• Cream capris- Olsen
• UPF50+ reversible sun hat- Solibar
• Runners- Sorel

The hat is reversed here for a more subdued look. Paired with loafers from Aldo, this outfit is classic and suitable for sightseeing and dining.

I love wearing dresses for warm-weather vacations. Just make sure the dress has pockets! This sleeveless linen dress from Not Perfect Linen in a windowpane pattern with a tie belt is comfortable and has a simple elegance. I often wished I lived in a climate where I could wear this kind of outfit every day, but I’m sure I’d miss crisp autumns and white Christmases. A UPF50+ cardigan provides protection from the sun when outdoors, but can be removed when out of the sun or indoors. Again, I would wear this outfit with white sneakers for sightseeing or with sandals for going shopping or out for lunch.

• Dress- Not Perfect Linen
• UPF50+ Cardigan (LumaLeo Sun Wrap)- Coolibar
• Hat- The Gap
• Sandals- Aldo

Adding a scarf makes the look more vibrant and provides additional sun protection around the neck.

This colourful dress sadly does not have pockets, but it’s a lively pattern and is perfectly paired with this UPF50+ pink cardigan. I added a navy blue UPF50+ Marina sun hat, sunglasses, and runners for a pretty yet practical look.

• Dress- Banana Republic
• UPF50+ cardigan (LumaLeo Sun Wrap)- Coolibar
• Marina Sun Hat (navy)- Coolibar
• Runners- Keds

Special Event Or Dining Reservation

I have a fondness for jumpsuits, and love how they can look casual or dressy depending on what you pair them with. This cream coloured sleeveless jumpsuit is so versatile. To add a layer of protection, I added a medium-weight linen shirt that doubles as a light jacket. I paired it with strappy heels for a dressed-up look, perhaps for a fancy lunch or afternoon cocktails?

• Cream jumpsuit- Artizia
• Linen shirt- Not Perfect Linen
• Hat- The Gap
• Shoes- Call It Spring

Swapping out the linen shirt for an oversized scarf worn as a shawl, the look is appropriate for an evening walk on the beach or a nice dinner out. This scarf came in my summer 2021 FabFitFun box.

For this final outfit in my Sun Safe And Stylish Vacation Outfits post, I’ve paired a full-length tropical print dress with a knit cardigan. This is my “nice dinner” outfit. I always pack a couple extra outfits in case of unexpected plans or ice cream disasters.

• Dress- Banana Republic
• Cardigan- Banana Republic
• Hat- The Gap

Summary

I hope you have found my post, Sun Safe And Stylish Vacation Outfits, useful for your next day in the sun. Remember the 50+ sunscreen, staying out of the sun during peak sun hours (11:00 am to 3:00 pm), and seeking shelter from the sun with umbrellas, trees and tents. And always get any suspicious skin abnormalities looked at by a doctor as soon as it’s noticed.

I’d love to hear about your favourite places to shop for sun safe clothing in the comments below.