/ The Royal Hawaiian Hotel in Oahu, Hawaii /
Are you headed somewhere warm soon? And are you looking for cute tropical vacation outfits? I have you covered. I will share with you my actual vacation outfits that I wore on my 2025 trip to Hawaii. What’s so lovely about tropical vacation outfits and casual vacation outfits is that once you have them, they are easily worn again back home for casual summer outfits. Knowing this makes it easier to justify classic vacation outfit purchases as they will be useful back home.
Let’s start with the fact that tropical vacation outfits are typically colorful like the surroundings of the destination. Think bright colors, Hawaiian prints, and fun tote bags. I will show you all the looks I brought for a thirteen (!) day trip to Hawaii!
In this post...
Where We Stayed in Hawaii
/ The View from our Hotel Room of Waikiki Beach /
We stayed at the Royal Hawaiin Hotel on Oahu. It is a lovely hotel that will be 100 years old in 2027. That makes it historic, iconic, and beautiful. The hotel offers delicious food, wonderful (and friendly) maid service, as well as a gorgeous beach and pool. The property is right on Waikiki Beach and the brand is all about the color pink. The hotel walls are pink, the beach towels are pink striped, the umbrellas are pink and even the guest bathrobes are pink striped seersucker (and lined in white terry cloth)! Check out the pink pancakes pictured below!
/ Another View of Waikiki Beach and in the Background is Diamond Head which was formed from a Formerly Active Volcano /
Where to Shop
The Royal Hawaiian is located in downtown Honolulu. Every high-end designer is represented from Harry Winson, Tiffany’s, Fendi, Dior, to many, many more. There are also many moderately-priced retailers such as Lululemon, Macy’s, Norstrom’s, and Barnes and Noble. There’s even a beautiful Target store, all within walking distance of the hotel.
Where To Eat
/ The Royal Hawaiian Acai Bowl /
As mentioned above, the food service at our hotel was spectacular. We had delicious daily breakfasts (see photos) overlooking the Pacific Ocean while seated under the pink-striped awnings. Lunch was available at the hotel pool, and it was wonderful.
/ The Iconic Pink Pancakes (made pink with beetroot) /
For dinners, we went to some chain restaurants like Tommy Bahama, the Cheesecake Factory, and Yard House. For fine dining, we went to the long-standing Michel’s restaurant where I highly recommend the fabulous tasting menu. (We liked it so much that we went twice!). Another delightful Italian restaurant that we enjoyed several nights was Taormina, which featured innovatively prepared Sicilian food. The last fine dining recommendation is for the tasting menu at Azure in the Royal Hawaiian.
/ The Gravlox Bagel /
Many nights we skipped dessert at the restaurants and instead went to a terrific ice cream parlor named Lappert’s. It’s located in the Hawaiian Village which was a 20-minute walk from the Royal Hawaiian. If you’re looking for another fun evening activity, consider the fireworks show every Friday night, at 7:45 pm on the beach adjacent to the Hawaiian Village. It is out on the beach by the Hilton Hotel, and everyone is invited to the free outdoor celebration. The display lasts about ten minutes.
/ Mr. G.Q. and our Favorite Server, Nam, at the Surf Lanai /
/ The Dining Room at Michel’s Restaurant in Oahu /
/ Mr. G.Q. and me at Michel’s Restaurant during Golden Hour (right before sunset) /
/ Michel’s Restaurant at Sunset /
Basic Details about My Tropical Vacation Outfits
Our itinerary on beach vacations is very laid back. Some mornings I get up early and do yoga at the hotel. I wear exercise clothes for that. We typically go to breakfast at 9:30 in the hotel restaurant, the Surf Lanai, where I wear a cute tropical vacation outfit. If I didn’t go to yoga, Mr. G.Q. and I go for a long (think 10-15,000 steps) walk through downtown Honolulu as well as some of the picturesque neighborhoods.
After our long walk, I change into a bathing suit and coverup for the pool or beach. We then read by the pool and/or nap until we change for dinner. All of my outfits are casual. To keep my packing relatively reasonable, I bring three pairs of sandals besides the gym shoes that I wear for the flights and for walking.
My Tropical Vacation Outfits:
Outfit #1 Blue Hawaiian Print Halter Dress, Sandals, Earrings, and Bag
/ Halter Dress (similar) / Earrings (similar)/ Bag (similar) / Sandals (similar) /
I love a halter dress when thinking of tropical vacation outfits. And I especially love a Hawaiian print dress as it’s so appropriate for the locale. This navy and white print dress is such an easy dress to wear. I added white chandelier earrings which worked with several of the looks listed below. My sandals are nude, flat, leather ones, and my bag is tan with rattan handles.
/ Halter Dress (similar) / Earrings (similar)/ Bag (similar) / Sandals (similar) /
Outfit #2 Pink Print Beach Dress, Earrings, Bag, and Sandals
/ Beach Dress (similar) / Bag (similar) / Earrings (similar) / Sandals (similar) /
This second tropical vacation outfit was so fun to wear! The bright pink color fits in well with the pink brand of the Royal Hawaiian. The J Crew Factory dress is called a “beach dress” in that it is 100% cotton, lightweight, and a bit boho in its styling. It’s perfect for the beach as a cover-up or just as a summer dress.
/ Beach Dress (similar) / Bag (similar) / Earrings (similar ) / Sandals (similar) /
The tassels on the ties were bright blue, so I selected a pair of coordinating blue sea glass earrings. As of this writing, my dress is out of stock. But I have linked several VERY similar ones in the caption below the outfit photo.
My sandals were nude block-heeled shoes, and my bag was a tan one with rattan handles. Pro-tip: I find wearing nude block-heeled sandals to be comfortable for walking. The nude color tends to extend my leg line in a flattering way. Nude sandals and a tan bag go with many tropical vacation outfits and minimize how many accessories you need to pack.
Outfit #3 (of the Tropical Vacation Outfits) Black and White Flowy Dress, Earrings, Bag, Sandals
/ Black and White Dress / Earrings (similar) / Bag (similar) / Sandals (similar) /
The third of my tropical vacation outfits was a cute black and white print flowy dress from Amazon. I love this dress because it packs so well as it never wrinkles. The fabric is lightweight, and I wore it with flat black patent leather sandals. I wore white chandelier earrings and a neutral tan bag with rattan handles.
/ Black and White Dress / Bracelets /
Outfit # 4 Tiered Blue Striped Gauze Dress, Jean Jacket, Earrings, Bracelets
/ Tiered Gauze Dress / Earrings (similar) / Jean Jacket / Bracelets /
I am usually not a fan of tiered dresses as I think they make me look like a shepherdess. This one however is made of 100% cotton gauze and is gently flared. The sleeves are bell-shaped and flattering for those of us who prefer more arm coverage. I wore this to dinner one evening and added a white jean jacket (draped over my shoulders) for the cooler temperatures after sunset. My sandals were a neutral flat nude leather style. My earrings were a white chandelier style as worn above with outfit #2.
Outfit #5 (of my Tropical Vacation Outfits) Embroidered White Top, White Jeans, Sandals, Earrings
/ Embroidered Top / Earrings / White Pants / Sandals (similar) / Bag (similar) /
This embroidered white top is such a pretty one from a company called Avara. It looks great with blue denim, and for this trip, I wore it with white jeans. The embroidery is just on the sleeves, and it gives the sleeves extra body. The bodice is lined which is a great feature as it hides my bra. Wearing white pants is something I enjoy as I like the crispness. Pro-tip: Consider going up a size when wearing white bottoms to accomplish the most flattering look.
Outfit #6 (of my Tropical Vacation Outfits): Black Bathing Suit, Hat, Cover-up, Earrings, Sarong, Bag
This pool/beach outfit is a perfect example of what a retired dermatologist wears to the pool. I LOVE solid-colored Miracle suits as they are VERY flattering to the middle-age (and beyond) tummy! They create a lovely waistline and are comfortable to wear all day. I added a black and white striped sarong as well as black and white earrings. I even found a black and white beach tote. My sandals were nude and of course, I wore a cute, packable hat.
Outfit #7(of the Tropical Vacation Outfits) Matching Print 2-Piece Pant Set, Hat, Earrings, Sandals, Beach Tote
/ Hat / Earrings (similar) / Cardigan (similar) / 2-Piece Top and Pants (similar) / Necklace (similar) / Bracelet (similar) /
Sandals (similar)/ Beach Tote /
Are you a fan of 2-piece sets? This one is from Talbot’s last spring tropical vacation outfits collection (but I have linked a very similar one in the caption under the photo as well as on my LTK site here:
Sandals (similar)/ Beach Tote /
I wore the set with a fun Panama hat, blue sea glass earrings, a coral bracelet, and a terrific flip flop print beach tote. The tote is wonderful because it is light weight, wipeable, and it has five pockets! There is a large, zippered pocket inside (perfect for a wet bathing suit, two inside pockets for books, and sunscreen. Then, on either end, there is a pocket which I use for my water bottle and phone. Easy-peasey!
Sandals (similar) / Beach Tote /
Outfit #8 (of my Tropical Vacation Outfits) Pink Bathing Suit, Tote, Sandals, and Sarong
I think a sarong is such a classy type of coverup. I wear it one of two ways (see me demonstrate both in this video:. Most of us are familiar with tying a sarong at one’s waist. This similar one looks nice and is how I wear it when lounging in my beach chair. But, when I walk through the lobby or restaurant for lunch, I prefer to tie the sarong (similar one) around my neck. Just take the two corners of the sarong and twist them a bit. Then cross them over one another and tie them around your neck. This gives more coverage and looks so pretty.
My bathing suit is a bright pink one-piece with some flattering ruching down the front. My sarong is a tropical print of pink, and orange hibiscus flowers. I also wore a beach tote with the same colors. My tote is from Torie Richards from last year, so I have linked another similar one for you in the caption under the photo.
What Else Did I Pack (besides my Tropical Vacation Outfits)?
This post, “My Packing List for Hawaii” has a list of everything else that I brought with me on my 13-day trip to Oahu, Hawaii. There are links to all the “little things” that make my trips easier and more fun. There are also more tropical vacation outfits to peruse. Take a peek at that post as well and let me know what I missed.
If You’re a Big Reader
I LOVE to read and when I’m on vacation, I get big chunks of reading time. Check out my upcoming to see what I read on this trip. And, please be sure to let me know below what you are reading so I can check those books as well.
If You Love All of these Tropical Vacation Outfits, Travel Tips, and Fun Beachy Reads:
If you have enjoyed this post (and I hope you have!), please consider leaving a comment below. Tell me what you think of the looks, books, etc. Or tell me what you would like to see in the future. Please follow me on LTK. LTK is a FREE App that shows you EVERY Outfit, Every Tablescape, Every Book, and Every Gift Guide with all the easy links. You will get an email whenever I put up a new look and that helps you because it gives you EARLY ACCESS to the items before they sell out (hopefully). Here is the link to follow me there: https://www.shopltk.com/explore/drjuliemarshall
Please Follow Me Here!
And please tell your friends about me. That helps others to see my posts and it helps my blog to grow. I love sharing all of these fun things with you as it is my goal to have a fun life and to help others to have it too! Happy Day!
Below you will find photos of the items used to create these tropical vacation outfits. If you click on them, you will be brought to the website of the item.
XO,
Dr. Julie
PS Here are a few more posts for you to enjoy:
Love these outfits Julie! We stayed at the same hotel many years ago.
No way! Isnt’ it fabulous?!
Well… You sure do look foxy in all those outfits! I really like the tiered dress – I don’t think you look like a shepherdess at all. How could you? Each look was spot on for the area and very chic. good job Julie!
Thanks Mol! It was such fun wearing each look!
Always fun to take a virtual vacation with you and your great outfits!
Thanks Linda! Are you back or leaving soon for your next adventure?
How lucky are you to have so much time in Paradise? I liked all your outfits especially the black and white one headed for the beach.
Great outfits Julie. You look amazing!!
Thanks Vicki!