10 days in Mallorca in August - what to wear?

[KiteKit]

We are heading to Mallorca for 10 days at the very end of August. We will have 3 nights in a 4 star hotel in Palma and 6 nights in a resort type hotel, we are travelling with dd (9). I am very pale skinned, 45 yr old red head and I have NO idea how to dress flatteringly on this type of holiday. Please help!

This is our first 'beach' type holiday as previously we have gone on city type hols where I work things like dresses and leggings, linen trousers etc for sightseeing.

I am so pale and not at all interested anymore in changing that, but I can't think what to wear by the pool, hotel etc as I can't imagine wafting about in a swimsuit / bikini - don't have either right now anyway.

Please help me to sort this out!

I am 5ft 9" and currently a very snug 12 (really a 14 but fighting it) am intending to be a 10/12 by the time we go.

Thanks

I think your main issues will be a) staying cool and b) avoiding sunburn.

I find dresses cooler than separates. Have you a style of dress you like, ideally that covers your shoulders since they are susceptible to burning?

Big hat and sunglasses?

Kaftan-type cover-up for the beach when you are not swimming?

And stock up on the best suncream you can. I recommend Ultrasun.

Thank you so much hippospot I was thinking dresses too. I tend towards the apple shape when carrying extra weight and I got a vein in the very middle of my right calf when I was pg which makes me a bit self conscious. I sound a right catch don't I?

I will be spending a lot of time in the shade I guess, but dh and dd have sallow skin and love spending time in the sun / water.

I just don't know how to dress well for this type of situation. I wish someone could just magic a perfect wardrobe for me!

I was browsing on the boden website just now, there are a few nice summer dresses on there and I was looking at the swim wear section. Would I look ridiculous lounging by the pool in a swinsuit / bikini and a kaftan type cover up?

Everyone wears swimwear with a cover up over top...In all sorts of styles and designs... i also like light cotton harem pants for days when your legs get too much sun....you can pick some up over there once you see what you fancy....i always buy pool wear for next year abroad..

This kind of dress is cool and flattering I think, though it exposes shoulders:

previous year's Boden

Thank you both! Having spent an hour browsing, I am now thinking of making SURE I do drop that weight and then I will buy 2 or 3 swimsuits and suitable cover-ups for beside the pool. I saw some nice t-shirt style dresses on boden too so I will wait for the sales and hopefully be able to nab a few then.

I was thinking about those harem style trousers, lovely and light. DD had a pair last year and they were lovely on her. So I will have a look in H&M perhaps for stuff like that.

I was thinking of some cropped light chino style trousers in cream with a loose white shirt and sandals for sightseeing?

No idea about evenings...will root through the wardrobe and see what I have already.

I wish I was like dh and had lovely tan legs and only had to worry about flinging a few pairs of shorts and a t-shirt into the bag.

I can dress for a city in the heat just about but am worried that will look wrong at a resort.

I like loose trousers or maxi dress for evening...nothing that will rub sunburn!!

The most important item of clothing will be the thing you put on over your swimsuit to get to/leave the beach - I always pack loads for August beach holidays, but it's the over-the-swimsuit dress/shirtdress/kaftany thing that I always wear more than anything else.

And yes to dresses rather than separates - it's just too damn hot to have something around your waist.

Great tips thanks!

I have remembered that I bought a beautiful kaftan type thing in Monsoon last year and never wore it and it is shoved in the back of the wardrobe so will root that out.

I have one black light jersey maxi dress I bought going to Venice one year but only wore once there, that will be perfect too I hope!

I might look for a few more maxi dresses in the sales before we go, then I do not have to worry about exposing legs etc.

Has anyone any thoughts on the maxi kaftan on the boden site? It is turquoise and I am strangely drawn to it......opinions would be very welcome!

It will be hot hot hot in August so cool and floaty is my advice. I shouldnt worry too much about looking stylish most people just look sweaty!

I am a ginger. A good sunscreen obviously a must. If it's not your usually holiday, one thing to be aware of is the type of back you're carrying: you can slather on sunscreen but if you're wearing a vest and backpack (for example) be very aware that your shoulders will rub.

If you want to cover up, buy natural fabrics or fast wicking outdoorsy stuff. Some of the outdoorsy stuff will readily dry overnight if you want to wash and wear. Linen trousers are also for through the day, but in high season they will get sweaty.

Evenings - the much maligned linen trousers are good, a also like pull on knee length or maxi dresses (fitted is fine, but if so stretchy and no zips). Some people like cardigans, but I prefer a pashmina. I tend to take both.

Do buy a cover-up for swimsuits. These are invaluable for 'I fancy lunch by the pool' or 'I forgot to buy sparkling water and need to go to the nearby shop' (or whatever, you get the idea). I have had several, but favour the floaty knee length ones as easy to pull on and don't look obviously wet (as compared to the stretch round the boobs and flare style).

its probably going to be 35 degrees plus, so i suggest kaftans and big sunhats

Definitely a kaftan type thing is the way to go, have a look at Seafolly (on figleaves or coco bay), also Aspiga and monsoon do some lovely ones. Maybe a maxi dress for evenings? Try Hush. I live in this kind of thing on hols, am similar age to you although I do rather love tanning too. Couple of pairs of lovely flat sandals, havaianas and wedge espadrilles, sorted. I love j crew or gap shorts too but more for strolling than beach. Your holiday sounds fab

for swimming, get some long boardshorts, a bikini top and a rash vest. Allows you to splash around for hours with reduced exposed skin. When you get out, change bikini top and cover up top half. Leave boardies to dry which they will do quickly. Add a big hat.

kaftans make people look like walking tents.

a size 14 at your height is normal, even with the wide variation in clothes sizes. Stop worrying.

I'm shorter than you and a rather solid size 14 - you sound like a lovely shape :)

I was in Lanzarote a couple of weeks ago and it's fascinating seeing what everyone else wears on hols! The most stylish people, IMO, were showing less flesh and weren't wearing obviously "holiday" outfits, i.e. they didn't look uncomfortable/self-conscious, and they looked like they were enjoying themselves!

I'd advise starting with something something like the below:

Your black maxi dress
Another maxi dress (Sainsburys have some surprisingly nice ones)
A knee-length striped pull-on casual dress that can be a beach cover-up or sightseeing dress
A long Jersey skirt (H&M good for these)
A couple of pairs of whatever trousers you feel comfy in - M&S has loads of lovely harem pants. I also like chinos and wideleg linen trousers can look stylish, a sling as they're not too creased. The nice thing about printed trousers is that they look great (like you've made an effort) with plain tops - I find them easier to style than plain trousers.
A couple of the scoop neck sleeveless tops that are everywhere at the mo - maybe two plain and one patterned
A couple of cover-ups such as a thin jersey blazer and a thin kimono-style cardy/jacket
Swimsuits/bikinis
A couple of light caftan-type things for by the pool/on the beach
Some nice chunky/statement jewellery to jazz up the plain tops and maxi dresses
Definitely at least one lovely wide-brimmed sunhat (there'll be loads of places swilling these there)
Flip flops
Metallic flat sandals for evening
Comfortable sandals for day that you're happy to walk/sightsee in

I'd also heartily recommend sticking to a colour palette (even though that's a wanky thing to say...) - maybe black and white with a brighter colour or two, or blues and white, or grey, navy and green, for example. This makes packing, and choosing outfits whilst there, so much easier!

I don't think you'll need anything like a pashmina/cardigan at night.

There were some very stylish ppl when we went and also many many sweaty/red not very stylish ppl. Keep cool, don't get burnt, bring great sunglasses, a stylish hat, metallic flats. I'd also get an eyelash tint and a mani/pedi. Enjoy! And don't stick to the main tourist areas, there are beautiful spots all over the island.

White clothes don't show sweat but suncream can stain them, in my experience.

Going to majorca few weeks before deck need colour pallet for pale skin especially with costumes I always feel I look like a bag of spanner s on holiday I am petite+really struggle Without resembling Demisrusos!did have my colours done total godsend!enjoy x

Thank you all so very much for the advice. I know it is vain but I like to feel like 'me' when on hols iykwim? My mother is a great believer in 'anything goes' when you are abroad and she is also a huge fan of totally matching pastel ensembles, I don't wish to go down either of those routes!

It is hard when you are pale to look good in revealing summer clothes I find.

I really like the idea of picking a sort of colour palette that suits and sticking with that. I also think I will invest in a few more maxi dresses etc that are comfortable.

I would love to be one of the stylish people and not one of the many many red, sweaty and unstylish people coffeenut saw when she was there!

I am fine with the heat, we always travel abroad in August (the only time I can take holidays from work) but as I said we usually do cities - Venice, Paris, Budapest, Prague etc and dressing for that is totally different to dressing for beach / pool / resort I feel....

If anyone comes across any nice dresses / maxi's / soft trousers etc I would really appreciate the links.

I shall DEF get a pedi / mani and new sandals for both day and evening wear. An eyelash tint is a great idea.

I will also apply some fake tan to arms. legs and chest / back as otherwise I would be at risk of blinding people with the glare from my extreme white skin haha!

'I shall DEF get a pedi / mani and new sandals for both day and evening wear'

Mani pedi is a great idea

I'm a fellow pale skinned person and I don't tan (through choice). Please stop worrying about your white skin. Pale skin looks a million times better than either lobster-coloured sunburned skin or streaky orange badly tanned skin. Invest in a good body scrub (Soap and Glory do fab ones fairly cheaply) and plenty of moisturiser and you will be fine.

nothing like planning ahead

i dont like all the FABRIC of Kaftans etc