What to wear on a sun holiday over 50?!

[pippapipps]

Haven't been on a sun holiday since my twenties so I've no idea what to wear on a week long sun holiday in June.
I'm mid fifties, size 8, very pale..trying all sorts of fake tans lately but omg it's a disaster I can never get it right.. don't want to look orange I just want to look lightly tanned but that's another thread!
Anyway what to wear? My pasty not going right tan is what's bothering me so I don't want to expose too much patchy tan skin!

Although I'm slim everyone seems to think I can strut about wearing what I want but I can't, my body is certainly not great with not a lot of clothes on at my age haha so I'm looking for things that would keep me cool, not expose too much of my patchy tan old skin and possibly look a bit trendy for a mid fifties woman
Any ideas from anyone a similar age very welcome! TIA

I'm 53 and pale and love a kaftan type dress. It can be dressed up and down as you want to. H&M have some lovely floaty dresses. Also a good sun hat.

Waisted kaftan dress - Light beige - Ladies | H&M GB

I'm in a hotel this spring in a warm climate with a pool that I intend to spend a bit of time at. It's not 'glamorous' per se, as a towelling dress, but I ordered one today as it looks like something I'd be happy to wear back and forth to the pool over a swimsuit: https://www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-zip-towelling-dress-navy/p4203218?size=m#product

I like the Garnier summer body for a bit of fake tan, they make it for lighter and darker skin tones.

M&S is your friend. Can you visit one with a big clothing department? Their sizing is mad, I am 10 in shorts and 16 in vest tops .

Their shorts and trousers are great.

I like:
Shorts with a vest top and an unbuttoned cotton or linen shirt
A cotton or linen blend loose top
Lightweight trousers, cotton jumper
Shift dresses
Long loose dress

Jeans, jumper and raincoat for a sun holiday?

In Italy in August, you see women of all ages in skin tight jeans and massive heels. They must be absolutely melting!

I was in Italy in August a couple of years ago and the women were all dressed appropriately for the weather. I did see some men in jeans in Rome at around 30 degrees, but they weren't skin tight and people there keep to the shade during the day.

This was Lake Garda - Garda town in the evenings.

I’m going there in June - I was planning linen trousers and a maxi dress - maybe I should pack my skinny jeans instead !

Apologies if someone has already mentioned but I throw in a pair of light chub-rub knickers for under dresses and skirts. Rinse them out in the shower and they dry really quickly.

These are lovely until you look at the front. I'm 54 and don't want to wear torn shorts. They also don't have OP's size.

OP is slim and less likely to have chub rub than someone larger. I'd only wear chub rub underwear if needed.

We were boiling in the south of France last year.
Linen was my friend. Loose fitting linen, in the form of dresses, wide trousers and blouses.
I did sometimes wear a fitted vest underneath because the loose cut of the dresses and blouses left my boob on show. I don't need a bra so I didn't end up with 3 layers on top!

I have to say I agree about shorts. They very very rarely flatter in my opinion.

Maxi dresses, maxi skirts, floaty trousers. How about this dress

https://www.next.co.uk/style/su528515/au9968#au9968

They have non-torn ones in the shop - and every summer do this style of shorts in a range of lovely colours in addition to denim.

HOWEVER Sainsburys also do this style of shorts, very excellent, possibly with a slightly wider leg, and half the price. https://tuclothing.sainsburys.co.uk/product/tuc143762686

I also like these in TU for casual day time wear with loose trousers, skirt of shorts
https://tuclothing.sainsburys.co.uk/product/tuc145549598?clickSR=slp:term:tshirt:1:135:1

https://tuclothing.sainsburys.co.uk/product/tuc145647331

https://tuclothing.sainsburys.co.uk/product/tuc145335792

Yes, I was going to say that if not needed, they'll probably make you feel hotter.

I'm extremely pale; a professional spray tan works for me on the very rare occasion I do anything glam.

Loving all these suggestions so helpful Thanks everyone 🙏🏻
I like the idea of midi/maxi dresses and I'm going to try some linen trousers over the next few weeks x

Once you're on holiday Piz Buin helps you go brown easily, I suspect it contains fake tan.

Last time I went on a sun holiday I lived in shirts and shorts for the day, and dresses for the evenings. I don't think I bought anything new. One of the easiest things was a cheap sundress from Temu that I bought for lazing around the house/ beach dress.

Linen gives some people prickly heat - don’t know why. V thin cotton may be better.

I’d die of ‘hotness’ in linen trousers.

The thinnest cotton is best, although hard to find. Some beach cover ups are polyester, or polyester lined. Not a good idea!

Cut-out one piece swimwear is really flattering. Sarongs (long OR short), long can be worn as a dress too!
Kaftans are airy and wear well around the hotel during the day.
I like lightweight Bardot style or the less is more maxi/midi dresses for evening.
Wedges are pretty an so comfy!
Enjoy! 💐

I would just say however much you look at your body and thinking need to cover up, when you are by the pool and roasting in that huge coverup you will wish you thrown something more revealing in the case.
look at cotton and linens for coverups, nylon and polyester you will just sweat.
take your swimmies and sarongs, full cotton shirt if preferable. Going out floaty dresses and t shirt or vest and shorts. Linen three quarters and floaty tops again not polyester or nylon.
and a hat and glasses, as much as you think you look awful, you’ll see a damn site worse once there, and wondered why you worried. When you’re thinking I can’t wear that I’m in my fifties there’s others thinking why not, I’m only in my fifties!

Holidays for us are for being cool rather than dressing up. We rejoice in our scruffs.