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 do this…something easy and comfortable.

I love getting dressed to go down for breakfast.

😁

My ‘breakfast’ dresses are cotton from Marks - shirred bandeau top and wafty skirt. I pop a cropped shirt open over the top for arm coverage. Fine for casual evening wear as well - and we only do casual on sun holidays.

Just arrived in the UAE yesterday.

I have packed linen, cotton, dress’s, chinos, wide leg cropped trousers, lots of shirts, sandals and a pair of tevas which are really comfy and a must for long walks, all terrain. One hat, one pair of shorts and a couple of pairs of sunglasses.
I’ll wear a dress or shirt over my swimsuit.

I always think ahead and I bought a lovely linen dress and a shirt in the sales in January 70% off.
Love a bargain.

Just unpacked and ironed everything…

I love the pattern on your multicoloured blouse @Cally62 !

Have you tried Nomads?
These come in 3 colours.
https://nomadsclothing.com/products/crinkle-viscose-straight-leg-trousers-indigo?variant=48033327120683

They also have some good summer dresses.

Fabulous thread! Thanks for all the links to some great clothing outlets I'd not heard of.

I have this shirt in a few colours, it's a very soft 100% cotton, like a fine muslin, it's not too long either so looks good with shorts or looser jeans but also great over dresses.

manamou.co.uk/collections/spring-summer-25/products/boho-blouse-white

I also highly recommend the jersey waist cotton maxi skirt below, I wear mine hoiked up as a strapless beach dress too.

Just booked a week in the sun for me and DS (16). I'll be keeping an eye on this thread for some good ideas. Squeeeee.

100 stars does nice flowy summery cover ups- kimonos, palazzo pants, dresses etc. Most of it is a viscose mix but a fair few of the dresses are 100% cotton

Op you mention you are pale so fake tan before going. Exfoliate really well then use one of those gradual build up.moisturising ones, so you don't go overboard. I Think Nivea do one. You need masses of suncream being fair. I would go for a face and body one. So 2 suncreams. Zinc is amazing particularly on the face. Brands such as neutogena &: Ego do a facisl.suncream whicj is eithervZ Zinc or Titanium.dioxide, it is clear.e., it physically blocks the sun. Chemical suncreams absorb the UV rays and turn them into heat, so make you hotter. Also mosquito spray if you are likely to be near any. I feel the heat so a visor, cooler than hats, then I would go for cotton whether t-shirt dresses or shorts /3/4"pants. With loose t shirts, blouses. Linen is cool,but who wants to be ironing on holiday, so I find cotton best. I find cotton dresses cooler than shorts, but do wear a mix on holiday.
Drink.lots of water in the daytime and top up the suncream at lunch. Shoe wise if you are going to be walking a lot I would get a nice pair of fisherman sandals or similar, you want a closed in shoe ie stap on the back so would avoid flip flops, sliders etc. I spent a long time living in Australia, and these are my best tips. Hope they help. Have a wonderful time.

Does anybody know if Teva sandals can be worn for paddling//swimming? Thanks.

@BigBurrata ….
Think I’ve had the shirt just over a year.

I'm 50 and try to get abroad every 6 weeks in winter, even just for a long weekend.

You're lucky to be so slim-I'm rather envious :) So that's a great starting point imo. It depends if you are hotel based for the pool and sunbathing or if you are out sightseeing and if so, which country you are in.

At the pool, I wear a one piece swimsuit with a wrap around covering it but that's just my personla preference. Many women my age and older wear a one piece or a bikini. Anything goes. Over that for walking round meals etc I wear shorts and a top or a 3/4 fitted trouser. In the evening I wear a 3/4 trousers and a short or long sleeve top depending on temperature. If it's a special meal or restaurant I will wear a knee length fitted dress. It really does depend where you are going. If clubbing the anything goes :)

If in a Muslim country sightseeting I would wear a full trouser and long sleeve loose top. Keep knees, shoulders and elbows covered and nothing tight-really just to avoid unwanted attention.

Have a fabulous holiday and don't worry-anything really goes, just wear what you feel comfy in :)

Yes.

There’s lots of different ones.

I only brought my leather all terrain away with me but have fabric ones at home that I wear when I’m in water.

Have a look on the Teva website. I’m a size 4 but go for a size bigger in Teva’s.

They last for years and years.

I honestly have never understood special holiday clothes. What would you wear on the hottest days in UK? Wear that.

I tried to address this question earlier in the thread. Obviously, I can only speak for myself.

Thanks @Cally62 I’m thinking that investing in a pair should prove more cost effective than cheap aqua shoes. We’re returning to a place with pebbled coves that are far more appealing than the crowded beaches, and I vowed last time that I’d only go back if I had better footwear!

@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie - Teva Tirra are great for walking accross beaches or freshwater with rocks and pools. I have Brighton sea shoes for swimming in where there are rocks and stones on the shore and/or risk of of sea urchins or stonefish etc.

@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie Here is the link
brightonwatershoes.co.uk/

Thank you @Cally62 !

Thank you. I saw those Brighton ones online, but wasn’t sure how sturdy they might be.

@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie - currently using them for their second trip to Barbados where the shoreline has a lot of coral. No problem at all. Stops all foot pain when going in and out of the water.

Thanks again. I'm going to order some. Would you say they're true to size? I'm around a 3 and a half - so size 3/4 should be okay?

@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie Yes, I would. I’m a size 6 and ordered a five - six and they fit perfectly.

Ordered -black for me and dp has chosen bright green, which is very unlike him! Thanks again. I might get some Tevas as well - going to see if I can try some on in Schuh or Arket.