Of the five trends that structure contemporary Latin American design, none has had as much global editorial impact as resort wear. When Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, or WSJ publish a travel issue, Latin American brands dominate the pages. There's a reason: the region combines excellent raw materials (Caribbean linen, pima cotton, Brazilian crepe silk, raffia), vibrant artisanal techniques (embroidery, weaving, natural dyeing), and a strong aesthetic imaginary (Caribbean Sea, Atlantic beach, Andean sun).
Why Latin America leads
- Climate. Half of the region lives in resort wear all year round. It's functional clothing, not aspirational.
- Raw material. Linen, organic cotton, raffia, and crepe silk are produced in the region with short supply chains.
- Textile tradition. Mexican embroidery, Peruvian loom weaving, and Colombian lace techniques are unique editorial resources.
- Authorial talent. Designers like Johanna Ortiz, Silvia Tcherassi, and Adriana Degreas export to Net-a-Porter, Bergdorf, Matches.
The five key pieces of the Latin resort wardrobe
- Kaftan. Foundational piece. Versions in white linen, crepe silk with a V-neck, cotton with Oaxacan or Wayuu embroidery. Suitable for the beach, lunch, cocktail.
- Long linen dress. Thin straps or poncho-style sleeves. Ecru, terracotta, or navy blue. An anchor piece.
- Embroidered cover-up. Cotton or crochet knit, with floral embroidery. A transitional piece between swimwear and a dress.
- Hand-woven hat. Ecuadorian Panama hat, Mexican palm, or toquilla straw. Wide brim or low crown.
- Flat leather sandal. Natural vegetable leather, jute or leather sole. Minimalist version or with artisanal details.
How to build a resort wardrobe
The most common mistake is to buy resort wear as vacation clothes — "travel pieces" that are then never worn. The correct editorial logic is the opposite: buy resort wear as long-term clothing for warm climates (Guatemala included), with pieces that work equally well on a beach in Tulum, at a lunch in Zone 10, or a gallery in Polanco.
At Aguadulce, the resort cluster dominates the catalog between March and October. Each season we incorporate kaftans, linen dresses, cover-ups, and accessories from emerging designers and established Latin brands. If you want help building a resort wardrobe for a destination wedding, a trip, or your daily life in Guatemala, a team stylist can advise you in person or remotely.
Explore the current selection of dresses by Latin designers and Latin design accessories. More details about our editorial proposal can be found in About Aguadulce.