10 MUST-HAVE WARDROBE ITEMS IN PLAYA DEL CARMEN, MEXICO
When moving to Playa del Carmen, your lifestyle will see a lot of changes! Your weekdays will have a relaxed vibe, your weekends will offer endless beach adventures, you can work on a killer tan, and the people here love to go out every night of the week. But my favorite part? Probably the wardrobe. Not only do Playa del Carmen residents get to wear brightly colored prints year-round, but shopping costs go way down when you give up on sweaters, boots and endless pairs of jeans. Here in paradise, light and easy is the way to go!
Here are my top recommendations for what to wear when living in Playa del Carmen:
- Sandals
After you move to Mexico, you just might never have to wear socks again. Let your feet feel the ocean breeze all day, every day, whether you're in plain Havaiiana flip flops (my fave)
Or in some sparkly sandals!
When you need to dress up, heels aren't necessary. Yes ladies, let's all breathe a collective sigh of relief. Trade in your pumps for a pair of wedges. I can tell you from experience that wedges are much better than heels for navigating the cobbled 5th Avenue.
- Shorts
Even if you're self-conscious about showing a little leg, have no fear! A good Playa del Carmen tan will make any pair of legs look pretty darn good. It's time to throw away your jeans and invest in some shorts! Once you experience summer in the Riviera Maya, you'll be glad to have these.
- Sundress
When it's warm outside (which it almost always is), you can wear a cute sundress pretty much anywhere. To lunch, to a party, to the supermarket... easy. Make sure to have a few of these hanging in the closet of your Caribbean home.
- Light Jacket
And for those few nights a year when the temps dip below 70 degrees, you'll want a jacket for evening drinks on the beach. A fitted denim jacket goes with just about everything.
- Swimsuits
Yes, swimsuits... plural. Life at the beach requires a good beach wardrobe, and the swimsuit is the most important part. In Playa del Carmen, women of all shapes, sizes and ages tend to prefer the bikini.
But if you like to have more coverage, a tankini is a comfortable and attractive choice!
When picking out your Riviera Maya swimsuit, remember what your tan line will look like after a few months in paradise. Strapless might be a good call.
- Sarong
Those who have been living in Playa del Carmen for a while know that sarongs aren't just for covering up your swimsuit.
Locals also use them as a makeshift beach towel. They're much lighter and easier to carry than a beach towel (and they dry in minutes!), but they still work just as well for lying on the beach.
It's easy to find hundreds of brightly colored sarongs lining the shops along Playa's 5th Avenue.
- Purses
In my opinion, you only need three kinds of purses for your new Playa del Carmen lifestyle.
First, a beach bag of course! My favorite brand for beach bags is Zingara, a swimwear shop with several locations along 5th Avenue.
Second, a straw purse. They match everything, and let's face it: you can't wear this kind of stuff outside the tropics.
Third, a clutch. Playa del Carmen nightlife usually means bar-hopping, so you want something easy to carry but still beautiful. Remember: In Playa, the more colorful, the better!
- Sheer White Top
Stepping off the beach for a quick lunch? No sweat! Just throw some shorts and a sheer white top (any style) over your bikini and you're good to go.
Sunglasses
No tropical outfit would be complete without the perfect pair of shades. You can't get a good view of paradise if the sun's in your eyes.
- Flowy Skirt or Pants
There's no way to look more beach chic than pairing your swimsuit with a long skirt or billowy pants. It's great for covering up while still looking stunning.
