Sunny skies, warm weather and the perfect beach day – this is what comes to my mind when I think of a vacation in Mexico! A vacation in Mexico is always a ton of fun, and it’s a great excuse to wear some cute, colorful outfits. Welcome to your guide to what to wear in Mexico!
When thinking about what to wear in Mexico, it’s important to keep in mind that Mexico is a large country, and the climate variesgreatly depending on the region and season. This guide is for tropical locations year round, or most of Mexico in the summer! Think summer dresses, skirts and cute matching sets.
However, this post can easily be adapted to colder climates or other seasons, simply by adding sweaters and light jackets, or swapping in pants for skirts! This guide to what to wear in Mexico is very adaptable and customizable – so it’s perfect for any trip or vacation.
Other posts to check out:
Free Printable Packing List for Mexico
Things to do in Punta Mita, Mexico
Things to do in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
What to Wear in Mexico
Many popular tourist destinations in Mexico are located on the beach – like Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Puerto Vallarta, Tulum and Cabo San Lucas. For all of these destinations you’ll want to pack light beachy items, both for daytime looks and dressier nighttime looks.
Daytime Outfits
For the daytime, I recommend casual lightweight outfits. I love either dresses, or skirts with tanks for an easy, cute day daytime look. These outfits make you look put together, but are still minimal effort and can be worn on tours, out exploring, or to a casual lunch.
Because of the high humidity in many tropical areas, I try to wear light fabrics that aren’t too tight.
Below are some of my favorite daytime outfits that I wore in Mexico!
My favorite outfits are those that can easily transition from day to nightsimply by changing my shoes or adding some jewelry. However, if you’re going out to a nice dinner or a bar, it often requires an outfit change.
My favorite nighttime look is a dress with a block heel. Pair that with some dainty gold jewelry and you’re all set. These outfits are versatile and work for nice dinners, shows and co*cktail bars.
Below are some of my favorite nighttime looks from Mexico!
In addition to your cute shoes and outfits, you’ll want to bring some versatile accessories on your trip! For me, this always includes a cute purse, jewelry that matches everything, and scarfs/clips for my hair.
I hope you found this outfit guide for what to wear in Mexico on vacation to be helpful! If you have any questions, or anything you’d like to add to this post, let me know in the comments.
Make sure you’re also following along on Instagram, @twosistersabroad, for tons of travel and outfit inspo!
What not to wear. Again, from a strong Mediterranean influence, Mexico City is relatively formal compared to more northerly cultures and those influenced by such cultures. With that in mind, no matter the time of year, it is not really the place to wear shorts or sandals or flip flops.
For example, Mexicans tend to dress more formally and conservatively than Americans or Europeans, especially for work or social events. They also tend to avoid wearing shorts, flip-flops, or tank tops in public places, as they are considered too casual or inappropriate.
The most common traditional Mexican garments are the huipil, a loose-fitting tunic worn by women; the sarape, a colorful woolen blanket-like shawl worn by men; and the sombrero, a wide-brimmed hat that protects the wearer from the sun. Long, flowing skirts have also been a staple of Mexican fashion for centuries.
In general, Mexico City fashion is more casual than in the United States or Europe. Amongst chilangos (Mexico City locals), you'll find that most folks dress modestly with jeans and teeshirts. Even in the hottest parts of the year, most locals will wear pants rather than shorts.
This includes black, white, gray, tan, beige, navy, olive green, or even leopard print, she told Insider, adding that you can mix neutral colors as well. According to Appelt, the majority of the clothing you pack for a trip should be neutral. Then, you can add pops of color with a few more articles.
No one wants to sit through a seven-hour flight in constricting jeans or too-tight shoes — soft, stretchy, and stylish clothing is the way to go. Athleisure sets, loose-fitting pants and tops, and slip-on shoes all make for comfy and convenient plane outfits.
1 | Consider following the 54321 Packing Rule: you can make 5 good outfits from 4 tops, 3 pairs of pants, 2 pairs of shoes and 1 dress (if you are a female). I sort of followed this rule but added just a few extra pieces since I was planning to be in Guatemala for 2.5 weeks.
I have a simple equation for a week of packing – three tops and three pants that all must match each other. This way I get nine outfits from six articles of clothing! Throw in a little black dress, and you're ready to take on any destination.
For a 5 day vacation, you will want to bring 2-3 pairs of shorts or pants, 3-4 tops, a light jacket (or a heavy jacket, depending on where you are traveling), and 1 formal outfit if you are planning on attending a nice restaurant or event. If you are going to the beach, pack 2-3 swimsuits/trunks.
Avoid bright-colored clothes and wear muted colors instead. Ditch the white sneakers, bulky cargo shorts, and yoga pants, and opt for comfortable shoes and casual pants like khakis. Forget the fanny pack and hulking backpacks. Carry only what you need.
Though Mexico is a country where the citizens dress in formal and modest clothes, depending on the situation, you should know how to fit in. You can definitely dress as you want, but knowing the way the locals dress is a way of getting treated like a local, instead of a tourist.
Passengers are allowed to bring, free of duty, merchandise in their personal luggage when entering the country. These include, among other things: Items for personal use, such as clothing and footwear.
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Introduction: My name is Cheryll Lueilwitz, I am a sparkling, clean, super, lucky, joyous, outstanding, lucky person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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