The single most valuable piece in a vacation suitcase is the dress that does it all — thrown over swimwear at the beach, then dressed up for dinner with just a shoe change and some jewelry. The vacation edit: the do-it-all dress, how to choose it, and how to take it from beach to dinner.

The Do-It-All Vacation Dress

Why one versatile dress wins vacation: it-does-it-all (the a-vacation-dress spanning beach-to-dinner from the beach-to-dinner-capsule chapter — the the-versatility; the does-it-all), the the-throw-over-swimwear (the the-dress over swimwear at-the-beach from the vacation-swimwear-and-coverup chapter — the the-beach; the over-swimwear), the the-dress-up-for-dinner (the the-dress dressed-up for-dinner from the beach-to-dinner-capsule chapter — the the-dinner; the up-for-dinner), the the-saves-packing-space (the one dress saving suitcase-space from the vacation-packing-capsule chapter — the the-packing; the saves-space), and the reframe (the vacation-dress as a-do-it-all, over-swimwear, dress-up-able, space-saving piece).

How to Choose It

Choosing the perfect vacation dress: the the-versatile-style (the a-versatile dress-style (midi, maxi, wrap) from the resort-wear-outfits chapter — the the-style; the versatile-style), the the-flattering-and-comfortable (the a-flattering, comfortable dress from the resort-wear-that-isnt-tacky chapter — the the-comfort; the flattering-and-comfortable), the the-easy-fabric (the a-breathable, wrinkle-resistant fabric from the vacation-packing-capsule chapter — the the-fabric; the easy-fabric), the the-a-color-or-print (the a-flattering color-or-print from the bold-resort-wear chapter — the the-color; the color-or-print), the the-not-tacky (the an-elevated (not tacky) resort-dress from the resort-wear-that-isnt-tacky chapter — the the-elevated; the not-tacky), the the-day-to-evening-potential (the a-dress that transitions day-to-evening from the beach-to-dinner-capsule chapter — the the-transition; the transitions), the the-packs-well (the a-dress that packs-easily from the one-week-carry-on-capsule chapter — the the-packs; the packs-well), and the the-photo-worthy (the a-photo-worthy vacation-dress from the vacation-photo-wardrobe chapter — the the-photo; the photo-worthy).

How to Take It From Beach to Dinner

Transitioning the vacation dress: the the-over-swimwear-by-day (the the-dress over swimwear by-day from the vacation-swimwear-and-coverup chapter — the the-beach; the over-swimwear), the the-swap-to-heels-or-sandals (the swapping to dressier sandals-or-heels from the beach-to-dinner-capsule chapter — the the-shoes; the swap-shoes), the the-add-jewelry (the adding vacation-jewelry from the vacation-jewelry-accessories chapter — the the-jewelry; the add-jewelry), the the-add-a-bag (the a-nicer bag for dinner from the beach-to-dinner-capsule chapter — the the-bag; the evening-bag), the the-hair-and-a-lip (the hair-and-a-lip for evening from the beach-to-dinner-capsule chapter — the the-hair; the hair-and-lip), the the-layer-if-cool (the a-light layer if-it-cools from the beach-to-dinner-capsule chapter — the the-layer; the layer-if-cool), the the-one-dress-two-looks (the one-dress day-and-evening from the beach-to-dinner-capsule chapter — the the-versatility; the one-dress-two-looks), and the frame (the vacation-dress as a-versatile-flattering-and-easy-fabric dress taken-beach-to-dinner-with-shoe-jewelry-and-bag-swaps — does it all. Choose the do-it-all vacation dress — a versatile style (midi, maxi, wrap), flattering-and-comfortable, in a breathable wrinkle-resistant fabric, elevated (not tacky) — then take it beach-to-dinner: over swimwear by day, then swap to sandals-or-heels, add jewelry, a nicer bag, and hair-and-a-lip for evening: the one piece that does it all.

The single most valuable piece in a vacation suitcase is the dress that does it all — thrown over swimwear at the beach, then dressed up for dinner with a shoe change and some jewelry (saving packing space). Choose it — a versatile style (midi, maxi, wrap), flattering-and-comfortable, in a breathable wrinkle-resistant fabric, in a flattering color-or-print, elevated (not tacky), that transitions day-to-evening and packs well. Take it beach-to-dinner — over swimwear by day, then swap to sandals-or-heels, add jewelry, a nicer bag, and hair-and-a-lip for evening (one dress, two looks). How to choose the one piece that does it all.