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You’re going to ARUBA! How exciting. You already know where you’re staying and what you want to do while you’re there.
BUT, most importantly, you need to know what to wear in Aruba. Here’s everything you need to know. I’m not going to lie, this post is mainly aimed at women, because I myself am a woman.
So let’s get to it, everything about how to dress in Aruba from what to wear on the plane to Aruba to what to pack for Aruba.
WHAT TO WEAR IN ARUBA
7 Day Outfit Checklist – What to Pack For Aruba
- Swimwear (whatever style) x 3
- Pants/underwear x 7
- Bras x 2-3
- Beach cover up x 1
- Casual kimono/shirt x 2
- Dressy blazer/kimono/cardigan x 2
- Jumpsuit x 1
- Casual sundress x 1
- Skirt (maxi/midi/mini) x 1
- Palazzo pants x 1
- Tops (vest/tshirt etc) x 5
- Sunglasses x 1-2
- Hat x 1
- Shoes x 3/4
- PJs x 2 (not necessary if you sleep naked, hahah)
- Light rain coat x 1 (JUST IN CASE)
CASUAL DAY WEAR
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Day wear is pretty much anything goes (apart from nudity, that’s a no-no). Sun dresses, linen pants, playsuits etc, there’s plenty of options. The aim is to keep cool but still covering up from the sun while you’re out and about on the island.
Whether you’re shopping in Oranjestad or exploring Arikok National Park you’ll need to be comfortable, cool and looking amazing for your holiday snaps.
Material-wise it’s all about breathable fabrics; cotton, linen, chambray (lighter more breathable version of denim) etc. The checklist above gives suggested quantities of each item needed for a 7 day stay in Aruba.
EDIT – Aruba is VERY windy at times, so if you’re wearing a flowy or short dress that might blow up make sure to wear a pair of bicycle/legging shorts underneath so that you’re not constantly trying to hold the hem down!
EVENING WEAR
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Let’s be honest, we all look forward to going out for a nice meal and a cocktail or two when we’re on holiday and Aruba is the perfect place for that. But what do we wear in Aruba during the evening?
Simple, Aruba is not pretentious or stuffy. Depending on where you choose to eat you can go very casual.
If you do want to go somewhere fancy you might want to dress it up a bit, though most places in Aruba do not have a strict dress code. You don’t have to be dripping in diamonds or wearing heels. Most of your casual day outfits can transition to evening with a slight change of accessories or top.
It really is all about your personal style, of course, but as long as you look presentable/smart casual you’ll be fine everywhere.
Team a blazer with your sun dress or slip on a sequin top over your playsuit and you’re ready to hit the town. If you’re worried about a dress code anywhere just make sure to check the policy online or via the phone ahead of time.
It does get a little cooler in the evenings in Aruba so it’s worth bringing a heavier cardigan or blazer.
ONE PIECE SWIMSUITS
The most colourful swimsuits I have ever seen in my life were in Aruba, so I recommend you bring something bright with you too. Bring a few different options, you’ll be spending a lot of time in your swimwear.
**Check out some colourful swimwear HERE**
If you’re going to do sea-kayaking or anything along those lines make sure you get a swimsuit with fuller coverage, a long sleeved swimsuit or wear a rash vest over your suit to avoid sun burn. I got caught out with that when kayaking over to Mangel Halto.
EDIT – The staff at Superfoods don’t need to see you in your swimwear, no matter how beautiful you are! Throw on a cover up before you head down the vegetable isle.
TWO PIECE SWIMWEAR
Not feeling the one piece?? Need to get a bit more of a tan?? No problem! Aruba is the perfect place to flaunt your gorgeous bikini body (yes you, you big babe).
Since Aruba is an island and has no shortage of stunning beaches you’ll need to bring at least a couple of different bikinis with you depending on the length of your stay.
Personally I need a two piece with a bit more support in the bust so I try to go with the more sporty, less delicate, designs. The more colourful the better! I absolutely LOVE Figleaves swimwear. They ship to the UK, Ireland, the US and beyond. Their bikinis are pretty, practical, have great support and won’t break the bank. Check out Figleaves US and Figleaves UK for all your bikini needs.
Bikinis are an easy thing to pack because they take up barely any space, so just stuff them into your case and get ready to soak up the sun.
ACCESSORIES
No matter what you wear in Aruba you will need to have a couple of perfect accessories. I’m talking beach bags, fun inflatables, sunglasses, jewellery, sun hats etc. This is mostly about your personal style (as I keep saying).
Sunglasses and a good sun hat are absolutely essential! Nobody wants sunstroke on their holiday. And who doesn’t want ridiculous vacation photos of themselves lounging on a rose gold inflatable flamingo?! You’ll be the envy of everyone else at the pool.
Don’t worry about packing a towel, they always take up way too much room in the case. Most hotels will have beach towels for rent or you can pick one up in Oranjestad.
FOOTWEAR
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This may sound basic, but footwear is usually where people go wrong. Bringing too many pairs of shoes or the wrong pairs can take up an unnecessary amount of space in your suitcase forcing you to limit yourself when packing.
Obviously you’ll need a pair of flipflops or sandals. A pair of trainers/runners are essential if you plan on doing anything active like hiking in Arikok or walking around Oranjestad for the day.
Make sure you put your footwear in a plastic bag on the way home as there’s bound to be some sand stuck in them and you don’t want that all over everything in your suitcase.
Personally I will only bring one casual sandal, either a Birkenstock or a slider sandal. I love them both. Then I take a pair of plain NIKE runners for those days when I know I’ll be doing a lot of walking.
If I know I’ll be going somewhere fancy I bring one pair of evening, more dressy sandals or a pretty pair of flats.
I’m not a heels person, but if you are that’s fine of course! Just don’t bring more than one pairs (you really only need your very favourites).
What to Wear on the Plane to Aruba
Obviously you have to be prepared to step off the plane into the blissful heat of Aruba. BUT, we all know planes can get quite cold with all that recycled air etc. So make sure to have a cardigan or hoody in your hand luggage for the flight.
Comfort is key when flying. So make sure you wear something comfy without a restrictive waistband or anything like that. Especially since flights can cause you to feel a bit bloated/swollen.
I’m a big fan of leggings (the Aerie leggings are my absolute favourite because POCKETS!) or sweats on a plane with lace up shoes that I can loosen if needed. OR, even better, slip on sandals with socks. It might not win any fashion awards but you’ll certainly be comfortable.
Alternatively you can put some pop socks/slippers in your hand luggage and put them on during the flight (depending on how long your flight is).
Aruba Clothing and Shopping
Arubans LOVE bright airy clothes and funky patterns and there are plenty of great places to shop on the island. So if you forget to pack something or want to pick up some local souvenirs then there are plenty of places to do that.
Cosecha Aruba is a design store full of locally made crafts and art pieces including jewellery, design pieces and more. They’ve all been produced by nationally certified local artisans.
The Renaissance Mall is a great spot for shopping too if you’re in Oranjestad. There’s an Aruba Aloe store in there which is great for souvenirs.
Eva Boutique in Oranjestad is also a popular favourite with regular holidaymakers in Aruba.
Is there anything I missed above?
Is there an item of clothing you always wear in Aruba?
LET ME KNOW
Recommended Reading
5 Awesome Things to do in Aruba
Review – Boardwalk Small Hotel Aruba
Uhm, I WISH I was going to Aruba! It’s on the list, though – so will save this for later 😉
I’m not even going to Aruba again, but I’ve 100% already bought a few of these bikinis. hahaha.
Hello Tara, wow! You have shared such a nice blog. It is really helpful for those persons who go to Aruba for their vacation. They feel so nice after knowing that what should they wear for that particular place. Thanks for sharing.
Gotta get some body jewelry to show off the curves too!
Thanks for writing this great article.
Hi Tara, stunning! You have shared such a decent blog. It is extremely useful for those people who go to Aruba for their get-away. They feel so pleasant in the wake of realizing that what should they wear for that specific place. A debt of gratitude is in order for sharing.