14+ Chic Desert Outfit Ideas For Your Next Desert Getaway

Are you headed on a getaway to a desert destination? See 14+ modern and stylish desert outfit ideas for women so you’ll look great and stay cool in chic desert clothing!

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woman wearing a black midi dress and fisherman sandals
@vivianhoorn

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Desert Outfit Ideas for Popular Desert Locales

If you have a trip planned to a desert location and are wondering what to pack so you look chic and feel comfortable, you’ve come to the right place!

There are many popular desert destinations in the USA and abroad like Joshua Tree, Nevada, Arizona, Palm Springs, Morroco, Dubai, and the Sahara. While the climate varies among these locations, there are a lot of commonalities, such as high temperatures, low humidity, and lots of sun. 

Whether you are headed to the Burning Man festival in Nevada, a relaxing vacation in Palm Springs, or exploring Morocco, we are sure to have some desert outfits and desert clothing ideas you’ll love! 

The desert is known specifically for two things; high temperatures during the day and low humidity. So, you’ll want to make sure you dress appropriately. During the day it’s best to wear light and airy clothing that is breathable and keeps you cool. You’ll also want to make sure you have ample sun protection so sun hats are always a good idea

At night, temperatures can drop quite drastically in the desert, so it’s important to pack layers if you plan to be outside in the evenings. Sweaters, light jackets, pants, and warm socks, are all worth packing for the desert evenings

Chic Desert Outfits

Below are our favorite stylish and modern desert outfits that can be adapted from day to night. 

Midi skirt + long sleeve button-down.

woman wearing a flowy white button up shirt with a green midi length printed skirt and sandals
@emswells

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The first desert outfit is both stylish and practical. A lightweight linen or cotton midi skirt is comfortable and airy paired with a white cotton or linen button-down shirt. 

This outfit is effortless and chic, yet provides great coverage against the sun and is still breathable enough to keep you feeling cool and comfortable. A pair of simple flip-flop sandals and a woven leather tote bag finishes the look. 

From day to night: In the evening, add a knit cardigan and swap the flip-flops for sneakers or ankle boots. If it’s too chilly for the midi skirt, opt for a pair of jeans instead. 

Flowy maxi dress + sun hat.

woman wearing a straw hat, long flowy dark pink dress and sandals
@camilleth_

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If you are staying at a resort in the desert, this is a perfect look. A long flowy maxi dress made from cotton or linen will keep you cool and relaxed. It also works as a great cover-up if you are going to be hanging around a pool for the day. 

A wide-brim sun hat is practical and stylish, protecting you from the hot sun and adding a modern vibe to this desert outfit. 

From day to night: In the evening add a warm crewneck sweater over the dress and wear a pair of heeled boots for a cute boho look! Or, instead of a sleeveless dress, go with a long sleeve maxi dress like the one linked above. 

sweatshirt + biker shorts.

woman wearing an ivory sweatshirt with biker shorts, socks and sandals
@olivialczak

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Heading for early morning coffee on your desert trip? This is a great outfit to try. The sweatshirt provides warmth before the full heat of the day, and the shorts are comfortable and practical. 

Socks will keep your toes warm and look cute with pillow slide sandals, but you can take them off when the temperature starts to heat up. Wear a cropped tank under the sweatshirt and you’ll be ready for a day of fun activities. 

Tip: Add a baseball cap for extra sun protection! 

Lightweight blouse + denim shorts.

woman wearing a printed orange long sleeve shirt, denim shorts, and sandals
@sincerelyjules

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For desert destinations like Joshua Tree, Arizona, Nevada, and Palm Springs, an outfit like this is perfect. You’ll look fashionable and cute, and won’t be too hot. 

Jeans are best kept for evening wear in the desert when the sun goes down and the temperatures drop. But, a pair of denim shorts are fine during the day as the weather is not humid and you won’t overheat in them. 

This colorful lightweight top is breathable and airy, and the sandals and straw tote complete the desert vibe. 

From day to night: Swap the denim shorts for a pair of jeans and add a small jacket to make sure you are feeling warm enough if the temperatures drop. 

Polo shirt + wide-leg trousers.

woman wearing a knit polo t-shirt and white wide leg trousers
@katjamieson_

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In places like Morocco or Dubai, this is a chic and practical desert outfit. A lightweight t-shirt with an elevated vibe looks great with light linen or cotton trousers. 

Paired with slides and a straw tote the outfit is classy, comfortable, and great for dry, hot weather. Add a wide-brim hat for added protection from the sun, and don’t forget sunglasses!

From day to night: This outfit would work great in the evenings with the addition of a utility jacket or warm sweater. Go with loafers or flats to keep your toes warm! 

Swimsuit, linen shirt + bucket hat. 

woman wearing an oversized white button up shirt over a green two-piece swimsuit with sandals
@stepholejn

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Palm Springs is calling in this cute resort-worthy desert outfit. If you are headed to a place with a pool you’ll want to make sure you don’t forget a cute swimsuit, as well as a lightweight cover-up so you don’t burn!

Bucket hats are all the rage right now and we are smitten over raffia bucket hats. They offer sun protection with a cute 90s vibe. 

cotton blouse + pleated plissé pants.

woman wearing a white button up shirt, pleated trousers, and heeled sandals
@isabelcamposr

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This outfit is giving us ‘dinner in the desert’ vibes. Many desert destinations have bustling cities with lots of nice restaurants, so put on a simple cotton button-down blouse, a pair of chic plissé style pants, and your favorite heeled sandals.

The look is elevated and yet minimal at the same time with the perfect pop of color. 

From day to night: If the temperature drops at night, bring along a blazer or jacket to shrug over your shoulders! 

little black dress.

woman wearing a mini black slip dress in the desert
@theindiaedit

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If a desert festival is calling your name, put on a cute linen black mini dress and a pair of comfortable sandals. Add sunglasses and a straw tote bag and you’ll be ready to take on the day and dance your heart away. 

While black might not seem like the best color for desert clothing, as long as you go with a looser fit and lightweight, breathable fabric, you’ll feel cool and comfortable. 

From day to night: Wear a cozy oversized jacket over the dress and swap the sandals for combat boots for a cute desert nightlife look. 

crochet dress + sandals.

woman wearing a rainbow striped crochet dress
@danielle_terem

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Last summer crochet dresses took the fashion world by storm, and this trend shows no signs of stopping. We’re here for it!

A long-sleeve, midi-length crochet dress offers the perfect mix of coverage from the sun and breathability from the fabric so you don’t overheat in the desert climate. We love this colorful rainbow midi dress for a pop of color, but you can easily go with a neutral cream, tan, or black. 

From day to night: Crochet dresses actually look really great with boots (see here), and give a boho vibe. So in the evening, swap the sandals for boots and add an oversized denim jacket. 

airy cotton shorts set.

woman wearing a matching maroon striped button up shirt and shorts set with sandals
@lisadanielle__

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Matching sets always have an elevated look. We love this striped set from Faithfull The Brand paired with a straw tote and simple slides. The set is made from 100% cotton so it’s breathable and airy, and the long sleeves on the shirt provide good sun coverage. 

This is a great outfit for sightseeing (unless you are in the Sahara, then we would recommend pants over shorts!), hanging out by the resort pool, or exploring the markets. 

slip dress + slides.

woman wearing a long printed black slip dress
@katjamieson_

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This is another chic dinner look for Palm Springs, Arizona, or Nevada. The slip dress gives an elevated vibe and is great for warm evenings. We love this cutout dress from Johanna Ortiz with brown sandals and the YSL clutch. 

If the budget allows, go for this outfit! Otherwise, you can recreate this look with more budget-friendly pieces!

From day to night: If the temperature drops at night where you’re going, add an oversized blazer for an extra layer of warmth. 

easy breezy two-piece set.

woman weaning a matching cotton gauze brown crop top and pant set with sandals
@netaporter

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When it comes to desert attire, muslin is a perfect fabric as it is a finely and loosely woven cotton that is breathable and airy. This two-piece set is lightweight and will keep you feeling cool in the desert heat.

As mentioned before, we love the look of a matching set. Neutrals are timeless, and this brown color is classy and sophisticated. Add a long sleeve button-up shirt for extra coverage, or swap the crop top for a simple white cotton tank if you find this outfit too revealing for your taste. 

simple white dress.

woman in the desert wearing a white shirt dress with a belt
@theblondeabroad

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A classic white shirt dress is a great desert option for locations like Egypt, Morocco, and Dubai. You’ll feel cool and comfortable when exploring, and you’ll look timeless and chic. 

A shirt dress will provide more coverage and protection from the sun. So bring along a hat and enjoy the scenery!

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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