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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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!
How should I dress for the desert?
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.
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.
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.
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.
get the look:
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.
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!
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
get the look:
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!
What is desert chic clothing?
Desert chic clothing consists of pieces that are lightweight, breathable, and airy but have a fashionable and elevated look. Matching cotton sets, muslin maxi dresses, linen trousers, and woven sun hats are all examples of desert chic attire.
When visiting desert destinations you have to consider the high daytime temperatures and dry climate so that you stay comfortable, but this doesn’t mean you can’t look chic at the same time!
Packing The Best Desert Attire
In summary, if you want to hit the desert in style, try any of the outfits we’ve included in this post! If you are headed to a desert location in the summer, remember to dress in light, breathable, and airy desert clothing, and do not forget your sun hat!
In cooler months, bring layers so you can go light in the day and add warmth in the evening when the temperatures drop. Whether you are headed to a desert safari, a festival in Nevada, the resorts of Palm Springs, or the markets of Morocco, you’ll look chic and feel comfortable with these tips and desert clothing and outfit ideas!
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