Published Date May 30, 2019
Have you been hanging on for dear life for summer to arrive?! We have, and we're not feeling ashamed to admit it. Whether you've had your nose in books studying for finals or you've been juggling 40,000 responsibilities at work, it's time to take some much-deserved time off, don't you think? Hopefully you already have an amazing vacay planned and the only thing left to do is figure out what to pack. But sometimes packing can be stressful if you're like some of us and want to take your entire wardrobe with you - you NEVER know what you might need when you get to your destination! We've put together a packing list of tie-dye summer vacation essentials so you can stay bright, colorful and on trend whether you're road tripping to a hot destination spot or relaxing by the lake with the fam.
- White kimono (100% natural fiber like cotton, rayon or silk)
- White denim shorts
- White canvas shoes
- White cotton handbag
- White maxi dress - cotton, rayon or silk
- White 100% cotton T-shirt
- White cotton bandana
Unless you're going to be spending 24/7 on a beach (which you might very well be), shoes are obviously a MUST. A lot of vacations usually require a fair amount of walking, especially if you're sightseeing. The easy way to pack a comfy pair of kicks that are guaranteed to look cute with any outfit is to make your own ... with tie dye! To tie dye shoes, all you need is a white pair of canvas sneakers and your favorite Tulip Tie Dye colors.
At some point during your trip, you'll probably be in a need of a T-shirt. (Unless you don't wear T-shirts, in which case, are you even human?) Whether you're going for a hike, working out at the hotel gym (again we must emphasize, if you're working out during vacation - are you even human?) or taking in the sights, you can't go wrong with a tie-dye T-shirt. Try the spiral tie-dye technique or any of these other easy tie-dye techniques, and if you're still feeling creative, grab a pair of scissors and cut off the sleeves, neckline or other details for a truly custom altered tie-dye T-shirt.
Kimonos are the perfect article of clothing to take on your vacation because of their versatility! They make excellent swimsuit covers and also look lovely when worn with a dress, a pair of jeans, shorts or a skirt. There are so many ways to mix things up! Make your kimono stand out with tie dye in a bold shade of red (or any of your favorite colors) and either the shibori tie-dye technique or the stripes technique, pleating your fabric and adding dye just down the center (as shown). Mix it up and have fun ... we've said it before and will say it again ... there's no wrong way to tie dye!
Jean shorts are another wardrobe staple and perfect for summer vacation adventures. Tie-dye jean shorts are even better, and tie-dye jean shorts that have a galaxy pattern have us seeing stars! Give basic jean shorts a break from the mundane with cool shades of tie dye and the crumple tie dye technique. Looking for this specific color palette? You can get it in our Carousel 5-Color Tie-Dye Kit.
Maxi dresses can be dolled up or down for pretty much any occasion, so if you can only fit one dress in your suitcase, this is the dress to pack! You can go from day to night, beach to fine dining just by swapping out your sandals for heels, tote bag for dinner clutch and putting on a pretty set of earrings. Create your own ombre tie-dye maxi dress for a stunning little number that'll turn heads wherever you decide to wear it this summer.
If you're traveling, it goes without saying that you'll need a bag to tote your stuff around in. This dip-dye crochet bag is so easy to DIY (you literally dip it into a bin of dye to your liking) but you can tie dye any bag as long as it's made from cotton (or another natural fiber material). You can also try different tie-dye patterns ... get creative with it!
You didn't think we'd forget about accessories, did you?! Bandanas are great for keeping your hair back, tying around your neck to keep cool or protect from the sun, or just wearing to add a bright pop of color to your vacation look. Tie dye a white cotton bandana in your favorite color scheme for a versatile accessory that's functional and pretty too!
