When Europe turns cold and grey, St Barths is just getting started. The island's high season runs from December to April, and it peaks over Christmas and New Year, when Gustavia harbour fills with yachts and the whole island dresses up to celebrate. The style here is French Caribbean: barefoot by day, effortlessly chic by night, and never too formal.
The good news is that your summer wardrobe already has most of what you need. Here is how we dress for a winter-sun holiday in St Barths, with light pieces that pack flat and never need an iron.
Beach days: Saline and Gouverneur
The island's most beautiful beaches, Saline and Gouverneur, are wild and quiet, with no bars or shops, so you bring everything with you. Dress simply: something that goes straight over your swimwear and still looks good when you stop somewhere on the way home.
A skort is perfect for this. The Amara ruffle skort looks like a playful mini skirt but has shorts underneath, so you can climb down the path to the beach or step onto a boat without a second thought. For sun cover between swims, throw on an undyed kimono.
Lunch at Shell Beach or St Jean
Lunch in St Barths is long and sandy-toed, whether at Shell Beach near Gustavia or on the bay at St Jean. This is the moment for colour and a matching set. Pair the Gabriela ruffle wrap skirt in sky blue with the Valeria ruffle sleeve wrap top, or go soft and romantic with the Fiona tiered maxi skirt in pink and the Valeria top in pink. Long skirts keep the sun off your legs and move beautifully in the trade winds.
Sunset in Gustavia
As the sun goes down, Gustavia comes alive: the boutiques along the harbour, the yachts lighting up, an aperitif with a view of the water. Choose something with a little more polish but just as easy to wear. The Camelia slit maxi skirt has a front slit that makes walking easy and looks effortlessly elegant with a simple top, gold jewellery and flat sandals.
The cream edit: four beach looks
Cream and white look perfect against turquoise water and white sand, and they stay cool in the midday sun. These are our favourite pieces for beach days and long lunches by the sea.
- For a beach lunch: the Ines lace maxi dress is a full-length cotton lace dress with an elastic waist and adjustable straps, easy to slip on over your swimwear.
- For an easy beach day: the Sofia halter ruffle mini dress in cream has an open back and a tiered skirt that moves in the breeze.
- For a long, flowing look: the Gabriela ruffle wrap skirt in cream with the Giselle flower tube top make a matching cream set. The skirt ties at the waist and flows to the ankle, and the top has a single fabric flower at the front.
- For something modern: the Demi asymmetric ruffle skirt with the Shell bra top. Wear the skirt with the slit on one leg or at the side, and let the top's shell-inspired cups do the rest.
St Barths packing tips
- Pack for summer. The weather is warm all winter, so leave the knits at home and bring light, breathable cotton.
- Bring a cream look or two. Cream and white look perfect against the sea and go with everything else in your suitcase.
- Keep shoes simple. Flat sandals for the beach paths and boats, and one dressier pair for the evening.
- Skip the iron. Crinkled cotton never needs ironing, so you can unpack and wear it straight away.
- Order early. If you are travelling over Christmas or New Year, order a few weeks before you leave so everything arrives in time.
Shop the looks
Find every piece mentioned here in our best sellers, or browse dresses, skirts and tops. For more ideas, read our resortwear packing guide.