There’s a singular moment I crave: stepping barefoot onto cool terra cotta tiles, breeze ruffling linen sleeves, salty air swirling with the scent of gardenias. It’s the hour when tropical shadows stretch and the sky teases the gold of dusk. You could be in Bali or St. Barths, Capri or Cartagena—it’s the same timeless, almost cinematic feeling of living effortlessly and sumptuously. Call it what you like, but lately, it’s been given a name that rolls off the tongue like a slow, luxurious wave: Resort-Core.

The Resort-Core Renaissance: More Than Just an Instagram Dream

A few years ago, “resort” conjured up images of Tulum cabanas or Amalfi terraces, seen through the filter-perfect snapshots of a lucky few. But something shifted. With the world rediscovering itself after seasons of lockdown and longing, travelers hungered for more than a fleeting getaway. The resort feeling had to follow them home and infuse their closets, fitness rituals, even their morning coffee ceremonies.

Resort-Core isn’t seasonal. It’s perennial luxury—the art of living as if every day carries a hint of vacation, where simplicity mingles with indulgence. A subtle caress for the senses. For me, it started innocently: a habit of wearing open-collared camp shirts, shell jewelry found in a Balinese market, sipping iced espresso with orange zest even in bleak New York winters. Small rituals, big change.

Wearing the World: Fashion as Passport

Resort-Core fashion is pure escapism, liberated from the tyranny of overdressing and instead, embracing refined ease. Imagine featherweight linens, silks whispering in the breeze, straw hats woven by artisans from São Tomé or Santorini, beaded slides with the memory of Marrakech’s souks. Clothes that feel like a sunbeam landing on your skin.

This season, my suitcase (and closet) is a swirl of earthy neutrals, sea-glass hues, and prints echoing the wild botanicals of tropical isles. Labels like Jacquemus, La DoubleJ, and Cult Gaia seem to have bottled sunshine and woven it into every piece they release. The Resort-Core wardrobe doesn’t just travel; it tells stories, each garment a relic of a trip lived or still dreamed.

The Ritual of Renewal: Resort-Core Wellness

In every great resort, the heartbeat is not the infinity pool or the pillow menu—it’s the unspoken promise of renewal. True Resort-Core starts here: morning stretches on the balcony, eucalyptus-scented showers, afternoon laps in sun-warmed water. Wellness isn’t an afterthought, but rather a daily ritual, a private luxury.

On my journeys, I find new ways to inhabit this feeling. A sunrise meditation on a volcanic cliff in the Azores; spa days spent beneath draping bougainvillea; afternoon naps in breezy hammocks, nourishing the soul as much as the body. Every act of care becomes a little vacation, granting you permission to inhabit the best version of yourself.

Luxury Is Attention—To Detail, To Self, To Surroundings

The Resort-Core lifestyle is a symphony of the senses, but also a renewal of presence. Savouring the sound of distant waves—even if you’re miles from the shore. Sharing poolside rosé and laughter with friends on an ordinary Thursday. Filling your home with rattan textures, oceanic candles, a stack of travel novels ready for daydreaming.

For some, it’s designing an entire home in the image of Montecito or Mallorca. For others, it’s a silk robe, a bowl of just-picked fruit, or a playlist dripping in bossa nova. I have found that you don’t have to board a plane to embrace this evolution of luxury. It arrives with intention, one detail at a time.

Future Gazing: Resort-Core, Everywhere

Resort-Core is here to stay, woven into our wardrobes, morning rituals, and social calendars. It makes the extraordinary feel possible—even in our most ordinary spaces. The world beckons, and whether you’re beachside in Mykonos or breathing in candlelight in your own city loft, this lifestyle reminds us to live brighter, softer, more fully awake.

Here’s to the art of living with sand beneath your feet—even if, sometimes, it’s only in your mind.