What to Wear in the Mexican Caribbean
Words by Osman Ahmed
There is something about a tropical climate that instantly lifts your mood – so dress to match your serotonin levels. Style expert Osman Ahmed leads us through the do’s and don’ts of a tropical holiday to the Caribbean coast of Mexico, as part of our ‘Location Dressing’ series.
Header photograph by Benjamin Pexton
In a place as lush as Maroma on Mexico’s Riviera Maya, colours seem more vibrant and the salty breeze summons you to be barefoot on white sand, slowing the pace of your inner thoughts. That’s the point of paradise: you want to detach from your everyday routine and reset your tempo.
So if you’re planning a trip here, consider starting the journey at home and thinking about what you want from this trip. Do you want to be you, or do you want to be the most relaxed, inspired and happy version of you? Start by leaving your navy, black and grey items where they belong: at home. Maroma is a place imbued with local Mexican craftsmanship and a skyline of gently waving coconut trees, where life is all about vibration-lifting colour.
Located in the heart of the Riviera Maya, between dense jungle and a Caribbean coastline, everything about this oceanfront property is tailored to make you feel good. The food, the cocktails, the music, the local craft and the bright greens, blues and yellows of the coastline remind you that on holiday, nothing is grey and everything is as it should be.
Sure, you might find vivid hues daunting in everyday life. I get it, you never know how to pair colours together – nobody wants to look like a tropical fruit salad. Listen to me: just let go. Colour comes to life on the beach, paired with sunkissed skin and sea-salt-styled hair. Start with your swimwear: why not go for an electric-neon bikini or trunks? A shirt, a sarong, a bright beach bag and a handful of bangles can follow. Don’t bother taking a hat – instead, buy a locally made straw one when you get there.
If in doubt, echo the property itself; its architecture is influenced by ancient Maya buildings and is built from local materials, including palm, bamboo and white stone quarried in Mérida, which is often referred to as the Yucatán Peninsula’s cultural capital. White is the ultimate palate cleanser here, cutting through the lush jungle and dramatic coastline – let it do the same when pairing it with your rainbow brights.
WHAT TO WEAR ON...
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