Women's Summer Clothes NZ: Holiday Clothing and Beach Dresses

Lorna Jane's summer clothes run from the beach to the gym. Our everyday summer wear has you covered for dresses, skirts, shorts, tees and a whole heap of cute lifestyle clothes. Our summer gym gear's here too - this range is chock full of our most popular workout staples that can handle the heat. We've even thought of mild evenings; loungewear and summer sleepwear are all right here at Lorna Jane.

Summer Dresses and Skirts

A summer dress is the easy option. One piece, done, out the door. Our summer dresses and skirts are the ones you'll live in on holiday, and the ones you'll reach for when you have plans. Shorts and tees are there for when you'd rather mix and match, or need something quick and uncomplicated. Go for the active pieces when you're actually training, and the lifestyle piece for the rest of the day.

What Should You Pack for a Summer Holiday?

A summer holiday wardrobe is easier to pack when the bottoms and the tops all work well with each other, because then every combo brings a whole new outfit. A light dress does the job for casual wear, and it pulls on over swimwear when the beach runs into lunch.

After that it's all about where you're going. A beach holiday is mostly swim, and everything else just goes over the top. A city trip in the heat is the opposite, so pack more dresses and skirts, plus a long sleeve top for the air conditioning. Don't forget the summer sleepwear - they double as comfy morning clothes once you’re back home.

What to Wear for a Beach Day, Travel or Training

Here's what we'd wear, depending on the day.

• Beach day: Start with the swimwear and build from there.
• Travel day: Wear loungewear on the plane and pack a dress for when you land.
• A hot day on your feet: Pop bike shorts under your dress, or go for a skort that's already got the shorts built in.
• Training, then plans: Train in your tank and shorts, then throw the dress on after.
• Warm nights at home: Get into the summer sleepwear and call it a day.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What can you wear over swimwear at the beach?
A: A loose dress, an oversized shirt or a wrap skirt all work as a beach cover-up. The main thing is being able to get it on and off without undoing buttons or ties. A dress or a shirt will cover your top half, while a skirt leaves your swimwear on show.

Q: What's the difference between a skort and a skirt?
A: A skort is a skirt with shorts built in underneath. It looks like a skirt from the outside and covers like a pair of shorts. A skirt has no built-in layer, so what goes underneath is up to you. You'll find our skorts in the tennis range and with the rest of the shorts.

Q: What should I look for in summer sleepwear?
A: Summer sleepwear comes down to coverage and fabric. Shorts sets and short-sleeve styles give you less coverage than full-length pyjamas, which is the main call once the nights warm up. Cotton is a natural fibre that absorbs moisture rather than repelling it.

Q: Can you wear leggings in summer?
A: Leggings still have a place in summer. They're good for indoor classes, early sessions and travel days. If you want less coverage, bike shorts and running shorts are in the same part of the range. It comes down to coverage, not the calendar.