What to Wear in St Lucia

General Style Tips

In general St Lucia is the least commercial of the Caribbean islands and it is very laid back, so smart casual is the usual theme.
Clothing in lightweight natural fabrics i.e. linen, silk and cotton will work best.
Essentials include t-shirts, camisoles, sarong and shorts during the day as most people spend their time on the beach or visiting the markets in Castries.
Wear plenty of sunscreen (we love the Riemann P20 range for 10 hour protection), sunglasses and a sunhat.
After-sun cream is very expensive but look out for the Aloe Vera street traders; they carry the Aloe Vera leaves and a knife! They provide fresh Aloe Vera and it's usually a very reasonable price and is the best stuff you can get – avoid the bottled versions.
Mosquitoes can be a problem, so take insect/mosquito repellent and cover up with long sleeves and pants when you can, particularly in the evenings if you are outdoors. Avoid wearing any scent or perfume.
There are the usual hotel laundry facilities, but the climate is such that everything dries overnight.
Note that it is illegal to wear or carry any kind of army/camouflage print.

As for shoes… one evening pair, one beach pair and one pair of walking sandals is all you need. We love the Lindsay Phillips Switch Flops range – using interchangeable shoe and flip-flop bases with snap-on decorations, you can change your look from day to evening in an instant whilst still packing light.
If you plan to explore the island, make sure you have lightweight comfy shoes for walking. We love Hotter shoes, for total comfort along with style.

It is a good idea to keep your swimwear for the beach, beach bars and hotel pools and cover up with a kaftan or sarong when walking around public areas.
At night it all smartens up and for eating out, ladies tend to wear short summer sundresses. Take a pashmina too, as just after a downpour it cools very quickly but only temporarily.
An eye-catching scarf is a versatile way to smarten up an evening outfit.
And a few well-chosen pieces of costume jewelry can make a great statement too.

If you're looking for versatile and stylish beachwear, try the Madda Fella range of shirts, shorts, polos and swimwear.
At night it all smartens up and for eating out, men wear long pants and short-sleeved shirts (no t-shirts).
For great versatile travel jackets with multiple pockets including RFID security options, we love the SCOTTeVEST range.

June, July, August, September, October and November is officially the rainy season, although it tends to start earlier these days. You do still get lots of sunshine, but it is interrupted by deluges of rain which last for up to 30 minutes at a time. A travel umbrella or light raincoat will be handy. As it's tropical though, you'll dry off quickly.
We love the Weather+ app – it gives an accurate 6 day forecast for day and night, which when you're planning from home is really helpful. You can keep all the places you've been to too – a nice way to remember your trip 🙂 Download for iPad/iPhone or Android

A lightweight day sack or beach bag will come in handy to carry your sightseeing essentials.
The tap water is safe to drink but may not be to your taste. If you do prefer to buy bottled water consider carrying a LifeStraw Filtration Water Bottle – fill up from any source and get clean, safe drinking water without wasting plastic bottles.
Look after your mobile phone with a phone bunjee – it protects against loss, theft and damage.
To use electrical gadgets you may need a travel adapter plug, and also a step down voltage converter if your devices are not designed for local voltage (230V).
If you're aiming to travel with just carry-on baggage, try the CabinMax soft-sided rucksack – it's light, roomy and has plenty of pockets to keep your stuff organized.
Avoid paying unexpected baggage fees – use an accurate luggage scale to ensure you keep within the weight allowance. Don't forget to leave room for souvenirs on the way home! There's a real treasure trove of stalls and markets where you can pick up vibrant clothing and jewelry. Or look for intricate wood carvings, or sulphur soap which is said to be good for treating mosquito bites and skin complaints.