Typically, tropical print dresses are reserved for beach vacations and adventuring in sunny locales—but they can also bring that vacay feeling to your living room (or backyard, or workplace). The association between tropical prints and vacation vibes is so strong that simply wearing plus-size tropical print dresses can make any day seem a little like a vacation. They’re the sartorial equivalent of a sunny day or a fruity drink—and might just turn your ordinary afternoon into a more idyllic one. Even when we’re working 12 hour days or watching as our to-do lists pile up, tropical print dresses offer a (momentary, but still welcome) respite from everyday life.
Any dress that transports us to a gorgeous beach or a luxury resort in the middle of a work day is aces in our book. A strong cup of cold brew can only get us through so many meetings—so it helps to have a mental vacation once in a while. And sometimes, just glancing at a gorgeous tropical print dress is enough to calm our nerves (for a few seconds, at least).
Of course, no two tropical prints are the same. Some feature blooming florals and flourishing greenery. Others simply boast an array of colors you might spot in the tropics—or wildlife that inhabits warm, sunny climates. But you always know a tropical print when you see one. They’re unmistakably inspired by the most gorgeous and relaxing places to which we all love traveling.
So grab a few plus-size tropical print dresses and settle in for the season. At home or traipsing around a sunny beach, you can’t go wrong. Just don’t forget the daiquiris or a fruity mocktail.