Resort Week Explained: The Origins of Cruise & Pre-Spring Fashion

Every year, like clockwork, it happens: the arrival of winter. You’re wrapped in wool, bracing for months of gray skies, but when you go shopping, the stores are full of swimsuits, linen trousers, raffia bags, and sandals.

It feels absurd, but don’t worry, trust the fashion world to put a spin on any and every season. This is meant to mirror the ever-iconic Resort Week. Also known as Cruise or Pre-Spring collections, Resort Week might seem like the fashion industry’s most confusing moment, but these collections exist for a reason, and that reason dates back more than a century.

The Beginning of Resort Wear

Resort collections originated in the early 20th century. Travel itself was a luxury at this time. The rise of railroads and ocean liners in the 1920s made winter escapes to warm destinations newly accessible to wealthy travelers. Americans and Europeans fled cold cities for Palm Beach, the Caribbean, the French Riviera, and Mediterranean coastlines.

There was one huge problem, however: the world of fashion had no solution to this growing lifestyle. Traditional seasonal wardrobes were rigid and featured heavy winter suits and formal eveningwear that simply would not work for deck lunches, seaside promenades, or resort dinners that demanded elegance and room to breathe.

In 1919, Coco Chanel responded to this gap, launching what’s widely considered the first Resort collection. She designed pieces and silhouettes that prioritized movement, comfort, and modernity.

From the 1920s through the 1940s, Resort wear evolved alongside cultural shifts. Women demanded freedom of movement and practicality. Clothing became less about rigid formality and more about lifestyle. This ideology would permanently reshape the fashion industry.

Cruise Collections

Despite how strange it can feel to shop for summer in January, Resort collections were never designed to confuse. These collections were practical responses to real needs. Cruise passengers in the 1920s required warm-weather wardrobes in winter months. Today’s travelers escaping midwinter gloom want the same thing.

The term “cruise collection” reveals its origins clearly. Before planes were readily available to travelers, those who could afford it, traveled by ship, carrying entire wardrobes for social calendars that demanded variety. What began as an elite offering gradually became one of the most commercially important fashion drops of the year.

As global travel expanded and vacations became more accessible, Resort collections grew in scale and influence. Designers began showcasing their collections worldwide, embracing the idea that fashion should meet people where they are.

Resort Wear in the Modern Lens

Sustainability has become central and critical within modern fashion. This is where pre-loved and vintage Resort wear shines. Vintage handbags, crafted from raffia, silk, cotton, or other summer-inspired materials often surpass modern pieces in quality and character.

What Goes Around Comes Around has long stood head and shoulders above other retailers in the vintage market, and with our perfectly curated collection of vintage handbags and accessories, you’ll be more than ready to jet-set to any location! Whether you’re vacationing in the alps or on a beach, we have the bag for you.



Pre-loved Styles for an Island Getaway

The sun on your face and your toes in the warm sand is a much-need reprieve from the cold winter air and snow. Explore a collection of iconic vintage and pre-loved silhouettes that will be a perfect companion on your island getaway.

Pre-loved Styles for the Mountains and Après Ski

Who said a resort needed to be on an island? If skiing and snowboarding is more your vibe, Grab a winter-friendly piece from our pre-loved and vintage collection. From warm accessories to wear on your head while you explore the mountains to the perfect vintage pieces to hold your gear while you relax in a chalet.

Pre-loved Styles to Make Travel a Breeze

Sometimes we’re so excited about arriving at our destination, we forget we need to actually get there! Travel in style and ensure your belongings arrive safely with you, thanks to our curation of luxury travel bags! From suitcases to duffle bags, you can’t go wrong with a pre-loved accessory from Chanel and Louis Vuitton.

Where Travel and Timeless Style Converge

Cruise and Resort collections highlight fashion’s ability to adapt. What began as a niche solution for elite travelers has become a global, influential category embraced by consumers everywhere. In a world where travel, rest, and experience are increasingly valued, Resort wear remains vital. One thing hasn’t changed since Chanel’s first collection: wherever the next destination is, vintage style leads the way.








Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is Resort Week?

Resort Week refers to fashion collections released between traditional seasons. These collections focus on vacation-ready clothing and accessories designed for warm-weather travel during winter months, or versatile pieces suitable for year-round destinations.

2. Is Resort Week only for warm destinations?

Not at all. Modern Resort fashion includes versatile pieces designed for a variety of settings, from beach vacations to ski trips and après-ski activities. Accessories, bags, and outerwear often work seamlessly across climates and seasons.

3. Why is vintage and pre-loved Resort wear so desirable?

Vintage Resort pieces are often crafted with exceptional materials and attention to detail. Raffia, canvas, leather, silk, and shearling items from luxury houses tend to age beautifully and offer timeless design, durability, and character that many modern pieces can’t replicate.

4. How does Resort wear support sustainable fashion?

Buying pre-loved and vintage Resort styles extends the life cycle of high-quality items, reduces waste, and promotes mindful consumption. Resort wear’s emphasis on timeless silhouettes and repeat wear also aligns naturally with sustainable fashion values .

5. Why should I shop for Resort styles at What Goes Around Comes Around?

What Goes Around Comes Around offers a highly curated selection of authentic, pre-loved luxury handbags and accessories. From beach-ready raffia baskets to après-ski shearling bags, each piece is chosen for quality, style, and longevity.

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