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When you think of Las Vegas, surely it is the glitz and glamour of the Strip that immediately comes to mind. But there’s a lot more to “Sin City” than just its famous casinos and shows. There are plenty of things to see and do beyond the bright lights—from taking in an incredible view from your hotel room or catching a swanky pool party, to visiting some off-the-Strip sights like Red Rock Canyon. And while you can wear whatever you want at night, what kind of outfit will be appropriate for daytime activities?
As with any trip, it’s important to plan ahead. One way to ensure you have just the right clothes for your time in Las Vegas is by keeping these tips in mind:
Take It Easy
Depending on why you’re headed to Las Vegas, you may be spending the majority of your time there lounging by the pool or at a beach club, so it’s important to bring along something that works for those casual environments. If that’s not your scene, though, try to avoid anything too lounge-y. In general, if you’re on the Strip or Downtown, stay away from sweatpants and flip flops unless you’re hitting up a pool party or going straight from the airport to your hotel room. You’ll want to look like a tourist and give off an effortless vibe rather than appearing sloppy and unkempt.
Rental car trips through neighborhoods such as Summerlin will also present more options for clothing: the streets are often lined with retail outlets selling everything from athleisure brands like Athleta and Lululemon to high-end designer shops like Chanel and Versace. So while you don’t have to dress like you just hit the jackpot in order to fit in with locals (though who wouldn’t be tempted?), if it’ll make your trip more enjoyable, then go ahead—you can always drop off any excess bags at your hotel when you check in!
Dress It Up
There are a lot of women who like to go to Vegas, but you might be surprised by how few of those are into fashion. In fact, the dress code for many shows and restaurants in Las Vegas only requires a skirt or dress for women; tops, dresses and skirts of any color are fine for men. This means that if you’re not feeling like wearing a skirt or don’t have one on hand, it is perfectly acceptable to dress way down—for example, in a pair of shorts and a tank top—as long as you reach for something that makes you feel comfortable and cute.
Vegas is also known for having both hot (and humid) days and bone-chilling nights. If you’re going to do anything after 6 p.m., avoid wearing white or pastels because they’ll become wrinkled very easily when exposed to the sun’s rays all day long. Instead, try pairing your outfit with neutral colors such as black, navy blue or grey because they will look great whether they’re dry or wet (which happens often during summertime in Vegas). Makeup is another often overlooked factor when deciding what to wear while visiting Vegas day time or night time; if it’s daytime out there, don’t feel obligated to apply heavy makeup that follows the same rules as your typical nightclub (i.e., dark lipsticks with lots of lashes). Instead opt for natural-looking makeup that comes in matte shades such as beige/nude/neutral tones instead so that your face won’t look too made up even though you were planning on doing some clubbing at night!
Layer Up
As the sun beats down and the temperature rises, it can easily feel like you’re in an oven. But Las Vegas is still cool enough that you don’t want to leave your jacket at home. So how can you stay stylish while staying warm?
- Wear a tank top, then a long sleeve shirt, then a jacket. This layering method isn’t just for mountain climbing—it’ll also keep you cozy in Vegas’ chilly evenings.
- Do not wear a jacket that is too hot. While this might be counterintuitive, the right jacket will actually make it easier to cool off when it gets too warm during the day. If your jacket is too heavy and hot, you’ll start sweating more than necessary and get uncomfortably cold when the sun sets.
- Bring a jacket! Even if you think it’s just going to be warm out, there’s no way to predict what temperature it will end up being once night falls—you might even get chilly from all of those outdoor activities and would hate for any unforeseen weather foments to ruin your fun! Make sure that whatever layer is closest to your skin (which will probably be a tank or tee shirt) has pockets big enough for whatever layers are over it so that nothing gets caught underneath or bunches up awkwardly under your outerwear.
Sassy Skirts Without Heels
If you’re a woman, you already know how tough it can be to get out of bed in the morning. Even if your go-to outfit is yoga pants and a big t-shirt, getting dressed for the day can feel like an epic battle between “looking cute” and “not having to put on pants.” Well, ladies—I’ve got some good news. The struggle doesn’t have to be so intense. For example: while many women would look at a pair of jeans or shorts and think that they’re too casual for daytime events (even if it’s something as simple as work), there are plenty of options that will keep your legs covered but still leave you feeling cute. Skirts are one of my favorite ways to achieve this balance; with skirts, there’s absolutely no wrong way to wear them—you could pile on the necklaces or don-cha-know heels if you want, or just slap on a simple pair of sandals and call it perfect. Of course, I’d recommend against doing either of those things at 3am when you hit the clubs! In any case, these tips will help ensure that your girly side doesn’t lose out to your lazy side while traveling around Las Vegas in the daytime.
Dare to Bare
Now that we’ve all figured out what to wear in Vegas, it’s time to figure out when to wear it. The desert is famous for being hot, so if you’re planning on wearing your skimpy clothes during the daytime, you might be sweating buckets by the end of the day. That’s why a good rule of thumb is don’t wear too many revealing clothes unless you plan on removing them at night.
In general, a good rule of thumb is to show some skin. That way the people around you will less likely stare and feel uncomfortable about looking at your cleavage or legs. On top of that, your makeup (should you decide to go with that) will stay relatively intact throughout the day because it won’t be sitting on top of sweat from your body.
Spring For the “Little Black Dress”
Still, there are those who are skeptical about the dress’ versatility. As with most things in life, there are exceptions. Ever hear of that friend who always wore a tent in public? Or that girl who thought she looked great in a leather jacket and mini skirt over jeans and a t-shirt? If these people are your friends or family members, then you might want to suggest they read this article before making any decisions about what to wear for the day in Vegas.
If you’ve already got an idea of what outfit you’d like to wear on the Strip—perhaps it’s a cocktail dress, or maybe you’ve already got it all figured out for when you head back home—then let’s take a look at how different events call for different pieces of clothing.
Don’t Forget to Bring a Jacket
It’s easy to forget that Las Vegas, a city shaped by desert winds and scorching heat, can get chilly at night. When booking flights, you may think it’ll be hot no matter what time of year you visit—which might lead you to pack only shorts and flip-flops for the duration of your trip. While the sun won’t set until 9pm in June and July, that doesn’t mean it will stay warm out until bedtime. Even on non-summer days, lows in the evening can drop below 60 degrees Fahrenheit after sunset, so make sure to pack a jacket if you plan on being out late!
It’s always smart to check the weather forecast before leaving for Vegas, but if you’re still unsure about taking a jacket with you on your trip, err on the side of caution: bring one just in case. If you want to cut down on weight while traveling or would rather use your carry-on luggage space for souvenirs than jackets (you’ll buy them there anyway), consider packing a thin windbreaker that folds up into its own pocket or attaching a lightweight raincoat to your backpack harness instead. That way when temperatures start dipping after dark, you’ve got an option ready!
Packing Tips for Daytime in Vegas
Most people don’t think about packing for daytime in Vegas when they’re going to the desert. But that’s our advice: pack for the weather. If you can, bring a light jacket and a hat. They’ll be crucial come early morning when temperatures can drop suddenly to well below freezing and breezes blow through the city with no mercy, making it feel like it’s 105 degrees inside your hotel room. And even if those conditions aren’t an issue, we recommend bringing extra layers of clothes—you never know what kind of day you’re going to have in Vegas!
But how many items do you need? It depends on how long you’re staying. We’ve been living here for almost three years now and still haven’t fully gotten adjusted to this crazy climate—we often find ourselves needing two or three pairs of shoes (depending on what hotel we’re staying at) and are always carrying around a couple different jackets (one for daytime and one for nighttime). To avoid packing too much, stick with 10-15 pieces of clothing total on any given trip. And yes, that can be as little as five pieces if you’re planning on just lounging around all day in the casino watching Cirque du Soleil shows!
Bottoms – have an assortment of bottoms with you
A variety of the day’s events can be exciting, but walking around Vegas in flip-flops is not one of them. If you’re going to be spending a lot of time outside without shoes, bring a shoe that you can slip on quickly and easily. The same goes for your jacket—the first day it rains in Vegas, I can tell you that your jacket will become soaked through immediately.
It’s also important to dress in layers so that you don’t get too hot or too cold depending on the temperature or weather. You’ll end up with a nice mix of clothing that allows your body temperature to keep average, no matter what kind of weather is coming at you (or if temperatures swing wildly between daytime and nighttime).
Finally, make sure to bring plenty of water with you as well as sunscreen (preferably SPF 50+). Las Vegas weather can change drastically during the day—walking around without sunscreen and drinking multiple cups of water won’t be enough on many occasions. It’s also easier to burn than simply becoming dehydrated while hiking through the desert heat. Being prepared doesn’t mean making sure you have everything in your pockets or purse; it means bringing along a few things but knowing how often they’ll come into play during the day.
Conclusion
Vegas is one of the best places to go when you want to have a good time. There’s a lot you can do, and it’s the perfect place to have a fun, exciting time with friends and family. One of the most important parts of surviving any trip is dressing in weather-appropriate clothing and making sure that your clothes are comfortable. While it may be 100 degrees outside during the day, you can expect evenings with temperatures in the 60s, meaning clothing that works for extreme heat will not work at night.
This may seem like common sense and something that doesn’t need explaining to anyone who spends time in Vegas or other hot climates for long stretches of time, but nonetheless we felt that some pointers could help travelers who aren’t accustomed to dealing with these kinds of temperatures on an everyday basis. Below are just 10 things you should remember before visiting Las Vegas from someone who’s spent enough time there that their hotel room has a mini-fridge full of water bottles:
If you’re only going to Vegas for a few days, here are some things I noticed while staying there:
In an opinionated tone:At first glance, planning ahead seems obvious—but if nothing else, it gives you control over your day instead of leaving all your plans up to chance. The more prepped for your trip you are before arriving in Vegas, the less likely you’ll be caught off guard by changes in plans or unexpected events happening out on the strip (or anywhere else). Luckily, many hotels have mini-fridges and water bottle refills—but even if yours doesn’t offer this amenity (like ours did), it’s still cheaper and easier than buying several small bottles at convenience stores along your way.
