Dressing for a boat party is different than any other kind of event. While you have good times, you need to look great and most importantly, feel comfortable in your clothing. Also, you need to take some safety precautions into consideration as boats have unpredictable movements. After all, you want to have an exceptional time! Most yacht events take place in the summer, so you need to dress accordingly to the weather. What will be your event about? A Day party? A night party? In this article, you will find out exactly what to wear to a yacht party.
Day Party
Most parties are held during the day. You will probably spend most of your time enjoying dancing on the deck with a cocktail in your hand or swimming in the water, so you need an attire comfortable to wear and easy to pull on/off!
Women
Swimsuit
- Choose a swimsuit or a bikini to wear under your clothes. Make sure to pick a color that suits your attire.
Outfit
- A flowy dress, short skirt, airy beach pants, or a short over your swimsuit will be perfect for this kind of party. You can also match them with a summary layer or a loose blouse.
Footwear
- As for the shoes, flat sandals with soft soles will get you out of trouble. High heels are an absolute no-no as they are not safe on a boat and can scratch the deck.
Accessories
- You should be wearing sunglasses during the day, but not just any, you need polarized sunglasses to protect 100% your eyes from the UV rays of the sun
- Try to store your stuff like sunglasses, makeup, and hair clips in a waterproof handbag. It could be useful if it gets wet!
- Makeup
Use only waterproof makeup during the day
Men
Swimwear
- Opt for a tight swimsuit if you plan to wear it under your cloth. Otherwise, there are stylish good looking swimwears that look more like dress shorts, which you can match with loose shirts and a light jacket
Outfit
- The most appropriate clothes for men are loose pants, boating shorts, and jean shorts assorted with light shirts, or polo and a loose vest.
Footwear
- Avoid flip-flops and opt for nonmarking boating shoes, like Sperry. These come in a wide variety of styles to choose from and will match any outfit. With these shoes, you can walk in complete tranquility without worrying about hurting your feet or slipping on the wet deck.
Accessories
- Opt only for a waterproof watch if you intend to wear one. You don’t want to bother taking it off, and on each time you go for a swim.
- As mentioned for women above, the same concept applies to men. A good pair of polarized sunglasses is a must!
Night Party
In the evening, you can still wear casual clothes but a bit more dressy.
The thin, soft, and flowy textile is more appropriate for night parties.
Bring a light jacket with you. It gets cooler in the evening.
Women
Outfit
- Princess waist dresses, skirt with flounces, loose pants assorted with dressy tops are the perfect choices. A chic option will be to wear a color-coordinated wrap or a jacket.
A long dress harmonized with a nice pair of chandelier earrings is a great option if you opt to dress chicly
Footwear
- Here, again, avoid high heels. Flats and low-heeled sandals will be perfect and will suit any outfit.
Men
- Men should wear comfortable pants with a dress shirt or even a polo, and a light jacket on top.
Footwear
- I will say it again, the best shoes to wear on a boat is Sperry, but hey, this is your party, you can pick any other type of boat shoes as long as they are non-marking.
Tips
- Girls, even if high heels elongate your legs and make you more attractive. It is preferable to avoid wearing them on a boat. Opt for boating shoes!
- Mosquitoes love humidity, especially in the late afternoon. You should bring a repellent with you. You Never know.
- Try to use only waterproof accessories
- The sun beat down during the day, bring sunscreen and wear long sleeves to protect you from the sun
- You can wear long dresses but not too long to avoid tripping.
- If you are unsure about the type of party, ask the person that organizes the event on the yacht what is and not appropriate.
- It’s easy to get dehydrated on a yacht because you don’t feel the sun as you are most of the time in the water or on the deck and at sea, there are always winds. PS, wear a hat and drink a lot of water!
Final Words!
Now that you know how to dress for a day and night party on a yacht, all you need to do is have a good time!
Want to Know More about Dress Code?
Subscribe to Cruising Sea newsletter to receive every two-week the latest post straight to your inbox!
More articles
- What to wear for sailing
- What to wear for a boat party at night
- What to wear on a boat ride
- What to wear to a boat party
What about you? Have you been to a yacht party? If so, feel free to share your experience in the comment below.
Daniella has been passionate about travel, the sea, and nature for many years. As a child, she frequently traveled throughout the Mediterranean and continued with her journeys throughout her adult life.
Her experiences have created the desire within her to share her love for traveling with other passionate and adventurers who want to discover beautiful horizons and new cultures.
I have a yacht party to go to and I really needed this guide to make sure that I will take whatever I need. It is really easy to forget a few things and later regret once you reach the party.
However, in the evening yacht parties, is it okay to wear heels?
Hi Shrey,
Oh, that’s great, I am sure you’ll have fun!
Yes, I agree with you, it is easy to forget things. This is why it is important to write down what you need before you go:) Once you are on the boat, you cannot go back unless you live nearby.
You cannot wear high heels on a boat, there are few reasons to this. It is not comfortable, not safety and it can damage the deck:) You wouldn’t want this happen.
Thank you for the comment and wish you to have unforgettable moments on the yacht party!
Have a wonderful day!
Hi Daniella,
I really like that you divided your article into parts like what to wear in the day or in night! And that you pay attention to both men and women is great, too! often, there are only guides for women.
Keep going on as active as you are! Your website is catchy!
Hi Steve,
Thank you for the kind comment, I really appreciate:)
Whats women without men and whats men without women? We can’t live without each other:),
Have a wonderful day!
I have been on a yacht for a dinner party sailing in heels! It was a bit troublesome especially going up and down stairs.
Is this post geared toward Northeast US or somewhere else in the world? Here in Florida, it is absolutely okay to wear flip flops to a day yacht party as long as they aren’t cheap! Sperry’s or other boat shoes are acceptable at night for men if the rest of the outfit is semi-casual.
Hi Melani,
Thank you for the comment:)
Yes, this article concerns everyone. No matter the country. Of course, you can wear flip flops, you can even go barefoot if you wish to, but the risk of hurting your feet or slipping on the deck is much higher. Most charter companies require wearing boat shoes because if something happens and someone didn’t follow the guideline, then the company or the owner of the boat will not be covered by their assurance.
However, Sperry’ shoes are the most recommended on boats as they are comfortable and stylish.
But, again, as long as it is non-marking shoes, you are good to go!
Have a wonderful day!
I like how you said that the most appropriate clothes for men are loose pants. My wife and I are planning to go on a trip and we have no idea what to wear. I will definitely share this article with my wife to give her ideas of what to wear in case we go to a boat party.
Hi Dereck,
This would be a great idea!
I am sure your wife will find something nice to wear:)
Thank you for the comment and wish you a lovely day!