The Palm Springs Fashion That Is Redefining Desert Chic
- Tess DiNapoli
- Jul 17
- 3 min read
Palm Springs is a desert resort town in Southern California, drawing snowbirds, festival goers, and the rich and famous.
Fashion inspired by the town takes its cues from the terrain, using colors found in nature and finding beauty in simplicity.
The fashion for those inspired by and visiting the town should also take into account the warm weather and dress comfortability.
Pack up the car and grab your wide-brimmed hat, we’re headed to the desert! Palm Springs is an oasis with hot springs that beckon in the winter months. The sweltering summers are punctuated by flora and fauna that provide a bit of a respite. Palm Springs reputation precedes it, inspiring fashion, setting trends, but always keeping an aloofness about itself that doesn’t seem to care about either of those things.
Whether you are traveling to the Coachella Valley or just mimicking the look in your own life, take your cues from the fashion that is redefining desert chic and inspired by the unique desert itself. It’s both rugged and soft, ever-lasting and ever-changing, steadfast and just a little bit wild.
What is Palm Springs?
To understand Palm Springs fashion, you must first understand Palm Springs. This resort town attracts both the rich and famous, as well as those seeking an escape. It is a lush mirage in the California desert, peppered by palm trees and fed by hot springs—thus the name—which draws snowbirds in the winter months. The town sits in the Colorado Desert’s Coachella Valley, surrounded by four different mountain ranges, one in each direction. Just a short drive from where the annual Coachella musical festival takes place, Palm Springs offers a reprieve for festival goers who need an afternoon break.
Breathable Fabrics
Palm Springs temperatures can easily reach triple digits during the summer months. For that matter, even in the winter, they regularly top out in the 70s. So it’s important to wear breathable fabrics, such as linen maxi skirts. Linen fabrics are thin enough not to feel stifling, yet they move with the wind coming off the mountains. The maxi skirt or pant length of most pieces provides complete sun protection.
Colors From Nature
Part of the allure of Palm Springs is how this town seemed to grow up out of the desert itself. Palm Springs fashion leans into that color palette that surrounds it with rich browns, dark greens, vibrant burnt oranges, and muted yellows for every piece of clothing and jewelry.
And while the city is primarily a resort town, it’s still defined by the Western culture that shaped its foundation. So, embrace denim when the weather allows, leather touches, and gold accents; an elevated cowboy look that marries the rugged Wild West with the mid-century modern touch synonymous with Palm Springs.
Cozy Sleepwear
Make sure your rest and relaxation extend to your sleeping arrangements. The desert nights can range from chilly to only slightly less hot than it was during the day. Be prepared for any possibility with cotton nightgowns. This sleepwear ensures you sleep in a natural, breathable fabric for bedtime, while still having something thick enough to keep you cocooned. The nightgown style is both cool and flexible, suitable for any type of sleeper.
Simple, Classic Jewelry
You won’t find a lot of flashy signs or grandiose designs in this little town in the valley. This is the place that was a harbinger of mid-century modern style, a style characterized by clean and simple lines, with a more minimalist approach that focuses on the natural beauty of things rather than embellishments. Achieve that in your accessories with pieces like Greek jewelry, celebrating your own Greek letter organization, or the values you identify with.
Elevated and Fun
While Palm Springs may not be a sparkling, pulsing city in the desert like Las Vegas, it still boasts a thriving social scene that appeals to visitors seeking fun, relaxation, respite, and of course a few pool parties. Fill your days with long lunches, elegant dinners, soirees, poolside parties, and more. There is a certain respect paid to the town in the form of stylish choices that elevate the breathable and straightforward fabrics required by the climate.
Sustainability
Just like the desert that Palm Springs calls home, fashion inspired by the town should be sustainable, drawing from its own resources and using every available resource. Sustainable fashion is fashion that lasts as long as the desert, standing up to harsh seasons, changing times, the rugged mountains, the refreshing springs, and the people who appreciate all the facets of this magical town.
Invest in those long-lasting, sustainable pieces, and just like Palm Springs, they will take care of you for years to come.
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