Collection: Layering

Cardigan over a beach dress: The easiest layering combination in the range. Throw a burnout cotton cardigan over one of our island beach dresses for cruise dinners, resort restaurants, and air-conditioned spaces. The cardigan adds just enough warmth without changing the look of the outfit underneath.

Hoodie for travel days: A zip-up hoodie paired with our beach pants is the ideal travel day outfit — comfortable enough for a long flight, presentable enough for an airport or a casual arrival dinner. Pack it at the top of your carry-on for easy access during the flight.

Cardigan as a beach cover up: An open-front burnout cotton cardigan worn over swimwear is a relaxed, effortless pool or beach look. Add one of our cotton sarongs tied at the waist for extra coverage and a woven beach bag to complete the outfit.

Layering on a cruise: Pack one cardigan and one hoodie and you have every temperature situation covered. Cardigan for dining rooms and evening drinks, hoodie for early morning deck walks and cool sea breezes. Both layer over everything in your beach dress and island tops wardrobe without adding bulk to your luggage.

Cool weather destinations: Heading somewhere that isn't pure tropics — a spring cruise, a mountain stopover, or a cooler coastal destination? Layer a zip-up hoodie over a beach tunic or long sleeve top for a relaxed, warm outfit that still works with the rest of your West Indies Wear wardrobe.

Burnout cotton cardigans: Our burnout cotton cardigans are made from a lightweight cotton blend with a distinctive burnout texture — soft, breathable and relaxed enough to wear in warm weather while providing a light layer when you need one. The open-front style makes them easy to throw on and off throughout the day as you move between outdoor heat and air-conditioned interiors. They layer naturally over our beach dresses, island tops and beach tunics.

Zip-up hoodies: Our zip-up hoodies are a warmer, more substantial layer — designed for cool mornings, flights, and evenings when temperatures drop more significantly. Casual and comfortable, they pair naturally with our beach pants and skorts for a relaxed travel-day outfit.

Layering for tropical travel: The key to packing for a tropical destination is versatility — pieces that work in multiple situations without adding luggage weight. A lightweight cardigan that goes from beach cover up to cruise dinner layer to air-conditioned restaurant wrap is worth three single-use items. Every piece in this collection is chosen with that versatility in mind.

Care: Check the care label on each individual style as care instructions vary across the burnout cotton and hoodie fabrics in this collection. As a general rule, machine wash on a gentle cycle and hang to dry for best results.

Do I need to pack a warm layer for a Caribbean cruise?

Yes — and it's one of the most commonly forgotten items. Ship dining rooms, theatres and common areas are often heavily air-conditioned, sometimes uncomfortably so. A lightweight cardigan or zip-up hoodie takes up minimal luggage space and makes a significant difference to your comfort onboard. Browse our full layering range above, or pair with one of our island beach dresses for a complete cruise outfit.

What is the difference between the cardigans and the hoodies?

Our burnout cotton cardigans are lightweight and open-front — ideal for draping over a beach dress or island top for a polished layered look in restaurants and on cruise decks. Our zip-up hoodies are a warmer, more casual option — perfect for cool mornings, flights, and evenings when you need more than a cardigan. Both are designed to layer comfortably over the full West Indies Wear range.

Can I wear a cardigan as a swimsuit cover up?

Yes — our lightweight cardigans work beautifully as a relaxed cover up over swimwear at the pool or beach. For more coverage, pair with one of our cotton sarongs tied at the hip or worn as a wrap skirt underneath.

What should I pack for a cruise from the layering collection?

For most Caribbean cruises, one lightweight cardigan and one zip-up hoodie covers almost every situation — air-conditioned interiors, cool evenings on deck, and chilly flights. Pair your cardigan with our beach dresses for evening dining, and your hoodie with our beach pants or skorts for casual days. Everything packs flat alongside the rest of your West Indies Wear wardrobe.

Are the layering pieces available in plus sizes?

A selection of our layering styles are available in extended sizes. Visit our dedicated plus size resort wear collection to see all styles available in sizes 1X, 2X and 3X, including any layering pieces available in extended sizing.