Sun, Sea, & Sunset Dresses: The Santorini Edit

27 Sept

A woman in a lemon print dress standing in front of the three blue domes in Oia, Santorini

Curated outfits for a week in Santorini - a lookbook inspired by Aegean blues, whitewashed architecture, and the embers of golden hour.

Is Santorini really as dreamy as everyone says? Absolutely.

Recently, I was fortunate enough to spend a week in the island’s sun-washed cliffside towns and crystal-clear waters, surrounded by panoramic views of the South Aegean Sea and the iconic caldera.

Beyond the promise of great food and breathtaking scenery, I couldn’t wait to curate a wardrobe that felt effortless against Santorini’s backdrops - from its blue-domed churches to its world-famous golden sunsets. I was envisioning crisp white linen, floaty skirts, and that effortless boho style that feels straight out of Mamma Mia.

The final edit featured a mix of statement sundresses, lightweight skirts, and a colour palette inspired by the Greek island’s beauty. Welcome to my latest holiday lookbook: the Santorini Edit.

Grecian White and Blue

There is nothing more Greek than the emblematic blue and white - and nowhere are these colours more striking than in Santorini.

Santorini is well-known for its Blue Domes, some of the most photographed monuments in Greece. Scattered across the island’s small towns - including Pyrgos, Imerovigli, Fira, and most famously Oia - these blue domes have become iconic symbols of the island and offer some breathtaking backdrops.

Naturally, I wanted to echo these symbolic colours in my Grecian wardrobe, inspired by the Aegean Sea and the blue skies of the Mediterranean. One of my favourite looks paired a structured blue denim top with a flowy white maxi (both from Hollister), black sliders, and a statement floral necklace - perfect for exploring Pyrgos and snapping shots of its beautiful blue-domed church and quaint cobbled streets.

Side note: I visited Santorini at the start of September and the sun was intense! I highly recommend packing light, breathable pieces to stay cool and comfortable while exploring the island.

A woman standing in front of the blue-domed church in Pyrgos Santorini

A woman wearing a white skirt and denim top in Pyrgos, Santorini — *I paired a blue denim top with a long white maxi to channel the traditional Grecian colours.*

Golden Hour Glow

Alongside its iconic blue domes, Santorini is renowned for its world-famous sunsets. Each year, countless visitors flock to the island to witness the spectacle, as the sky lights up in hues of gold, pink, and orange over the caldera.

The best sunset I experienced was at Santo Wines - a winery in Pyrgos that offers panoramic views of the caldera and the Aegean Sea. It was one of the most breathtaking sights I’ve seen, and I knew I had to do it justice with the perfect sunset ensemble.

For the golden hour, I wore a wrap maxi dress in a beautiful red print (ASOS Design) with some sleek sunglasses, a statement necklace, and a messy updo. The dress had such a lovely body-hugging material and the wrap detail made it even more special (I felt very boujie). Its warm colour palette was perfect for melting into the golden rays of the Santorini sunset - and the photos turned out absolutely stunning.

A woman holding a wine glass in front of the sunset at Santo Wines, Santorini

A woman holding a wine glass in front of the sunset at Santo Wines in Santorini

A Touch of Green

One trend I’ve been loving this summer season is the sequin mini skirt - the perfect piece for adding a touch of sparkle to a holiday wardrobe. Naturally, I had to bring some of that shimmer into my Santorini getaway.

For an evening meal, I wore an olive-green embellished mini skort (yes, a skort - even better!) from Stradivarius, paired with a simple white halter top, a statement necklace, and heeled mule sandals from New Look. I kept the rest of the styling minimal, letting the embellishments do all the talking.

This look quickly became one of my favourites - the intricate details caught the light beautifully, and the muted green was complemented so well by Santorini’s gorgeous greenery. The heeled mules pulled the outfit together perfectly, adding a chic touch while still being super comfortable!

A woman in a green embellished skort in front of the sunset at Santorini

Spotted in Santorini

Polkadots have been a staple print in the 2025 spring/summer season, and they felt like the ideal choice for my Santorini wardrobe. This timeless pattern adds a chic, classy touch to outfits and perfectly fits the quiet luxury vibe I wanted for my holiday looks.

One of my favourite looks paired a white polkadot ruffle skort (Stradivarius) with a black halter top. This combination felt light and comfortable, ideal for exploring the beautiful capital of Santorini, Fira. With the heat at its peak, this outfit was perfect for staying cool while wandering the town.

For an evening look, I wore a satin polkadot maxi dress from Miss Selfridge, with a gorgeous black lace trim to watch the sunset from a hilltop café in Pyrgos. Feminine and elegant, this dress looked so dreamy against the sunset and the beautiful surroundings.

A woman in a polkadot skirt standing in front of the Aegan Sea at Santorini, with cruise ships in the background

A woman in a polkadot dress standing in front of a tree with pink flowers in Santorini, Greece

A woman in a polkadot dress walking through Pyrgos in Santorini — *I wore a polkadot maxi that looked so chic against the charming streets of Pyrgos.*

Feelin’ Beachy

No trip to Santorini is complete without spending time on its stunning beaches…and its pools, too!

For my days by the water, I brought four swimsuits. My favourite swimsuit was a classic blue gingham bikini from Hollister- the lace trim was so pretty and it was perfect for lounging by the pool. The other was a brown tiger-print swimsuit from Monki, which I wore to Theros Wave Bar at Eros beach, paired with sleek sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat for a bit of beachside drama.

Alongside the bikinis, I also packed a few beach cover-ups, including a black lace kimono and a white flowy tie-front cover-up - perfect for throwing on when the breeze kicked in!

A woman in a blue swimsuit sitting at the edge of the pool in Santorini

A woman wearing a brown tiger print swimsuit and wide brim hat, lying on a sun lounger in Santorini at Eros beach — *These were my two favourite bikinis from the trip for lounging by the pool and the beach.*

Sunkissed in Citrus

And finally, my favourite look of the whole week.

Exploring the town of Oia called for a dress that made just as much of a statement as the surrounding views. Perched on Santorini’s northern tip, Oia is renowned for its three iconic blue-domed churches - one of the most photographed and recognisable spots on the island.

Luckily, I stumbled upon the ideal spot to take a photo in front of the famous blue domes. I wore a lemon print dress from Zara, paired with gold sliders and a simple shoulder bag. The standout feature of this dress has to be its print - the lemon tile pattern is so pretty and perfectly complements the Grecian architecture and clear blue skies.

I absolutely love the ribbon detail on the back of the dress - though it wasn’t part of the original design! It began as a simple tie-back, which was a bit too loose for me, so I added hand-sewn loops to thread the ribbon, giving it a cinched, corset-like waist.

Without a doubt, these were some of the most beautiful photos from the trip.

A woman wearing a lemon print poplin dress in front of the three blue domes in Oia, Santorini

Santorini was every bit as magical as it looked, and the island was the perfect playground to have fun with fashion. From its blue-domed churches to its sparkling beaches, each day felt like a chance to try something new with my wardrobe - and I enjoyed every second.

Pack your bags and your best sundresses - Santorini is calling.