Summer It Places & High Fashion Beach Clubs
Photo Source: Pedro Jaen / pedrojaen.com
Every summer certain destinations dominate conversations and become summer’s Hot Spot. Ibiza, Amalfi Coast and St-Tropez have become symbols of this phenomenon. The social feeds fill up with sun‑drenched images and it's all about the idea of belonging to a shimmering seasonal scene. For some it means dancing until sunrise at legendary clubs. For others it means sipping cocktails on sunbeds where everyone around you looks like they stepped out of a fashion magazine. The charm is undeniable. Music fills the nights. Markets overflow with colors and scents. These locations offer breathtaking landscapes and a sense of freedom that comes with sea air and endless sun. Yet you may feel an unspoken pressure to match the style and energy of the crowd. The experience can shift from relaxation to performance if you care too much. Don't let it become exhausting. Summer vacation is beautiful if you just try to be yourself and stay relaxed and chill. Dressing up can be part of the fun but do not overthink every detail about your body and your look. The best way to enjoy places like Ibiza and St Tropez is to stay comfortable and relaxed. Focus on living in the moment and you will have the best time and memories that will stay with you long after summer ends.
The Jacquemus x Monte Carlo Beach. Photo Source: Yoann & Marco
High Fashion Dreams by the Sea
When it's time for laying in the sun, it's no longer just a blanket on the beach. Fashion houses are taking over Spain, France and Italy with beach clubs that feel like branded fantasy worlds. In Ibiza you have Jacquemus turning Casa Jondal into a banana-yellow daydream. Missoni splashed its zigzag prints all over OKU Ibiza, making every cushion look like a piece of art. Burberry popped up at The Standard with rooftop DJ nights and branded swimwear. Across the water in Saint Tropez, it’s no less glamorous. Dolce & Gabbana brought their signature “Carretto Siciliano” prints to Casa Amor as well, transforming the Pampelonne beach into a Sicilian fantasy. Loro Piana did their thing at La Réserve à la Plage with chic neutrals and artisanal textures. Louis Vuitton set up a chic gelateria in the port so even your ice cream is branded luxury. Italy is joining the club too. At the Amalfi Coast, Dior transformed Il Riccio beach into a Mediterranean dream, layering their signature toile de Jouy across sun loungers and parasols overlooking the turquoise sea. Dolce & Gabbana created a resort escape infused with bold prints, lemon motifs and their unapologetically Sicilian spirit. Here, logos and accessories shine a little louder, fabrics are softer and every beach club feels like its own runway show.
CLAP HOUSE Ibiza. Photo Source: Dolce & Gabbana
Wild Magic and Bougie Charm
Ibiza is known as the magical island full of energy and spirit. It is a place where many people feel a higher pull unlike anywhere else in Europe. The island carries a reputation for the best music culture that has shaped generations of nightlife. If you don't lose yourself dancing for days and nights you can spend your time at countless hippie markets with handmade treasures and colorful art. Ibiza’s energy radiates higher and once you are there you feel it instantly. The crowd is young and free and even though the scene has changed over the years, the island has never lost its power as the ultimate hotspot for summer. This is the place where people go to celebrate life. But beyond the clubs and wild nights you should not leave without seeing the breathtaking nature of Spain. The coastline is wild, the water shimmers in turquoise light and hidden beaches invite you to slow down. Ibiza allows you to refill your soul, realign with yourself and connect with the culture of spirituality that still lives strongly on the island. It is a place where you can find yourself in new ways and experience freedom in its purest form. That is why many people who visit for the first time always return. Ibiza pulls them back again and again because it is simply something special.
Saint Tropez and the Amalfi Coast on the other hand offer a blend of Mediterranean elegance and glamour. It is very different from Ibiza because here it is more about the old‑money glitz and glam. The whole French Riviera sparkles with beauty. The landscape at the Italian coast is beautiful, the sea is crystal clear and if you are lucky enough to explore with a boat you will discover waters so clear they look like glass. The port in Saint Tropez is small yet famous for its luxurious atmosphere. It is very bougie and yes you can spend a fortune there in just one day. Celebrities walk around casually and it feels like a runway at times with stunning outfits and beautiful people everywhere. There is a special charm to the little port with its colorful houses and narrow streets. On weekends the markets are lively and heartwarming with fresh food and local crafts that balance out the glamour with authenticity.
Dioriviera Summer Capsule Pop-Up at Il Riccio, Capri. Photo Source: Kristen Pelou for Dior
Amalfi Romance, Ibiza Night Fever and Riviera Chic
Fashion is a whole different scene when you compare the destinations. The Amalfi Coast brings romance to summer fashion. The looks are Mediterranean ease mixed with understated luxury. Linen dresses in whites and soft pastels float in the sea breeze, silk scarves tie back sun-kissed hair. Flat sandals or woven espadrilles make the cobblestone walks effortless. Jewelry is often gold, chunky yet elegant, and always shining in the sunlight. In Portofino and Capri you see more of that Dolce Vita energy; bold prints, lemon motifs. The vibe is romantic, fashion feels less like performance and more like a celebration of effortless beauty.
In Ibiza the crowd is younger and the focus is way more on the night. During the day, a bikini and a little cover up are enough to lay on the beach, grab a drink or walk through a market. Big beach bags and boho accessories keep the hippie spirit alive. At night though that is where the dressing up starts. Girls can take hours to get ready because it’s part of the whole fantasy. You want the shimmering skin, the hair all done, the sparkly makeup, the cute little dress. It is usually short because the vibe is hot. You see a lot of skin, glitter skirts and cowboy boots. The whole look is fun, flirty, colorful and kind of fairy‑like. All in the spirit of the magic island.
The Cote D’azur has a totally different vibe. It is more old‑money chic and classy. You see long dresses and beautiful fabrics. Pucci prints everywhere and sparkle too but in a more classy way. You definitely find more logos and labels and the footwear is different too. Women wear high heels, fifteen‑centimeter wedges or sandals. Makeup is more natural, sun‑kissed and glowy. Hair is a pretty blow, less glitter and gems. The whole vibe is chic, effortless and expensive. You start classy and maybe end barefoot on a boat but it is about the balance of elegance and fun.
The Alo Beach Club. Photo Source: Alo
Beyond the Peak, Finding the Authentic Rhythm
One thing to keep in mind with summer IT-Spots is the timing of your visit. The high season of July and August is when crowds are at their peak. Beaches are packed, clubs are overbooked and prices hit their maximum. For locals this period can be exhausting and for visitors it can feel overwhelming. But if you plan your trip in early summer or towards the end of the season you will have a very different experience. The crowds are smaller, the atmosphere is more relaxed and you will be able to connect more with the local people. You can enjoy restaurants without long waits, get recommendations from locals and actually discover the authentic rhythm of the island and port town. Off-season travel lets you indulge in everything these destinations offer without the stress of overcrowding.
In the end these destinations symbolise a certain kind of summer, one filled with beauty, music and a shared sense of being exactly where the world feels most alive. We talk about It Places, yes but they are also deeply special and keep calling people back year after year. You can experience moments there that feel like a dream. Ibiza is wild, free, spiritual and magnetic. Saint Tropez is elegant, glamorous and sparkling. Amalfi carries a deep romantic vibe, where you indulge in la dolce vita.
They make you feel alive in different ways. Once you have been you always want to return. That is the It Place Syndrome. The hot escape everyone is chasing. Whether your summer is about dancing under the stars or quiet moments by the sea, these places promise memories that will stay with you forever.
