Johnny Was Swimwear & Resort Wear: A Complete Guide for Women Over 40
If there is one brand that got a lot of buzz in the Wardrobe Oxygen community last year, it was Johnny Was. It seemed everyone was curious about it, wanted to know more about the brand's history, the quality, and if it was worth the price. Johnny Was is one of my top-performing affiliate brands, which is surprising because until now I have never had a dedicated post or review about the brand. The reason it performs so well is because when my readers buy it, they keep it. Rarely returned, rarely exchanged. That kind of track record tells you something.
I started looking more closely at Johnny Was while researching swimwear for women over 40 (stay tuned for that article), and what I found deserved its own dedicated post.
What Is Johnny Was?
Johnny Was is not a person. It's a California-based fashion label founded in 1987 by Eli Levite, named after the Bob Marley song. From the beginning, the brand has been known for elevated, artisan-inspired clothing: intricate embroidery, rich textiles, international influences, and a colorful boho aesthetic that feels elevated, but joyful and relaxed.
What sets it apart from most brands women over 40 shop? Johnny Was was designed for us from the start. Not a brand aimed at a younger demographic that we pick through for pieces that work; Johnny Was has always had the stylish woman in midlife as its core customer.
Johnny Was started as a wholesale brand, sold through high-end department stores, until 2010 when the first boutique opened in Santa Monica. Today there are several Johnny Was boutiques, a full e-commerce site, and continued placement in top department stores globally. In 2015, Endeavour Capital acquired a majority stake; in 2022, Oxford Industries, the parent company of Tommy Bahama, Lilly Pulitzer, and Jack Rogers, acquired Johnny Was for $270 million. (I wrote more about what Oxford Industries' ownership means for brand pricing in this piece on Lilly Pulitzer, fast fashion, and apparel prices.)
Is Johnny Was Worth the Price?
This is the question I get most, and the honest answer is: it depends on what you're comparing it to.
Johnny Was is considered an affordable luxury brand. Prices range from under $150 for accessories, leggings, and tees up to $1,800 for the label's signature 100% silk kimonos. Most pieces fall somewhere in between. That's not an impulse-buy price point… but it's also not arbitrary.
What you're paying for: the quality of the textiles, the complexity of the embroidery and beading, the uniqueness of the prints, and silhouettes that are designed to be worn and loved for decades, not discarded after one season. Johnny Was creates its clothing to be collector's items.
On sizing: The majority of the collection runs XXS/2 through XXL/16, and is known for a slightly generous and relaxed fit. Many styles are also available in petite (PXS/4–PXXL/16) and plus sizes (1X/18-20W through 3X/26W). Size availability varies by style, so I've noted ranges throughout this post, and I've built one capsule specifically around the plus-size range.
How to Wear Johnny Was Without It Wearing You
The Johnny Was aesthetic is specific: elevated boho chic, built on luxury fabrics and decorated with embroidery, beading, and vivid prints. If that sounds like a lot, it can be… but it doesn't have to be.
My own aesthetic runs pretty clean and minimal, and I love Johnny Was precisely because one piece does all the work. A Johnny Was jacket transforms a simple tank and pair of jeans. One of the Johnny Was blouses elevates your tried and true work pants. Let the piece be the statement and keep everything else simple. The prints are works of art, the silhouettes are comfortable, and the overall effect is effortlessly put-together in a way that's very hard to fake with a cheaper alternative.
For swimwear and resort wear specifically, this aesthetic is close to perfect for grown women who want to look chic at the pool without looking over the top, gaudy, or like they're trying to hide.
The Johnny Was Swim & Resort Collection
I'm not usually a matchy-matchy dresser. But for vacation and beachwear? I am completely on board. It's fun, it's chic, and a coordinated set elevates the whole experience. Johnny Was leans fully into the matched set for its swim collection, and I love the result.
Below I've put together four capsule wardrobes built around Johnny Was swim prints: while all three have a good size range, one specifically features plus sizes.
Johnny Was “Mulla” Print Vacation Capsule Wardrobe
The “Mulla” print was the first one to stop me scrolling. It has a strong Pucci vibe: blue and lavender, graphic and summery, and it's the kind of print that pairs beautifully with crisp white. Tan and straw accessories ground it, taking it from daytime beach to evening resort without changing much else.
Shop the Mulla capsule: pants (XXS-3X & petite) | packable hat | wrap top/cardigan (XS-XXL) | earrings | lightweight sweater (XXS-3X) | swimsuit (XS-XXL) | long dress (XXS-3X & petite) | bandana | shorts (2-24 & petite) | waterproof tote | shirt (XXS-3X & petite) | polarized sunglasses | short dress/coverup (XS-XXL) | waterproof sandals
Johnny Was “Cristada” Print Vacation Capsule Wardrobe
The “Cristada” print is more boho and more energetic. I envisioned it as the capsule for someone who wants color and pattern and movement. I pulled several colors out of the print to build the rest of the collection, so it feels cohesive even when you're mixing in pieces from other brands. And how divine is that matching reversible towel?
Shop the Cristada capsule: printed pants (XS-XXL) | tote | sleeveless top (XXS-3X) | shorts (XS-XXL) | reversible hat | sunglasses | swimsuit (XS-XXL) | dress (XXS-3X & petite/tall) | sandals | reversible towel | printed top (XS-XXL) | linen pants (XS-3X)
Johnny Was “Baccara” Print Vacation Capsule Wardrobe
Let's settle the debate: black is absolutely a summer color, and the “Baccara” print makes the case beautifully. This is a dark floral that feels glamorous rather than heavy: the kind of print that looks elegant and elevated, and takes you from the pool deck to the resort restaurant with just a change of shoes. There were so many pieces in this collection it was genuinely hard to narrow it down. I kept the basics simple and black so the flowers could do what they do best.
The Baccara collection includes some of the strongest plus-size options in the entire Johnny Was swim line: both the one-piece swimsuit and the wrap pants are available in XXS-3X.
Shop the Baccara capsule: hat | polarized sunglasses | shirtdress/coverup (XS-XXL) | reversible towel | one-piece swimsuit (XS-3X) | swimsuit top (XS-XXL) | swimsuit bottom (XS-XXL) | tote | reversible tank (0/2-20/22) | shorts (0/2-20/22) | rashguard (XS-XXL) | skirt (0/2-20/22) | wrap pants (XS-3X) | waterproof sandals
Johnny Was in Plus Sizes: The “Melia” Print Capsule
If you've been scrolling through this post thinking this brand looks amazing but I need more than an XL… this section is for you.
While some of the Johnny Was pieces in the collections above are in plus sizes, I wanted to create a capsule that is completely available up to 3X and equally as chic. I chose the Melia print, which comes in both white and navy. I mixed the two here intentionally: together they create something crisp, classic, and genuinely versatile across a range of summer destinations, from a beach resort to a Mediterranean port day.
The anchor piece is the ruched one-piece swimsuit (XXS–3X), which is quintessential Johnny Was: a mix of beautiful prints, a very wearable silhouette, and the kind of quality that makes you feel polished. From there, white linen pants, a navy slip dress, and a white eyelet duster give you easy outfit combinations that work from the sand to dinner. I had to include the embroidered tee; it's the epitome of the Johnny Was aesthetic!
Shop the Melia plus-size capsule: pants (XXS-3X & petite) | packable hat (S-XL) | sunglasses | dress (1X-3X) | necklace | swimsuit (XXS-3X) | tote | tunic tank (XXS-3X) | sandals | blouse (XXS-3X & petite) | eyelet duster/swim coverup (XXS-3X) | embroidered tee (XXS-3X & petite)
Frequently Asked Questions
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These look nice. In the UK I regret the demise of Deakin & Blue, who made lovely costumes in three bust sizes – Hepburn, Monroe and Hendricks. But I am always amused by bloggers who write about vacations as if we all do the same thing. I recently had an indulgent two-night stay in a country hotel an hour from London. I took fancy clothes for dinner (not necessary but nice for me), a leather skirt and slightly Chanel type cardigan and long boots. Otherwise I was wearing walking boots, leggings and my jeans that I had to wear on day three because the leggings were so muddy. And an extra pair of shoes to wear to breakfast because we were staying away from the main house and my walking boots were too muddy to be acceptable. Plus of course waterproof, fleece, sweater, warm hat and gloves. What I mean is ‘typical’ rarely exists. I am lucky if I swim on holiday one year in three as my husband hates the beach… my costumes are all for the pool. Just saying really, that vacation wear is only for some holidays, and the idea of buying special clothes for a couple of weeks a year also seems strange. But yes, those prints are fabulous.