From crochet to linen, dive into the season’s best beachwear.
Whether you’re headed to the beach or pool party, there’s nothing more exciting than shopping for summer vacation. Once you have your new bikinis and one piece swimsuites secured, you’ve got to commit to a swimsuit cover-up to top off the look. Ideal for taking you from the beach to the pool to dinner al fresco, the right cover-up is an essential in every summer wardrobe — especially when there’s no time for outfit changes between swimming and Aperol Spritzes.
This summer, there’s no shortage of trendy beach cover-ups to try out, even if you’re the full coverage type (which is better for your skin, anyway, but you can still nail a glow with a face tanner. From breezy linen dresses and button-downs to summer pants and sarongs, there’s a bathing suit cover-up for every style and occasion. And with trends like crochet, metallics, and matching sets, dressing for vacation this summer is just as fun as being on the trip itself.
The Different Types of Bathing Suit Cover-Ups
- Sarong wraps: One of the most classic cover-ups of all time, the sarong is a favorite for its effortless style that gets the job done. If you’re looking for a swimsuit skirt cover-up, it doesn’t get easier than simply tying a sarong around your waist. Ideal for pairing with both bikinis and one-piece suits, this cover-up style is great for days at the beach or pool when you want more coverage around your hips, thighs, and butt. Lengths can vary from ultra-mini to full-length maxi, and they can typically be tied in a multitude of ways to fully customize the look to your body. Sarongs are also cute bathing suit cover-ups for plus size body types.
- Beach cover-up dresses: If you’re looking for something you can throw on over your swimsuit and wear out to eat, explore, or run errands, a beach dress is always a good option. From mini shirt dresses to tunics and full-length caftans, there are a ton of styles and silhouettes to choose from, depending on what you want out of your cover-up. If you’re looking for more coverage, you can opt for a maxi caftan with sleeves, while if you want something super light and easy, go for something sleeveless or mini. When it comes to packing for vacation, a beach cover-up dress is versatile can also be worn as a day dress, so you can get the most wear (and packing space!).
- The button-down shirt: Throwing an oversized, menswear-inspired button-down shirt over a bathing suit will forever be chic. If you’re spending time on a boat or by the water, an open button-down over your bikini or one-piece lends coverage you can still catch a breeze in. To transition throughout the day and night, you can always pair a button-down shirt with denim cutoff shorts, linen pants, or even a summer dress, along with a pair of cute summer sandals. From lightweight linen to breathable cotton, there are plenty of beach-ready button-downs to choose from.
- Beach pants: Dresses, skirts, and sarongs may be the most common cover-up styles, but don’t sleep on the beach pant. Roomy, wide-leg pants not only offer an unexpected swim look, they’re also a solid option for wearing on breezy days or when you want full leg coverage. From classic white linen to bold prints, styling a pair of pants over your bathing suit is an effortless way to elevate your look — and of course, it transitions easily to post-beach or pool dinner and drinks.