Often the caveat to summer weather is bathing suit season. It’s not something that many women relish. Who wants to bare it all for the world to see in the waterproof equivalent of underwear? In the water? Okay. But out of the water? Um, no thank you. Thankfully there are a variety of ways to not only cover up pool and beachside, but do it stylishly.
Over the years I have mastered the bathing suit cover up game. I’m not someone who goes out and buys something designed to be a cover up nor do I just throw some oversized t-shirt on and call my swimsuit cover. It is so darn easy to cover up your swimsuit in style and I am going to show you how with these five ways to do it.
Five Ways to Cover Up Your Bathing Suit this Summer
#1- A large pareo
Years ago, my mom gave me this big Gucci scarf that she owned and I assumed she got when the brand was hot in the 80’s. It’s a bold tropical print in a cotton fabric that is stunning. I still own it and take it with me every time I go to the beach. It is large enough that it can be worn multiple ways which is what makes it so appealing to me. I tie it around my waist as a sarong and I also have wrapped it around my neck like a halter dress like I did on my honeymoon in the photo below.
With these options, I was able to quickly tie it around my waist or even wear use it to go get lunch beach side.
In the above outfit, I styled this Lands’ End swimsuit (link to top and link to bottoms) with a pareo from Everything But Water. I finished the outfit with a beach bag from Eric Javits, a pair of gold flip flops from Reef and sunglasses from Quay Australia.
#2- Men’s Cotton Shirt
The next thing I always pack on a beach vacation is a men’s cotton shirt. I love the crisp, classic look of this cover up. What I also like is how it buttons down the front which allows me to cover my shoulders while wearing it open. I have also tied the shirt in front with my sarong around my waist and it has looked super chic. Using the same Lands’ End bathing suit, I used this men’s white cotton shirt from J. Crew and finished the outfit with red flat espadrilles from Louise et Cie, lobster tote fro Topshop, sun hat from Bp. Nordstrom and white cat eye sunglasses.
#3- Caftan or Kimono
Not a personal choice of mine, but definitely a perfect solution, a caftan or drapey kimono can be chic options for a cover up. It doubles as a dress and can take a swimsuit appropriately to the street. I styled the same bathing suit with this caftan from Natori, white flip flops from Jeffrey Campbell, blush tote from Eric Javits and Longchamp sunglasses.
#4- A drawstring skirt
Have you ever tried to put shorts on over a white bathing suit? It’s sort of uncomfortable. And forget putting anything over your swimsuit with buttons and a fly. Instead, something easier like an elastic or drawstring skirt can be much more comfortable. You can try a long, chic maxi skirt or even something as simple as this short style from Nic + Zoe. I finished the outfit with a pair of sandals from TOMS, soft blue beach bag from Tommy Bahama and SPF 50 sun hat from Coolibar.
#5- An easy sundress
Lastly, a simple summer dress, like in a natural fiber like cotton, can be easily thrown over a swimsuit for a perfect beach to street look. Plus, for easy packing, this dress can serve dual purposes– you can wear it to the beach and you can wear it when sightseeing or doing anything else on your trip.
I styled the swimsuit with a navy and white striped dress from Tommy Bahama, yellow flip flop sandals from Vionic, reversible navy beach tote from Miansai and sunglasses from VonZipper.
These options will not only cover up your swimsuits, they will do it in a way that makes you chic on and off the beach.
