What's ironic about putting beach outfits together is that it's a very different, far more stressful experience than the beach day itself. You're running around the house trying to gather supplies and locate where you stored that straw summer hat you bought on a whim last year. Your list of beach essentials feels a mile long: you need your best bikinis, flip-flops, and bathing suit cover-up that protects your skin but still allows you to get some color. You can only relax that moment when your toes hit the sand, the sun beams down on your shoulders, and you hear the waves crashing.
The solution to streamlining a beach outfit is obvious: preparation. And as your fashion-inclined friend who analyzes summer fashion trends and builds outfits as part of my paying, 9-to-5 gig, I'm here to do that extra step for you. Consider the below your one-and-done, beachy guide to easy summer outfits that make getting beach-ready a breeze. From the surprising return of once-passé, now-cool-again Y2K swimsuits—ICYMI: Burberry's check bikini is back—to the kick-off of Euro girl summer and the definitive best beach dresses that have lifespans beyond the sand, follow the instructions below so you have one less item on pre-beach to-dos.
A Black One-Piece With Bijoux
Sticking to basic black is a fashion rule of thumb. On his Spring 2024 runway, Michael Kors accessorized an ink-colored one-piece with a see-through sarong, a statement belt made of metallic hardware, and a pair of flat strappy sandals. Recreating the combo with the items below will do the trick for the next time you don't know what to wear to the beach.
A Breezy Button-Down Shirt Dress
Take a cue from Alberta Ferreti with a white beach outfit that's crisp and clean but not boring. To start, style a broderie-style bikini with a relaxed button-front shirt dress. Flat, strappy, and caged sandals in brown leather will complete the look.
Go Fish!
Gabriela Hearst sent out beach-primed models in maxi dresses made of netted macramé. Jennifer Lopez wears sheer beach cover-ups. So, what's stopping you from trying the look? To start, find an open-work beach dress and a high-waisted bikini set. Alternatively, this outfit works well if you test-drive the tankini swimwear trend with a more full-coverage style.
Pops of Color
Red is not typically a color you want to see on yourself when you're at the beach—it means your sunscreen application was less than stellar. But here, Hermès does ruby right. Recreate the luxury fashion house's colorful co-ord with a red scoop-neck top and matching separates.
Ready for Business, Beachside
While Valentino's take on summer suiting used a crisp cotton twill, feel free to try more relaxed textiles when recreating the above look. A linen blend, for instance, is always a good idea—especially when your plans involve direct sun exposure. For footwear? Mesh flats, of course.
A Center-Stage Cover-Up
The plus side to beachwear is that a one-and-done, throw-on-and-go cover-up can do the bulk of an outfit's heavy lifting—as Chanel showed in its Spring 2024 show. Start with a one-piece swimsuit as your base, but then allow a playfully printed caftan or sarong to steal the show. On the accessories front, any of your best beach bags and flip-flops will do.
Prepster Off Duty
Behold the beauty of board shorts—Summer's athletic short trend, only with a waterproof and marine-inspired slant. In Miu Miu's Spring 2024 show, models wore orange swim shorts with navy polo shirts (secondary colors are always a foolproof combination). Mrs. Prada's final touch was rope-tied sandals, which would blend in on any boat in a coastal marina. This look would go great alongside the seashell jewelry trend.
Breeze-Friendly Summer Separates
For those who find black too austere for summer, brown will tick the neutral box but offers neutral tones. Take a color cue from Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini and build a beach outfit from mahogany-colored basics, like a button-down shirt and Bermuda shorts (or linen pants, for those who'd prefer a longline look). Rafia slip-on sandals and a chocolate brown bikini are the finishing touches.
