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What To Wear To The Beach | 20+ Stunning Beach Outfit Ideas

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Need some style inspiration for what to wear to the beach? These beach outfits are the perfect choices to wear for your next vacation, honeymoon, or spring break!

what to wear to the beach

Chic beach outfits are one of the best things about vacation. The beach is for relaxing, swimming, and forgetting all responsibilities back home. And for some people, being a little freer with their style in terms of cut and color.

I’ve rounded up the perfect beach vacation outfit ideas whether you’re wearing a swimsuit or not. These stylish outfits will ensure you look good and feel confident when digging your toes in the sand, hitting the swim up beach bar, and soaking up that gorgeous sunshine!

This post is all about what to wear to the beach.

Best Outfits To Wear To The Beach

Casual Beach Attire For Female

The best thing about what to wear to the beach is that there isn’t a dress code. However, you can still look incredibly stylish with these beach vacation outfit ideas. I personally love casual summer outfits that can take you from day to evening because the sun is out longer, and it stays warmer.

Let’s dig into some must-have casual beach outfits to pack for vacation.

Matching Linen Set

Linen outfits have been all the rage these past few years and for good reason. They’re so easy to wear! I practically live in linen tops and pants all summer long and I don’t even live at the beach.

beach outfits
I love the idea of a 3-piece linen set: a shirt, vest, and shorts for a breezy day in the sand.

Whether you’re styling them as a beach cover-up or a casual lunch outfit, these pieces look great with a laidback pair of slides or a platform shoe in the evening. Plus, linen has a bit of a cozy factor, which is why I wear a long sleeve linen shirt and linen pants on the airplane.

Mini Dress

A sundress is dubbed the quintessentials dress of summer obviously, you can’t go wrong with a mini dress either. This is another style that works perfectly as a beach cover-up that you can throw on in-between tanning sessions and hit the boardwalk; or head to the beach bar with a pair of flip-flops in the evening.

summer dresses

Opt for something in a lightweight material that isn’t skin tight for the most comfort in the heat while keeping a feminine aesthetic. Add a pair of flat sandals and some cute stud earrings for a cute outfit for vacation, day or night.

Basic Tank + Colorful Pants

A basic tank and colorful pants are one of the easiest vacation outfits there are. I love a ribbed knit tank juxtaposes a pair of wide-leg pants to create a balanced look. Match your top to your pants for the ultimate summer coordinates. Another summer day to night look that you can dress up with a statement necklace or pair of earrings.

vacation outfits

Choose a colorful pair of wide-leg pants in any of the season’s trending colors: hot pink, grass green, pale yellow, pale lilac, ocean blue, or red. If you’re like me, you don’t go on holiday without purchasing a pair of printed pants in one of the local shops and wear them immediately out of the store…

Cute Bathing Suits

Whether it’s a cute one-piece or a cheeky French bikini, the most stylish swimsuits follow the same guidelines for outfit creation by coordinating tops and bottoms in the same colors or print.

Casual Beach Cover Ups

A beach cover-up is the best thing to wear to the beach if you’re walking around in swimwear. This is definitely a must for beach bars and beach parties if you plan to wear a swimsuit. Crochet is trending this summer in all different colors for the cutest beach cover-ups. A similar style are the gauzy sheer styles that also offer a peak at your bathing suit underneath.

How Do You Look Classy On The Beach?

The same rules apply for classy beach outfits as for elegant style tips for any occasion. Solid colors in neutrals such as white, black, ivory, beige, navy blue, and classic red are the best to purchase swimwear in. If going for prints opt for a classic nautical stripe or black and white. Matching your beach cover-up to your bathing suit (and sandals) is a must to create a chic tonal outfit.

what to wear to the beach for ladies

Materials that look elegant and high-end in summer are linen, cotton, cotton poplin, silk, chiffon, and washable, silk-like materials. Choose timeless styles over fast fashion trends. Beach bags and hats in woven raffia and leather or materials that mimic the look of these. Avoid logos, mixing logos, busy prints, and anything that just looks cheap.

Related Post: How To Dress Nice Everyday: 7 Seriously-Good Tips

Elegant Swimsuits

A one-piece swimsuit offers a timeless, elegant style for resortwear and beach outfits. Whether you opt for a classic, modest fit or go for a deep v-neck, there’s something “grown-up” about this type of style, even if it’s with a backless cut.

Elegant Beach Cover Ups

Who doesn’t love a beach cover-up that makes an entrance? Something long and flowy, breathable and sophisticated is everything you want in the humidity of the tropics or seaside town.

If you’re looking for an elegant style, try a long caftan. This classic piece is the epitome of luxury resort wear (think Johanna Ortiz), but you don’t need to pay luxury prices for a chic swim cover-up. I personally love the effortless appeal of caftans–and that they style perfectly as a vacation outfit for a nice dinner out.

What To Wear To The Beach At Night

Long Sleeve Linen Shirt + Linen Pants

I’ve already mentioned the versatility of linen separates for chic beach outfit ideas, with a long sleeve shirt and a pair of pants providing a bit of cozy without trapping in heat for cooler evenings in the sand. This is where budget stores like H&M and Quince take the cake with their affordable collections of linen beachwear.

Cardigan + Wide Leg Jeans

A cozy cardigan and a casual pair of wide leg jeans are the perfect outfit combination for a beach party or bonfire at night. I typically never jeans during a summer day because they’re too thick, but on summer evenings they’re fair game.

Maxi Dress

We can’t forget the never-fail, maxi dress for vacation nights. The modest style is not only elegant chic, but can keep the breeze off a pair of freshly-shaven legs during a beach wedding ceremony. If you keep the look minimal chic, you can get multiple wears out of the dress with different accessories and shoes. Paired with a flat sandal, this is the ultimate beach chic outfit on a summer night.

Summer Sweater

A lightweight knit is a summer wardrobe essential for those cooler evenings and morning walks on the beach. Opt for a classic nautical stripe, a soft white, or classic black. If you’ll be in the heat, a crochet sweater looks cute styled over a solid-colored maxi dress or tank for going in and out of air conditioning.

What Shoes To Wear To The Beach

The best shoes to wear on the beach are ones you can easily step in and out of. In other words slides. Off the sand, an elevated slide is easily dressed up or down for multiple occasions.

What To Pack For Vacation

Chic accessories are also an important component of your beach vacation packing list. A stylish beach hat, medium to large-sized beach bag, and a pair of cute sunglasses will take you through a week at the beach.

what to wear to the beach instead of a bathing suit

Stylish Beach Hats

If you’ll be in the tropics where the rays of the sun are next-level, a hat that’s rated UPF50 will help protect your head from sun damage. Regardless of the sun protection factor, it’s important to get something chic that you’ll actually want to wear as some of the budget styles can be overly flimsy and floppy.

Chic Sunglasses

ideas for what to wear to the beach

Sunglasses are a must on the beach, not only to protect your eyes but also as a stylish accent to your beach outfit.

Chic Beach Bag

Last, but not least a woven beach tote is a must for carrying all your beach essentials to and from your hotel, Airbnb, or vacation home.

I love discovering new beaches and the vibe they have to offer. What’s your favorite beach and what do you like most about it? Comment below.

This post was all about what to wear to the beach

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  • 11 Amazing Summer Wardrobe Essentials You’ll Wear Year After Year
  • The Best French Bikinis For Your Next Holiday
beach vacation outfit ideas

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Post Dated: September 30, 2024
Category: What To Wear
Tags: outfits+ summer+ vacation

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Just a girl, standing in front of a closet, deciding what to wear next. When I'm not planning my next outfit, I'm enjoying live music, dancing with my partner, and deep conversations. Read more...

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