How to Build a Beach Outfit You Actually Want to Wear
By Caroline Kelm, Founder of Coastal Cloth Co.
Every summer, I end up having some version of the same conversation with a friend who's heading somewhere beautiful. Turks, Rosemary Beach, the Outer Banks, wherever. And she says some variation of: I have no idea what to pack. I never know what to actually wear to the beach.
And every time, I give her the same answer.
It's not a packing list. It's a formula. Four elements, in the right order, and you'll never stand in front of your suitcase feeling stumped again.
Why "Beach Outfit" Is More Complicated Than It Sounds
The beach is genuinely one of the hardest dressing contexts there is. You need to be comfortable in full sun and salt air. You need to be able to get wet, or at least wet-adjacent, without ruining your look. You need to be able to move, sit in the sand, walk to the water, carry a tote that weighs fourteen pounds, and then somehow walk directly into a restaurant at noon without looking like you just crawled out of the ocean.
That's a lot to ask of an outfit.
The reason most beach days feel like a style failure isn't because you packed wrong. It's because you packed individual pieces instead of a system. A cute swimsuit with no real cover-up. A cover-up that doesn't work as an outfit. Sandals that don't walk well in sand. Accessories you're too afraid to get sandy.
The formula fixes all of that.
The Coastal Outfit Formula
Step 1: Start with your swimsuit base.
Your swimsuit is the foundation, which means it needs to work with everything going over it. For 2026, the strongest swimsuit choices are the ones that feel considered: a clean one-piece, a well-fitted bikini in a solid or simple print, something you'd feel comfortable in on its own. Neutral tones (white, cream, sand, navy) give you the most flexibility with your cover-up layer. Bold prints work beautifully if your cover-up is simple.
What you want to avoid: a swimsuit that's fighting with everything else you put on. The swimsuit is the base, not the star.
Step 2: Add your cover-up layer.
This is the most important piece in the formula and the one most people get wrong. Your cover-up is not an afterthought. It's the piece that determines whether you have one beach outfit or five.
The best beach cover-ups for 2026 are the ones that read as actual clothing: a wrap skirt that ties at the hip, a linen button-down worn open, a gauze maxi you could wear to dinner. The goal is a cover-up you'd keep on willingly, not one you're desperate to get out of the second you hit the sand. (We go deep on this in our guide to how to style a beach cover-up that works on and off the sand, if you want the full breakdown.)
A few things to look for:
- A fabric that handles moisture without getting heavy (cotton terry cloth is our answer to this, learn more in our beach cover-up fabric guide)
- A silhouette that works over your specific swimsuit style
- Something that can be restyled, tied differently, layered differently, to create more than one look
The Sullivan was designed to be this piece. It's a 100% cotton terry cloth wrap skirt that ties at the hip, stays put through a full beach day, and transitions straight to lunch, a shop, a bar, dinner, without ever asking you to change. If you're building a beach wardrobe around one piece, this is the one.
Not sure which size is right for you? Visit our Size and Fit Guide before you order.
Step 3: Add your accessories.
Beach accessories have one job: to make your outfit feel complete without requiring you to think about them once you've left the house.
The formula here is simple: one hat, one bag, one jewelry moment.
Hat: A wide-brim straw hat or a linen bucket hat. Both protect you from the sun and both photograph beautifully, which matters more than we admit.
Bag: A woven tote or a raffia bag large enough to hold everything: towel, sunscreen, water bottle, the novel you'll open once and put down. The bag is a workhorse. It doesn't need to be precious.
Jewelry: One piece that can get wet. A gold cuff, a beaded bracelet, a simple pendant necklace. Shell-inspired jewelry is having a major moment in coastal fashion right now and for good reason: it belongs at the beach in a way that nothing else quite does.
That's it. Three accessories, maximum. The beach is not the place for more.
Step 4: Choose your shoes.
Beach footwear has two requirements: it has to handle sand and it has to be easy to slip on and off. Everything else is preference.
The strongest options right now:
- Slide sandals are the most effortless beach shoe, period. They go with everything, come off at the water's edge without ceremony, and go back on just as easily.
- Espadrilles are slightly more elevated and great for the beach-to-lunch transition. Keep them for days when you know you'll be doing more walking than swimming.
- Flip-flops are the classic answer that never actually goes out of style, even when fashion tries to retire them every few years.
What doesn't work: anything with a heel, anything with complicated straps, anything you'd be upset about getting sandy. Save those for the evening.
The Complete Beach Day Look, Assembled
Here's what the formula looks like in practice:
Morning at the beach: Simple white one-piece + The Sullivan tied at the hip + slide sandals + wide-brim straw hat + woven tote + one beaded bracelet.
Midday beach-to-brunch: Re-tie The Sullivan at the natural waist (reads more like a skirt). Add a linen button-down over the swimsuit, open or loosely tied. Swap slides for espadrilles. Done.
Afternoon into evening: Drop the button-down. Let The Sullivan do the work. Add a pair of simple gold earrings and a lip gloss from the bottom of your tote. Walk straight into dinner.
Three distinct looks. Zero outfit changes. One formula.
For a deeper look at how to work each of these transitions, read our full guide: The Cover-Up Comeback: How to Style a Beach Cover-Up That Works On and Off the Sand.
What to Pack for a Beach Vacation (The Edit)
If you're packing for a longer trip and want to apply this formula to a full suitcase, here's the edit:
Swimsuits (2-3): One solid, one print, one one-piece. They mix and match with everything.
Cover-ups (2): One wrap skirt (The Sullivan takes up almost no space and does the most work). One linen dress or gauze tunic for evenings when you want something a little longer. Not sure which cover-up fabric is right for your trip? Our beach cover-up fabric guide breaks down linen, terry cloth, gauze, crochet, and more.
Shoes (2 pairs): Slides for the beach. Espadrilles or a simple sandal for evenings.
Accessories: One hat, one tote, two to three jewelry pieces that can get wet.
The wild card: A lightweight linen button-down. Wear it open over your swimsuit, tied over your cover-up, or fully buttoned as an actual shirt for an errand day. It belongs in every beach bag.
That's it. Everything fits. Everything works together. Nothing requires ironing.
The One Thing That Changes Everything
I want to come back to the cover-up for a second, because it really is the piece that makes or breaks the whole formula.
When you have a cover-up that you actually want to wear, something that feels good, stays put, and looks like it was chosen rather than grabbed, it changes the entire energy of a beach day. You're not anxious about running to the car for sunscreen. You're not holding your wrap together with one hand while you carry your tote with the other. You're not counting down until you can get back to the hotel room and put on real clothes.
You're just having a beach day. A good one. In something you love.
That's what we built The Sullivan for. And once you tie it on, we think you'll understand exactly what we mean.
Shop The Sullivan, 100% Cotton Terry Cloth Beach Coverup Wrap Skirt
Curious about cover-up styling? Read: How to Style a Beach Cover-Up That Works On and Off the Sand
Wondering which fabric is right for you? Read: Linen, Crochet, or Terry Cloth? How to Pick the Right Beach Cover-Up Fabric
Not sure what size to order? Visit our Size and Fit Guide
Frequently Asked Questions
What do women wear to the beach in 2026? The strongest beach looks in 2026 follow a simple formula: a well-fitted swimsuit as the base, a cover-up that reads as an actual outfit (wrap skirts, linen tunics, and gauze dresses are all strong choices), simple accessories (one hat, one tote, one jewelry piece), and easy footwear like slide sandals or espadrilles. The goal is an outfit that works from the water to wherever the afternoon goes without needing to change. For a full styling breakdown, read our guide on how to style a beach cover-up.
What is the best beach coverup outfit? The best beach coverup outfit is one that works as a complete look on its own, not just something worn over a swimsuit. A terry cloth wrap skirt tied at the hip with a slide sandal and a straw hat is one of the most versatile and effortless beach outfits you can put together. It photographs beautifully, handles a full beach day without fuss, and transitions straight to lunch or dinner. The Sullivan by Coastal Cloth Co. was designed specifically for this.
What should I pack for a beach vacation? For a week-long beach vacation, pack two to three swimsuits (one solid, one print, one one-piece), two cover-ups in different styles (a wrap skirt and a linen dress or tunic), two pairs of shoes (slides and a slightly elevated sandal), and accessories including one hat, one tote, and two to three pieces of jewelry that can get wet. A lightweight linen button-down is the most versatile addition: it works over a swimsuit, over a cover-up, or as its own shirt.
What are the beach fashion trends for summer 2026? Summer 2026 beach fashion is leaning into versatility and intentional styling over fast fashion throwaway pieces. Key trends include terry cloth and woven cotton coverups, wrap skirt silhouettes, linen and gauze layers, shell and bead jewelry, wide-brim hats, and the beach-to-brunch outfit concept: pieces that move effortlessly from the sand to the restaurant without requiring a wardrobe change. Read more in our beach cover-up fabric guide.
What shoes are best for the beach? The best beach shoes are ones that handle sand easily and slip on and off without effort. Slide sandals are the most practical and versatile option: they go with every beach outfit and come off easily at the water's edge. Espadrilles are a great choice for beach days that transition to lunch or walking around town. Classic flip-flops are always reliable for active beach days.