If you’re like most people, you don’t spend all your time in the water when you visit the beach or go to a beach club. Between dips in the sea or the pool, you’re probably on a lounger enjoying drinks, strolling on the sand or a promenade, having a meal at a nearby restaurant, or playing volleyball beachside.
Surely, however, you don’t want to be constantly changing in and out of your swimsuit as the day goes by? This is why a beach dress cover-up is essential to any beachgoer’s wardrobe. It’s as vital as your swimsuit, sunglasses, waterproof sandals, sun hat, and sunblock.
Beach cover-ups encompass a wide range of clothing. In fact, any item of clothing you use to cover your swimsuit is considered a beach cover-up.
That said, you can certainly be more deliberate about your cover-up choices. In particular, wear something that will ensure you’re ready – i.e., appropriately dressed – for whatever activity you’ll be engaging in next. It’s even better if your cover-up is not only suitable and presentable but also glamorous and fashionable.
This, of course, depends on your taste and sense of style. Check out the following beach cover-up types and consider expanding your wardrobe to include one or more of them so you’ll have an assortment of beach styling options.
1. Dress
Technically speaking, any dress can work as a beach cover-up. Just don your favourite dress over your swimsuit, and that’s it. However, dresses designed specifically as beach cover-ups have distinct advantages over regular dresses.
Beach dresses meant as cover-ups are often made of light or soft and breathable fabrics, so they’re comfortable to wear even during warm beach days. Cotton and linen are popular, but there are also dress cover-ups in chiffon. Artfully designed chiffon dresses are excellent for beach weddings or fancier beach dinners.
Dress cover-ups come in various lengths, including maxi, midi and mini. Maxi dresses provide full coverage and can transition seamlessly from beach to casual evening wear. Meanwhile, midi dresses offer a balance of coverage and mobility, ideal for beach walks and casual outings. Finally, mini dresses look more relaxed and youthful.
Some beach dress cover-ups are exceptionally quick-drying. Others incorporate the swimsuit underneath into their design – e.g., cutout sections, deep V-necks, lengthy slits, see-through sections, etc. – while some have button fronts or off-shoulder styles for extra flair. Many have adjustable straps, elastic waistbands or drawstrings for a comfortable fit. Indeed, with their ease of wear and design variety, dress cover-ups are a practical choice for beachgoers looking for an accessible yet stylish way to cover their swimsuit on the beach.
2. Sarong
The traditional sarong is a tube of fabric one steps into and then ties at the waist, the chest or the shoulder to cover one’s body, partially or entirely. The sarong originated from Southeast Asia and has many uses: outerwear, nightwear, baby hammock, baby carrier, an improvised sack or bag, etc.
Sarongs used as modern beach cover-ups are large strips or sheets of fabric, unlike their tube-like counterparts. This gives the wearer more freedom to customise style, design and fit according to their requirements.
Sarong cover-ups are usually made from lightweight materials like cotton and rayon. They’re adaptable and can be styled in numerous ways. For instance:
- You can tie it around your waist and turn it into a skirt that covers or reveals as much of the hips and legs as you want; it can be loose or tight.
- You can wrap it around your body to create a dress-like cover-up. You can use knots or fasteners to hold it in place at the neck or chest. It’s so flexible that you can aim for various styles, such as a halter dress, a one-shoulder wrap or a vest dress.
Sarong cover-ups can double up as a beach blanket (particularly the large ones), a headscarf, or even a shawl for chilly evenings.
3. Kaftan
In ancient times, kaftans were meant for royalty. Classic kaftans are flowy ankle-length garments with long and wide sleeves. They are made from luxurious fabrics and trimmed with intricate embroidery, stitching, beads, crystals, and even precious and semi-precious stones.
Kaftans are typically worn as outerwear, layered over a dress or other clothing. Thus, they make excellent beach cover-ups.
Of course, kaftan cover-ups are less likely to be made of silk. Instead, they usually come in cotton, linen, and other light and airy materials suitable for spending the whole day at the beach. Some are embellished withtassels, fringes, or lace trims. However, while they may have embroidery and beadwork, today’s kaftans are typically not as elaborate as the court kaftans of old (i.e., formal wear). Even so, there are lavishly designed kaftan beach cover-ups that are perfectly suitable for nights out.
Kaftan beachwear comes in various lengths (from mini to maxi) and styles. Whereas conventional kaftans have wide sleeves, there are sleeveless kaftan cover-ups and some with long, tight-fitting sleeves. Some kaftans have adjustable waist ties or drawstrings, allowing customisation of fit.
4. Skirt
Skirt beach cover-ups come in diverse styles, including wraps, tie-fronts, and elastic waist skirts. The wrap style, in particular, offers a customisable fit and can be secured with a knot or bow.
Skirts, like dresses, can range from mini to maxi, feature side slits or asymmetrical hems for added mobility and style, and come in one of many silhouettes, including the following:
- A-line
- Draped
- Straight
- Circular
- Layered
- Godet
- Bubble
- Tulip
Pull a skirt over your one-piece swimsuit, and you should be ready for a casual stroll on the boulevard. You’ll look like you’re wearing a skirt over a unitard.
You can wear a skirt over your bikini bottom and leave your bikini top as is. Such a look is a little more casual and obviously meant for the beach, but it still serves its purpose – it will take you from the water to the boulevard. You can take it one step further by throwing on a button-down or a half-shirt over your bikini top.
If you have a particularly long flowy skirt, pull that up to your chest and wear it like a strapless dress. You can even wear a belt on your waist or higher up for shape and definition. This (plus bangle earrings) should look gorgeous worn over a strappy bikini.
Cover Up in Style
A day on the beach typically means engaging in a range of waterside activities. Wear a beach cover-up for when you leave the water, so you don’t need to change out of your suit when you’re doing other things aside from swimming.
You have many beach cover-up options, including dresses, sarongs, kaftans, and skirts. Best buy them in stores that carry swimwear in the UAE to be sure you’re getting a cover-up designed for beach use.