Beach Outfit: What if You Bet on Swimwear?
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When summer arrives, for many of us, comfort comes before style. Heat, sandy grains that scratch, sweat making clothes stick to the skin… We seek lightness and ease above all.
The result is that we fall into a trap: the trap of convenience. And we forget to dress well.
After all, why make the effort to dress up when we know we’re going to sweat profusely on our towel?
The problem is that by playing this card, we risk falling into the archetype of the beachgoer slathered in sunscreen who has browned under the sun and doesn’t take a step without their favorite cooler and the beach umbrella bought from the souvenir shop next door.
And when it comes to style, we assure you, we can do better.
One of the solutions is to resort to beachwear. Understand the idea of not just donning a swimsuit, but rather a complete outfit suitable for an afternoon by the sea.
But then, what makes a good beach outfit? What’s the point of dressing well when our only goal is to swim? How do we ensure we have style on the beach?
These are the questions I will attempt to answer.
In this article, I share with you the right reflexes to have style, even when a lazy day by the water is in order!
Why wear beachwear?
This is a question that has surely crossed your mind? Why make the effort to dress properly, elegantly when 5 minutes after arriving at the beach, you shed (almost) everything to take a dip? Because yes, after all, at the beach, we are there to sunbathe!
Several answers can guide this question.
Firstly, having style is a practice. Take the analogy of writing: you don’t learn to write a book by sitting at your desk once every 6 months. It’s the same with clothes; by engaging in the style game, even in the most informal moments, you will gradually find your style and create a true universe around your clothes.
Next, it’s a way to stand out and show your true personality. We often say that clothes are a reflection of our identity. Why settle for a bland outfit that doesn’t enhance you when you can shout to the world who you are? Why not choose to look sharp in a context where nothing suggests it?
It’s the best way to boldly assert who you are.
Finally, a trip to the beach doesn’t mean you have to stay on your towel all day. You can take the opportunity to eat at a beach shack, refresh yourself at a beach club, or enjoy a convivial moment on a private beach with all the services that come with it. In this context, dressing in beachwear will allow you to feel more comfortable than in just a swimsuit.
What makes a good swimsuit?
To answer that, let’s break it down. A good swimsuit consists of:
- a swimsuit,
- a kimono or a pareo,
- a pair of shoes,
- a hat,
- a tote bag,
- accessories (sunglasses, jewelry).
The swimsuit
Unless you plan to go to a nudist beach, there’s a good chance you won’t forget to wear a swimsuit.
The swimsuit is the central piece. When chosen well, it’s the one that will highlight your silhouette while protecting your intimate parts from the sun. Aesthetically, it’s also the garment that can make all the difference and in some cases, can stand alone. But the downside is that choosing can be tough… Bikini, asymmetrical swimsuit, cut-out swimsuit, high-waisted bottom, thong, string, leopard print, artsy, classic… Finding the ideal swimsuit can feel like a battle.
While I prepare a comprehensive guide on how to choose a good swimsuit, here are a couple of tips I can offer you:
- Choose it based on how you plan to use it: between a game of beach volleyball and a sunbathing session, the expectations are not the same.
- Choose it according to your body shape: do you have a little belly that you want to “hide”? Opt for a high-waisted bottom or a one-piece swimsuit with a cutout or a nice neckline to draw attention elsewhere.
- Dare to use colors and prints, but not too much: it’s all about balance. We adjust colors based on our skin tone, but also the rest of our outfit.
And among the 2022 swimwear trends, here’s a little selection of what you can find:
The beach caftan
The beach caftan is a cover-up that you’ll wear over your swimsuit. It will be particularly useful during your movements (yes, the walk from the car to the beach counts) if you go to a restaurant or beach club, because we appreciate not being stared at while ordering our coke (or mojito) at the beach bar!
We thus appreciate it for its utility, but also its aesthetics.
The pareo (skirt version) or beach kimono (dress version) inevitably adds style. To summarize, the caftan will allow you to go from 0 to 1. From a simple swimsuit to a looked outfit.
Indeed, you can find them in several versions:
- white, in voile or crochet
- floral or in boho-style prints
- solid colors, for a sober and elegant effect
Among the trends, we also see that this iconic garment is available in the form of loose pants in voile or crochet, long openwork dresses, pareos just to cover the butt, beach tunics, etc.
Here’s my little selection:
Shoes
Say goodbye to cheap flip-flops or closed shoes (that you regret wearing) to have style at the beach. Opt for a pair of comfortable shoes that also have flair.
The idea? To protect your feet, because yes, the hot sand on July 23rd burns (I’m not telling you anything new), but also because shoes are the accessory that adds character or elegance to your outfit depending on the model you choose.
Here’s my selection:
The hat
If a few years ago, hats were shy, they are now making a strong comeback, especially from an aesthetic point of view. And thank goodness, because no one wants to deal with sunstroke in the middle of August.
The headwear is becoming popular. In the form of a bucket hat (a nod to crochet bucket hats), cap, straw hat, or wide-brimmed hat, the options are multiplying, giving fashionistas the chance to change outfits while protecting their heads.
Besides style, you might want to consider the material of your hat. For your comfort, you probably don’t want to sweat from your forehead, so opt for a breathable headwear. In this regard, I don’t think a cap is the best option.
Here’s my selection:
The tote bag
This is the essential beach accessory.
Practical, you can slip all your little necessities in and access them easily. Useful when you have sandy or wet hands.
Spacious, it offers enough volume to fit your towel, a good book, your beach outfit, a water bottle, and a snack.
Fashionable, the tote bag perfectly complements a beachwear outfit: no need to use your grocery tote for this…
You can opt for a luxury tote bag, of which you can find a selection on our shopping space. But, does it really suit a beach afternoon? In my opinion, not really. Sand and salty water never mix well with a Balmain or a Céline. However, for a lounge moment on a private beach or in a beach club, it would fit better.
For more affordable prices, you’ll find a multitude of other tote bags. Here’s my selection:
Accessories
The finishing touch, the one that makes the difference: accessories.
Among the most common are of course sunglasses, a true must-have for a beach outfit, but which, let’s not forget, also prevents you from burning your retina. Sunglasses are clearly a character accessory. Today, there are dozens upon dozens of different models and shapes.
If you love originality, you can definitely go wild by choosing a pair that stands out both in shape and color. But if you prefer a classic style, opt for a quality pair, sturdy and reliable, like those from luxury brands. This is what will “upgrade” your outfit.
And what about jewelry?
Pauline explained in a previous article the return of personalized jewelry. To add a colorful and playful touch to your beach outfit, it’s clever, but be careful to use it sparingly. When it’s too much, it’s a miss. Otherwise, there are also fine jewelry options.
But what you can definitely bet on this summer for your beachwear outfit is body jewelry! Straight from the 2000s, they are in vogue this year. Among the most popular are belly chains and anklets.
Here’s my selection of sunglasses:
Inspiration: 5 examples of beach outfits that work
One last thing to remember when putting together your perfect beach look is balance.
Don’t insist on piling on clothes and accessories. The perfect beach outfit is rather minimalist and promotes a return to nature with more noble materials and light hues. Keep in mind to not do too much or too little. It’s the best way to create a coherent outfit ;)
💡 And if you plan to take a trip for a weekend, we’ll explain how to compose a capsule collection to create your little summer looks.
Image by Monikh
