Dressing stylishly for the beach can be challenging, particularly if it’s really warm and you don’t want to bare too much. In this article, you’ll find all the best women’s beach outfits that will make you look and feel fabulous.
Of course, you’ll need a flattering swimsuit, and cover-up, but your beach outfits can incorporate so much more. You’ll find everything below to put together casual outfits for lazy beach days, through to ideas on how to go from beach to bar or restaurant, or inspiration if you have a beach event like a party or a barbecue to attend.
What is the beach trend in 2025?
The fantastic thing about beachwear is it’s incredibly timeless. So, you don’t need to worry about what’s on trend and what isn’t. You can simply choose the style and print that looks best on your body type.
How to look elegant on the beach?
If you want to look chic and elegant on the beach, then think about classic beach outfits like one-piece swimsuits in neutral shades or in red. Add a long beach cover-up and a big, floppy hat.
What can older women wear to the beach?
You can wear anything you want! There are no hard and fast rules. Wear what makes you feel confident. As with any outfit, it’s about detracting from the areas of your body you aren’t so keen on and emphasizing the parts you do like.
If you want to cover up a tummy, for example, take a look at our roundup of the best swimsuits to hide a belly. Plus, adding a cover-up can help you feel more confident and elegant.
How to put together your beach outfits
Before we look at some beach outfit ideas, what should you think about when dressing for the beach and choosing the best women’s beach outfits?
Alison @wardrobe_oxygen above (read her style interview here) wears a maxi kaftan with her swimsuit and stylish beach accessories.
Get her look with this similar kaftan (another option here), swimsuit, sandals, tote and sunhat.
How will you be spending your day
Will you mainly be relaxing on the beach with a good book, or are you planning a walk along the shore? Maybe you’re going straight from the beach for lunch. Think about your activities and how you can alter your outfit to suit them.
What do you prefer to cover?
If you are happy to sit on your towel or lounger with your swimsuit, but prefer to cover-up when dining or walking, then you’ll need a great cover-up to add to your beach outfit.
Layering is key
Start with your swimsuit. Then you can layer over a dress or cover-up, or you could add a pair of pants and a shirt or vest so you’re ready for the whole day ahead.
Fly London Bani sandals, similar dress, cover-up and sunglasses
Don’t forget your accessories
Just because you’re at the beach, doesn’t mean you can’t accessorize. Your beach accessories should combine practicality and style. A great sunhat will help to protect your face, while a scarf could cover your shoulders, or double as a sarong.
beach outfits
Now, let’s move on to some clothes, sandals, and accessories you could wear to the beach. Thinking about your beach outfits as a whole clothing capsule is particularly useful if you are packing for a beach vacation.
tops
When choosing tops for the beach, a loose shirt can be worn in many different ways, from tucked into your shorts to worn over your swimsuit as a cover-up. Vest tops are summery and cool, and you can always layer your shirt over if you want to cover your arms. Plus, if you want to elevate your beach look, look out for t-shirts that are a little bit of an unusual, with details like twists, ties, or ruching.
Boden Sienna Linen Shirt – MANGO Swade Asymmetric Hem Tank – Boden Ali Ricrac T-shirt – Eileen Fisher Organic Linen Long Vest
Karen @styledbykaren above chooses a simply, chic look with black shorts and a one-shoulder top.
Recreate her outfit with this similar top, shorts, sandals, bag and sunglasses.
bottoms
If you choose pants and skirts for the beach, you’ll want a great pair of shorts. If you prefer pants, choose cropped, cool styles made of natural material. You could also opt for a skirt. A wrap style will be easy to put on over your swimsuit.
Boden Cropped Double Cloth Pants – Boden Verity Linen Midi Skirt – Nordstrom Cover-Up Drawstring Shorts – Boden Dulwich Linen Shorts
MANGO Swade Asymmetric Hem Tank – Boden Cropped Double Cloth Pants – Blowfish Malibu Arcadia Sandals – KALIDI FANCY FOREST Beach Mesh Tote Bag – Ettika Private Island Shell Necklace
dresses
A dress can make an excellent cover-up for your swimsuit and look exceptionally stylish if you want to give your beach outfit more of a formal look, perhaps because you have a party or are heading to lunch or dinner after some time at the beach.
J.Crew Utility Linen Shirtdress – J.Crew Crinkled Block Print Maxi Dress – Cleobella Jolene Placement Print Cotton & Linen Midi Sundress – Nordstrom Ruched Plunge Maxi Cover-Up Dress
Kimba @kimbalikes above looks fabulous in her floral dress and sandals. Perfect for an event or lunch at the beach.
Steal her look with this similar dress (another option here), sandals, bag and sunglasses.
Cover-ups
Unless you’re happy to wear your swimsuit all day, you’ll want a stylish cover-up. You could also choose a sarong to cover up your hips and thighs.
Also take a look at the best bathing suit cover ups for women over 40.
Elan Stripe Cover-Up Halter Maxi Dress – ViX Paula Hermanny Sandstone Sasha Maxi Cover-Up Dress – Nordstrom Open Knit Cover-Up Pants – WeWoreWhat Raw Edge Maxi Sarong
Boden Kythira Ruched Bikini Top & Bikini Bottoms – WeWoreWhat Raw Edge Maxi Sarong – Havaianas Slim Square Flip Flops – Rothy’s The Lightweight Tote – Brixton Lyons Packable Fedora – Kate Spade New York Marlowe 55mm Gradient Sunglasses
swimsuit
Of course, unless you plan to stay completely out of the water, a stylish swimsuit will be the most important element of your beach outfit.
You can find more inspiration in this article on the best bathing suits for women over 40.
Below are some more stylish options you could try.
J.Crew U-wire One-piece – Boden Lefkada Square Neck Swimsuit – Milly Ruched One-Piece Swimsuit – Boden Kythira Ruched Bikini Top & Bikini Bottoms
Shauna @chicover50 above (read her style interview here) shows how you can wear clashing colors together for a beautiful effect.
Check out this similar swimsuit, cover-up skirt (another option here), sandals, sunhat, sunglasses, earrings, bracelet and necklace.
shoes for the beach
Of course, you may opt to go barefoot for part of your day. But, you’ll still need a great pair of sandals. Choose a waterproof pair if you want to walk down to the water. Or, opt for a pair of leather flip flops if you want to give your outfit a slightly more formal look.
Havaianas Slim Square Flip Flops – BOBS from SKECHERS Desert Kiss Low Peak Look Sandals – Blowfish Malibu Arcadia Sandals – Nine West Darby Espadrilles
J.Crew Crinkled Block Print Maxi Dress – Nine West Darby Espadrilles – Rothy’s The Lightweight Tote – Karine Sultan Coin Charm Bracelet – Kate Spade New York Marlowe 55mm Gradient Sunglasses
accessories
To complement your women’s beach outfits, you’ll want a beach bag to fit your towel, book, and essentials, as well as a sunhat and sunglasses to protect your face and eyes from the sun. If you’ll be going straight out from the beach or you are attending an event on the beach, you could elevate your look with a rattan or straw clutch and some statement jewelry.
Rothy’s The Lightweight Tote – KALIDI FANCY FOREST Beach Mesh Tote Bag – Olga Berg Everly Handwoven Faux Leather Frame Clutch – Ettika Private Island Shell Necklace – Karine Sultan Coin Charm Bracelet – Panacea Raffia Wrapped Drop Earrings – Brixton Lyons Packable Fedora – Kate Spade New York Marlowe 55mm Gradient Sunglasses
Jas @jaschanastylist above chooses a wrap skirt with her tank top.
Get her look with this similar top, skirt, flip flops, clutch, earrings and sunglasses.
the best women’s beach outfits together in one capsule
Below, you can see the beach outfits from above together in one capsule. You can easily mix and match the different clothes, shoes and accessories to get different levels of formality and coverage.
shop women’s beach outfits below:
Continue reading:
- Outfits For Summer: The Summer Capsule Wardrobe You Need This Season
- What To Wear In Summer – Our Top 10 Tips & Tricks
- The Best Bathing Suits For Women Over 40 – Swim Suits That Make You Feel Fabulous!
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Feature image by Shauna @chicover50
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