I’m still dreaming of the beach vacation we took earlier this summer. It was so special to be back on the little island I grew up going to every summer. Let’s rewind to how I packed for this type of trip.
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Whenever I pack for any type of summer trip that involves the beach, my suitcase has to include pieces that will make me feel comfortable and put together. I also like to make sure everything is versatile – there are a lot of times I will wear something as a swimsuit cover and keep it on for a casual lunch. Or, I’ll wear something as a beach cover one day and to dinner later on the trip just by changing my shoes and adding jewelry. So, let’s discuss what to pack for your summer vacation!
What To Wear To The Beach
Beach outfits are all about balancing comfort, breathability, and easy styling. I always come back to breathable fabrics, lightweight layers, and versatile pieces that transition from daytime to dinner.
A Few Tips on How To Pick Outfits For A Beach Trip
The goal is obviously to create outfits that work over multiple days, whether you’re grabbing coffee, swimming, or getting ready for a walk on the beach.
Choose breathable fabrics first
Linen and cotton are always at the top of my packing list for beach trips because there’s nothing better than breathable fabrics when it’s hot.
Remember A Cozy Sweater
I love a cotton sweater for beach nights. I lived in this 100 percent cotton sweater, and it’s under $100.
Pick versatile pieces
Versatile pieces are things like a dress you can wear as a swimsuit cover and to dinner. Or, linen pants you can wear to grab coffee in the morning and dress up for dinner at night.
Don’t forget a couple of special options too
I always like to pack an outfit or two that I know I’ll only wear once, typically for a special dinner.
Beach Outfits
These are ready-to-wear beach outfit ideas that I’ve worn myself. Beach outfits can range from casual to elevated to sporty – it all depends on your own personal style.
Casual beach outfit ideas
These are easy to wear combinations like a swimsuit cover and your swimsuit, a dress for lunch, or comfortable linen pants with a t-shirt for a coffee run.
Swimsuit cover you can rewear
This swimsuit cover is a total dream because you can easily rewear this every day on your tip if you want to. It doesn’t wrinkle or show wear at all – I still haven’t figured out how this is possible, but I love how easy it is to style.
Linen pants you’ll live in
I wore these linen pants more than I care to admit on our trip. Linen is just perfect for a beach vacation, so it makes sense. Anyway, you can style these with a simple t-shirt and add some jewelry to pull it all together!
Some items are similar.
Elevated beach outfit ideas
It’s always nice to pack a couple of outfits for special dinners. I love getting dressed up after a day lounging in my swimsuit. I like to pack at least one or two outfits for a summer trip that I know I’ll probably only wear once. Think breezy skirts and fun beach vacation tops. This dress and heel sandals outfit is also the perfect example. It’s comfortable, chic, and these espadrilles are super easy to walk in!
Sporty beach outfit ideas
Sporty outfits are also a reliable style to pack for your summer trip. I definitely packed sporty clothes for workouts that I knew I could wear to grab breakfast in after the gym! Biker shorts and a t-shirt are always a good idea to have in your suitcase. I love how you can throw on your cotton sweater over it too. And, you can also change from your sneakers into sandals once you’re doing exercising.
A Few Last Thoughts on Beach Styling Tips
Restyle your practical sandals with chic pieces
These strappy sandals are perfect for a summer vacation. They’re on trend, but they’re super practical. You can wear these to the beach and pool, but don’t be afraid to rewear them at dinner! They’ll look chic with linen shorts, a midi skirt, or even a dress. Rewearing the same sandals you wear to the beach is also a good idea if you don’t want to wear heel sandals or need to save space in your suitcase.
Style your linen pieces together
It’s okay to wear all linen throughout the summer, but especially on a summer vacation. Whenever it’s high humidity and high temperatures, linen is the best option. If you don’t love how linen wrinkles, go for cotton! Breathable fabrics are always a good idea, and they’re not too casual on a beach vacation.
Rewear your key pieces for different parts of your trip
I wore the white linen pants I’m wearing in this blog post throughout my beach trip. They were perfect for a travel day but they were also a go-to option for coffee and breakfast in the morning, as well as afternoon shopping. I even wore them to the beach one day with my swimsuit and a linen button up. In general, you can wear this style of pants with a button up just as easily as you can with a blouse or t-shirt. Versatile pieces are key to packing and make getting dressed so much easier.
Okay, I hope you found some helpful packing tips and style tips for your next summer trip. The key to packing is to streamline your outfits. That way, you won’t feel overwhelmed by what to wear when you should be enjoying your trip! Be sure to sign up for my newsletter list if you’d like to hear from me on style and travel.
