The Best Swimsuit Cover-Ups, According to Stylish Women

“I’ve noticed that a lot of my dresses no longer fit, and waistbands can be quite uncomfortable,” says content creator and talent manager Ariel Oz, who is five months pregnant. “So these kinds of loose dresses that don’t have any seams or tight areas are so perfect to be able to grow into.” But Oz adds that she would have gravitated toward this dress even before getting pregnant, as she loves wearing loose, flowy dresses in the summer. “I’d wear this while walking around town in the Hamptons, with simple sandals, a little cross-body bag, and some sunglasses — it’s my easy-breezy day look for going about town,” she says.

Oz has also been throwing on this long black robe from Aerie, citing the loose tie-front as a plus “since it can adjust to where your belly’s at.” She’ll slip it on when getting out of the pool, or when she wants to be covered up but “still show a little bit of skin.” She also notes that for pregnant people in particular, “It’s a fun way to highlight your bump without showing too much off.”

When content creator April Lockhart took this crocheted Mikoh dress on vacation to Saint Martin earlier this year, she was faced with a flood of compliments. “It’s a piece that you wouldn’t think would be flattering until you put it on,” Lockhart says. “It’s very slimming and has a lot of texture and depth.” She especially appreciates its ability to spice up a variety of outfits: “It looks great over a swimsuit, or you could wear it as a dress with a slip underneath. Or you can do shorts under with a top. It’s very versatile.”

Freelance graphic designer Daisy Pyo has noticed lace skirts and dresses everywhere lately, and decided to hop on the trend with this airy Gimaguas dress. She styles it with kitten heel sandals, or will even “layer it with longer pants and a pointed-toe shoe.” Though she finds a lot of cover-ups feel odd being worn outside of a beachy context, she feels comfortable going to brunch with this one “or taking it to more casual environments.”

You can’t go wrong with classic, clean white linen in the summertime, says Oz, who has been wearing this L*Space tunic on repeat: “I like that it’s really lightweight and on the longer side, so that I’m still covered up if I’m going to get food at the pool bar.” She’ll leave it open or tie it into a knot above her stomach and wear it with some loose linen pants for a coordinated look.

Not everyone loves linen, especially because many linen shirts require dry-cleaning and, if not maintained properly, (a.k.a. just thrown in a beach bag), they can severely wrinkle. As an alternative, content creator Kelsey Kotzur likes this cotton button-down from Sezane that’s just as breezy. “I’ll throw it on over my suit and add a pair of shorts or jeans and it’s a perfect summery outfit,” Kotzur says. “It’s a very day-at-the-beach-turned-into-lunch sort of outfit.” It also comes in an array of pretty colors and embroidered patterns, like flowers and hearts.

If Kotzur is planning to take photos or videos at the beach and wants something a little more elevated and stylish, she’ll turn to this tiered midi skirt from Free People. “It’s very cute with a bikini top and looks very flowy and effortless, but you can also wear it with just a white T-shirt and go to the grocery store,” she says. However, she does warn that the gauzy material is quite delicate, and suggests going the hand-wash route rather than subjecting it to the washing machine.

Though these Blush pants would fit in perfectly poolside, writer and model Lydia Okello initially bought them to be worn just out and about. Okello has been obsessed with sheer lately, so the pants were a must-have. “They’re fun to slip on over a cute suit or underwear you don’t mind having on display,” Okello says. “You could also style with bike shorts for a more modest look.”

Oz, who is five-foot-two, was pleasantly surprised when she discovered that these Reformation linen pants were available in a petite length. “A lot of Reformation pants are usually too long, but these fit perfectly,” she reports. She’s been wearing them daily, in both the black and white colorways, and has convinced several friends to pick up a pair as well — “I’ve seen a bunch of people posting them recently, so they’re definitely becoming the pant of the summer,” she predicts. She’ll style the pants low-slung, paired with “tight little cropped tank tops, with my belly sticking out a little bit. I’m trying to lean into the Rihanna maternity look.”

Strategist writer Arielle Avila just bought this sarong during Parade’s big summer sale, and is excited to make it a warm-weather staple. She can see herself “easily throwing it on if I’m going from the beach to a bar or restaurant,” adding that if it’s “anything like their mesh bras, I know it’ll be comfortable and breathable.”