Not sure how to plan for a date on the beach? While it may not be the place to go full glam, there are plenty of ways to look sweet and sexy without too much fuss. As you're planning your ultimate beach date outfit, consider what’s on the itinerary.
Do you need an outfit you can easily slip over your sexy designer triangle bikini as you head toward dry land, or does the date entail an activity meant for only the sand? Fortunately, resort wear is versatile enough to adapt to any occasion and can be dressed up by adding a few accessories to transition into a dinner date. Here are a few go-to outfit ideas to keep in mind whenever you have a beach date planned.
Beach Cover Up and Casual Sandals for a Daytime Date
Day dates at the beach are fun because there’s nothing high-maintenance about them. There’s no avoiding getting sandy, so might as well dress for the occasion and keep things comfortable. Your best beach outfits for hanging out on the sand, paddle boarding, or renting a kayak for two can still feel date-worthy with the right mix of colors, prints, and accessories.
White Fuji Caftan
When you’re taking a break for lunch after playing beach games or surfing the waves, stick with a short cover up to keep cool and look chic. A sweet and feminine style is the White Fuji Caftan. It’ll compliment your favorite designer bikini and look subtly sexy with the peekaboo details. It’s also effortlessly cool and still provides appropriate coverage, if you want to take a stroll together on the boardwalk or sit at a beach bar nearby.
Black Karen Mini Pareo
Another cute beach outfit cover up option is the Karen Mini Pareo. The shape adds sass. A cute sun straw hat or scarf for your hair and simple stud earrings are the only accessories you need for a day date at the beach.
The key to a daytime beach date outfit is to keep things stylish but low-key. Take a beach bag with a lined maxi dress and a change of shoes if the date will continue to a restaurant or other place close by where you’ll want more coverage than only your swimsuit or a sheer cover up.
Fortunately, resort wear can easily transition from day to night, beach to boardwalk, with a simple swap out of a few key pieces. Though a beach cover up is best during the day, you may find a maxi dress is better suited for a beach date outfit at night.
Maxi Dress and Wedges for an Evening Coastal Dinner
A maxi dress instantly makes you feel pulled together with little effort at all. Since maxi beach dresses are made from lightweight, breathable fabrics, it’s the ultimate choice when choosing a beach date outfit. There are plenty of colors and patterns to choose from and multiple ways to style them to change up the look for whatever the date calls for. A maxi dress is also a great option if you need ideas for what to wear on a girls night out.
Namaste Winnie Long Dress
The stunning green hue of the Namaste Winnie Long Dress is definitely date-worthy with a feminine scalloped hemline and tie front detail to complete the design. It’s a beautiful option to wear for a romantic beach picnic followed by a seaside stroll watching the sunset.
Wear it with a straw hat and resort wear sandals, both of which should be mainstay accessories of your best beach outfits. These are all the accessories you’ll need to compliment this beautiful dress. Love the cut, but want a lighter color? Try the Giverny Scarf Dress paired with gold sandals and accessories. The pink hues of this maxi dress feel ultra-romantic for a beach date scheduled for golden hour.
Leela Cutout Long Dress
Tap into your femininity and turn heads in the sexy and sultry Leela Cutout Long Dress. It’s versatile enough to be worn as a formal or a casual look. With the deep-V neckline and 24k Gold-dipped charms, this dress makes the perfect effortlessly luxurious look. Finish off the look with a pair of your favorite strappy heels.
Gisa Midi Dress
When you want to show off your fiery side, the Gisa Midi Dress boasts an exotic cheetah print that will make you stand out. This flattering dress has an adjustable tied wrap skirt front that creates the illusion of a slit. It’s perfect for making a memorable impression on a first date. New to midi dresses? Learn what a midi dress is and how to style a midi dress.
Jumpsuit, Flip Flops, and Sun Hat for When Anything Goes
Like with a maxi dress, the beauty of wearing a jumpsuit is that it’s comfortable and casual enough to wear to the beach, yet stylish enough to feel more dressed up than a standard t-shirt and denim shorts combination. It’s one of the best beach outfits because it’s also versatile enough to wear for a casual beach picnic, but can easily be worn to dine al fresco at a trendy restaurant.
Serena Jumpsuit
The stunning violet of the Serena Jumpsuit in Lotus is chic and sophisticated, making it readymade date wear. Features such as the bandeau neckline add a flirty appeal to the look without needing to rely on accessories to elevate the style. Silver jewelry and metallic sandals play up the cool tone of the jumpsuit, but gold is a good match, too. Another style option is skipping the jewelry altogether and wearing a colorful head scarf that fits in with the breezy nature of your environment, while still looking chic and polished.
Yana Jumpsuit
The Yana Jumpsuit exudes refined elegance and is perfect for a coastal date. With a corsage style top and flattering fit, this jumpsuit is best paired with gold, bold jewelry and neutral-colored heels or sandals for a luxurious look.
Keep Accessories and Makeup Low-Key
A beach date may be more casual, but feel free to dress up, while keeping the location in mind. It may not be the time to wear cocktail attire, but a maxi dress or jumpsuit can instantly make the day feel special. Keep in mind that if you’re planning a date while on a beach vacation, many places have a resort dress code, which calls for attire that is beach-friendly yet can be worn for dining and drinks and still feel appropriate.
As for accessories and makeup, there’s no need to overdo it for any type of beach day outfit because a little goes a long way. When it comes to accessories, it’s best to stick with the basics: slim hoops, delicate, multi-stone earrings, or metallic studs. Anything too flashy will look out of place at the beach and leaving accessories behind altogether may feel like something is missing from making your outfit complete.
Additionally, while makeup isn’t necessary for a beach outing, a swipe of color on your lips and sunscreen for your face should be part of your getting ready plan. Protect your skin with a mineral matte sunscreen that’ll keep you from getting sunburned and will help you from appearing greasy. Let the sun add natural color to your cheeks, but add a tinted lip balm for a moisturized, pretty pout, if you don't want to worry about how your makeup will hold up.
Effortlessly Cool Is the Way to Go
Planning your best beach date outfits comes down to the details. Select your clothing based on style, but also consider the practicality of what to wear based on what you’ll be doing. For example, a mini jumpsuit or short beach cover up is likely a better option than a maxi dress for a bike ride down the boardwalk, so the fabric doesn’t get caught in the spokes.
On the other hand, a fully-lined resort wear dress and a pair of nice sandals is well-suited for a seaside dinner date or a romantic evening beach picnic. Being guided by certain wardrobe parameters will help you to narrow down your choices until you settle upon your perfect beach date pick. If you’re going somewhere other than the beach, check out these ideas for what to wear ona date night.
