Beach Outfit Hacks You’ll Wish You Knew Sooner

Outfit hacks are like cheat codes, once you learn them, you’ll wonder how you ever got by without them. Today we are talking about beach outfit hacks, the ones that can take your beach look from basic to stylish.

Dressing for the beach is not always as simple as throwing on a swimsuit and calling it a day. You have to consider the heat, sand, wind, water and all those little outfit problems that seem to show up when you least expect them.

From choosing the right cover-up to keeping your fabrics safe, we are discussing the little styling tricks I wish someone had told me sooner. So, if you have a beach day coming up or you simply want to get better at putting together those effortless-looking beach outfits, these are the hacks you’ll want to keep in your back pocket.

Beach Outfit Hacks

1. Wear anti-camel toe underwear

One of the easiest places to get a camel toe is at the beach. Between swimwear, fitted shorts, wet fabrics and the extra movement that comes with a beach day, your outfit can shift in ways you did not plan for. Add sweat and moisture to the mix and before you know it, your outfit is a jumble of malfunctions.

This is where anti-camel toe underwear can help you get ahead of the problem. Instead of waiting until your swimsuit cover-up or beach shorts start shifting around, choose underwear designed with a smooth front panel that helps create a more comfortable barrier between your body and your clothes.

Camelnot’s anti camel toe thongs are designed with a smooth gusset and breathable materials, with options that can be worn under shorts, dresses, swimwear and other fitted outfits. This underwear comes in two options, a low-rise option can make sense with low-rise bottoms, while a high-rise style can work better with higher-waisted pieces. Check them out below.

2. Turn one sarong into multiple outfits

If there is one beach accessory I think deserves more credit, it is the sarong. It takes up almost no space in your beach bag, but you can style it in several different ways depending on what you are wearing and where you are going next.

For a quick beach outfit, try turning your sarong into a dress. Wrap it around your back, cross the top corners over your chest and tie them behind your neck for an easy Grecian-inspired look. You can also wrap it around your upper body and secure it under your arms to create a simple tube dress.

Want something even easier? Turn it into a skirt. Wrap the sarong around your waist and tie it securely at the side or front. This works especially well over a swimsuit when you are walking from the beach to grab a drink, browse nearby shops or sit somewhere for lunch.

3. Style button-down shirts as a cover-up

It’s beach day and you can’t find your cover-ups. Before you start searching through every drawer in your room, grab an oversized button-down shirt. A loose cotton or linen button-down makes an excellent beach layer because it is easy to throw over swimwear.

Leave it open for a relaxed look, button a few buttons in the middle or tie the front at your waist if you want more shape. I particularly like a white, cream or pale blue button-down for beach outfits because it can work with almost anything. Pair it with swimwear, denim shorts, linen trousers or a simple skirt and suddenly you have a complete outfit.

The best part is that you can keep wearing it after leaving the beach. Throw it over a tank top with shorts or wear it with trousers later in the day. That is exactly the kind of hardworking piece I want in a vacation wardrobe.

4. Use monochromatic layering for instant chic

One of the easiest hacks for making a beach outfit look more polished is to keep your layers within the same colour family. This is monochromatic dressing, and you do not need a designer wardrobe to make it work.

Try a white swimsuit with a cream button-down and beige trousers, or a black swimsuit with a black sarong and dark sunglasses. You can also play with different shades of the same colour instead of trying to match everything perfectly.

The trick is to let the textures create interest. A smooth swimsuit with a woven straw bag, lightweight linen shirt and textured sandals can look much more interesting. It’s easy, fresh and completely stylish.  

5. Apply sunscreen before getting dressed

A major beach fashion spoiler is getting yellow or greasy-looking marks on your white linen shirts or delicate crochet sets. While sunscreen is very important, the way you apply it can make a difference when you are trying to protect your clothes.

Make it a rule to apply your sunscreen before getting dressed and give it around a few minutes to absorb before heading outside. Dermatologists even recommend applying sunscreen about 15 minutes before sun exposure, so that is a win for both health and fashion.

Of course, this does not mean you should skip reapplying it just because you are wearing a cute outfit.  Sunscreen needs to be reapplied at least every two hours and after swimming or sweating, depending on the product directions.

6. Use the knotted hemline lift

If you are wearing a beautiful, loose maxi dress or an oversized cover-up, walking through wet sand can quickly become annoying. Long hems can drag through the sand, pick up moisture and make it harder to move around comfortably.

To solve this, gather the front corner of your dress fabric around knee level and tie it into a secure high side-knot. The knot lifts the front of the dress while leaving the rest of the fabric loose, so you can move more easily without completely changing the look of the outfit.

This works well with relaxed maxi dresses, lightweight beach dresses and oversized cover-ups. You can also adjust the height of the knot depending on where you are walking. Just make sure you are not tying the fabric so tightly that it pulls uncomfortably. The point is to temporarily lift the hem while keeping the look stylish.

7. Make your silk scarf a multi-tasker

For daytime, fold the scarf into a triangle and tie it around your head as a kerchief. It can help keep windblown hair under control and give a beach outfit an instant retro touch. Then, when the sun starts to go down, give the scarf a second job. Fold it into a narrow band and loop it through your linen trousers like a belt, or wrap it around your waist in a simple triangle top.

Finally, you can turn it into an accessory by tying it to the handle of your beach bag for a pop of colour. I love hacks like this because you are not packing more clothes; you are simply finding more ways to use what you already have.

Final Thoughts

Beach outfit hacks really are the ultimate cheat codes for looking stylish without the stress. Once you start using these quick tricks, you’ll never go back to just throwing on a basic swimsuit and hoping for the best. You can confidently enjoy the sun knowing your outfit is completely secure.