We’re setting off for summer with the only outfits we care about right now; the beach outfits. You might be wondering, “Why would I wear an actual outfit to the beach?” And you’d be right—you wouldn’t. But think of it this way: on holiday, you don’t want fuss. You just want to throw something over your swimsuit and look comfortable and good for the rest of the day, even if it ends at 3:33 in a bar. And that’s exactly what we’ve done here.
Alexandra’s
Got to the point where we have to talk about beachwear. For me, the real beachwear outfit test isn’t the ‘going to the beach’ look, but the ‘leaving the beach’ one. The first is just foreplay for your swimsuit, peeled off in 6’’ sec. The second has to survive salt, sweat, and post-beach public appearances.
After Eight
I’m calling this look “After Eight” because everything mint reminds me of those airport chocolates I’m always sneaking before takeoff.
I’ve always thought how great pastels play off neutrals, so naturally, I paired this amazonite mint one-piece swimsuit with some straw accessories and a beige crocheted skirt (which btw has been through the water test and came out looking flawless. Highly recommend it for beachwear, especially with a swimsuit that’s still a bit damp). It captures that perfect summer mood, with a little peek-a-boo moment where the swimsuit just casually shows through. Meanwhile, that plunging neckline is so flattering I’d happily wear this piece as a top for a low-key August night out.
I finished it off with raffia-leather sandals that tie around the ankle, my trusty oversized straw basket bag for all the summer essentials, and a sporty blue cap to keep things casual.
Who said you can’t wear pants on the beach?
Yes, pants on the beach. The only rules: they can’t feel like work, they can’t overheat you, and they have to be easy enough to pull on when your hair’s still dripping.
These slim-cut black cotton capris check all 3 boxes; light, but not floppy. I imagined something clean without looking like it was planned, so I went head-to-toe black. The shade works in August as long as the fabrics stay light. Black (favourite MAAN) bikini top, Birks and sunglasses -everything sticking to the monochrome. The straw bag and cotton cap are my “responsible adult” add-ons. Post-swim, skin still salty, but ready to keep moving.
And since we’re talking bikinis…
Accidentally Godard
But intentionally red and blue.
Jean-Luc Godard did it over and over across his filmography, using red and blue to signal allegiance, freedom, or just to make the screen burn a little brighter. As primary colours, they clash in exactly the right way, and they work just as well for a beach look as they do in a New Wave frame.
I started with a majorelle blue bikini, topped with my favourite ‘Catequil’ scarlet red tencel shirt (front ties included, because I love a piece that works in more than one way). It’s long enough to cover the bikini bottoms, so you can skip shorts if you want. I finished it off with understated, ridiculously comfortable boat shoes and a dark navy hat that’s now just dangling from its cord around my neck and back, which explains why it’s practically invisible.
Valisia’s
I absolutely love a one-piece swimsuit. It is my secret multitasker, because it’s a swimsuit and a top with built-in chic. This Mont Saint-Victoire 233 in black is one of my all-time favourites. It is elegant, with a sweet skirt-like panel that makes layering feel minimal yet dressed. Here I’ve worn it over my ballet mini skirt, with a silk scarf as a belt. A modern wink at a 60s seaside village stroll. And yes, I wear one-pieces at my live shows too. They feel like second skin, which is essential with all the dancing!
The 正山小種 dress is really a gift cause you can wear it anywhere, anytime, if styled right. Here, I’ve taken it to the beach, layered over my 包種茶 swimsuit, because I want to feel elegantly dramatic, as if I’ve just stepped out of a film. The wide-brim bucket hat is non-negotiable: it completes the cinematic silhouette and makes the look intentional, never accidental. Pair with sandals for seaside ease or heels for after-dark mischief - either way, heads will turn.
Athleisure, but make it chic, that’s my latest sweet spot. Years of volleyball had me living in sportswear, always plotting ways to sneak in elegance. Styled comfort is exactly what we need in this heat. Here I’m in the 包種茶 one-piece swimsuit, my boyfriend’s Muay Thai shorts, and my trusty plain black cap. Let’s swim or fight the sun. For some reason, the “fight the sun” part makes me think of Texas’ Summer Son video. She’s not fighting the sun either, but my brain made the connection anyway. Why am I sharing this information? I don’t know, it just crossed my mind!
Stella’s
We could name this composition '3 outfits, 3 shirts' but… you know… I just did by side-mentioning it.
So, Shirt #1
Weirdly enough, I almost always wear a shirt to the beach. Preferably oversized and stolen from my dad’s closet. I think it looks great with pareos, shorts, or worn on its own (see Shirt #3). What I did here, though, was skip my trusty pareos (do you want to call them sarongs? Call them sarongs), and instead tie 2 silk scarves around my waist, one in the front, one in the back, with 2 knots on each side, to create a brand new, high-slit, printed silk skirt. It’s also the perfect excuse to show off your scarf’s print —something that rarely happens, since they’re usually folded or scrunched up. Seize the opportunity!
Shirt #2
That’s my oldest beach styling trick. I have photos of me, (probably) wearing the same oversized shirt tied around my waist as a skirt, in 20 different locations. It’s actually quite simple to do: hold your shirt wide open around your waist and start buttoning it there, probably around the 3rd or 4th buttonhole. Don’t be afraid to get creative: button the 2nd button into the 3rd buttonhole, for example, to create a more interesting asymmetrical effect.
Then, button the 6th button into the 4th buttonhole to make the hemline even more uneven (what!). Final step: take the sleeves and tie them in the front to hide all the unevenness you just created. Et voilà:
Shirt #3
And finally, Shirt #3. The combination here is simple: swimsuit + oversized shirt (surprise!) + bandana as a hair tie. What makes this simplest of simple “outfits” more interesting is that I went completely monochromatic. I almost bought red Havaianas too, but they don’t make them in tomato red. To me, the white paisley print on the classic bandana adds visual interest without breaking the overall tone. Am I really inspired by Du côté de la côte? It’s certainly plausible.
What I also wear constantly at the beach:
2WO+1NE=2 جوزة الطيب kaftan
2WO+1NE=2 الشبت shirtdress
2WO+1NE=2 TUTAÑAMCA Skirt + YANAÑAMCA top (mostly sold as a set)
Happy vacationing!
Alexandra + Valisia + Stella