As Featured in Charleston Magazine's Summer Style File: The Cover-Up Built for Real Beach Days
Read the full feature in Charleston Magazine
When the editors at Charleston Magazine pulled together their summer cover-up feature, they went boutique by boutique across the Lowcountry and chose seven pieces for the page. One of them came from us. Our lilac cotton cover-up with pom-pom shell trim made the lineup at $158, sitting right next to designer names that run several hundred dollars more. Seeing it in print was a thrill. Knowing it is a piece you will actually reach for all summer is the part that matters.
Here is the thing about a great cover-up: it is never really about the cover-up. It is about how the day feels when you are not fussing with your outfit. You walk out of the water, slip it on, and you are ready for whatever comes next, whether that is a frozen drink at the pool bar or a table on the patio as the sun drops. That is the beach-to-bar idea in a nutshell, and this is a piece built for it.
So let me show you how to wear it. We carry this cover-up in two colors, lilac and pink, and each one tells a slightly different story. I styled them as two complete looks so you can take whichever one speaks to you and run with it.
Why a cotton cover-up earns its spot in your bag
A lot of cover-ups are an afterthought. You grab whatever is cheapest, it pills after two washes, and it never leaves the pool deck. This one is different, and that difference is exactly why the magazine flagged it. The cotton is soft and breezy, it dries fast, and the pom-pom shell trim along the sleeves and hem gives it a finished look that reads like a real outfit, not a throw-on.
That is what makes it a true swimsuit cover-up that doubles as a dress. The relaxed silhouette and tassel-tie neckline mean you can wear it straight off the sand for lunch, then add a few pieces of jewelry and walk into dinner without changing a thing. If you have ever stood in a beach house trying to figure out what to wear over a swimsuit to a restaurant, this is the answer. Pack one, skip the second outfit.
Getting dressed is self-care, even on vacation, maybe especially on vacation. The right cover-up is a tiny way of telling yourself the day matters. You feel good, you move through it differently, and the photos come out better too.
Look 1: The Lilac Cover-Up (the one in the magazine)
This is the hero, the exact piece Charleston Magazine featured. Soft lilac is having a real moment, and it flatters just about every skin tone without trying too hard. I styled this look to slide from a pool afternoon into evening cocktails, leaning on warm gold-and-pearl jewelry and a hat that picks up the cooler notes in the shoes.
SHOP the Lilac Swimsuit Coverup with Pom Pom Shell Trim — $158
Start with the shoes
Our navy blue terrycloth pool slides help you stroll in style, and they are the workhorse of this whole look. Plush, cushioned, and easy to pull on with wet feet, they are made for long pool days. The deep navy also grounds the soft lilac so the outfit does not float away into all-pastel territory. If you want a tonal, all-soft option instead, these slides also come in pink for the same price.
SHOP the Navy Blue Terrycloth Pool Slides — $44
Also available: Pink Terrycloth Pool Slides — $44
Layer on the gold
This is where the beach-to-bar magic happens. The Whimsical Ocean Charm Necklace is a gold multi-pendant piece loaded with little sea-inspired charms, and it brings instant interest to the open tassel-tie neckline. It is the one move that takes this cover-up from pool-ready to dinner-ready, no outfit change required.
SHOP the Whimsical Ocean Charm Necklace, Gold Multi-Pendant — $118
For earrings, the Gold Pearl Encrusted Coral Branch Earrings hold their own with no help. They have a sculptural, washed-up-from-the-sea quality and just enough pearl to glow in golden-hour light. These are strong enough to wear on their own if you want to keep the rest simple.
SHOP the Gold Pearl Encrusted Coral Branch Earrings — $98
Finish the hand with the Baroque Pearl Gold Ring. A single irregular pearl set in gold feels like something you found on a trip rather than something you bought, and it ties the whole gold-and-pearl story together.
SHOP the Baroque Pearl Gold Ring — $78
Top it off
The Women's Sun Hat in Blue Bow is the piece that makes this look hang together. The blue bow nods straight back to the navy slides, and the wide brim does the real work of keeping the sun off your face between the pool and the table. A good sun hat is half styling, half skin protection, and this one earns both.
SHOP the Women's Sun Hat, Blue Bow — $138
Look 2: The Pink Cover-Up
Same beloved cut and pom-pom shell trim, softer warmth. The pink colorway has a sweeter, sunnier feel, and I styled it with cooler blue accents to keep it from going too matchy. This is the look for the friend who wants a little color but still wants it to feel grown and pulled together.
SHOP the Pink Swimsuit Coverup with Pom Pom Shell Trim — $158
Carry the day in one bag
The Large Jute Tote in Pink and Orange is roomy enough for a towel, sunscreen, a book, and a change of sandals, and the warm pink-and-orange weave plays beautifully against the cover-up without matching it exactly. This is the bag that goes from the sand to the farmers market to the wine bar and never looks out of place.
SHOP the Large Jute Tote, Pink and Orange — $118
Bring in the blue
Here is the styling trick that makes the pink look special: a hit of cool blue. The Floral Knotted Crystal Headband has a light-blue floral detail that contrasts the warm pink and pulls your eye up to your face. It also solves wet, salty hair in about two seconds, which is the unglamorous reason I keep one in every bag.
SHOP the Floral Knotted Crystal Headband — $78
Echo that same blue note at the ears with the Gold Starfish and Shell Earrings with Pearl Drop. The light-blue accent and pearl drop talk directly to the headband, so the whole look feels considered without looking like you tried hard.
SHOP the Gold Starfish and Shell Earrings with Pearl Drop — $78
Warm it up with sunglasses
Finish with the Oversized Round Sunglasses in Caramel. The warm caramel frame is a quiet, expensive-looking contrast against the soft pink, and the oversized round shape is forgiving and flattering on almost everyone. These are the shades that make every beach photo look like a magazine page.
SHOP the Oversized Round Sunglasses, Caramel — $78
This is not our first time in Charleston Magazine
We are proud of this feature, and we are proud of the company we keep. Charleston Magazine has welcomed us into its pages more than once now, from The Style Issue and the Revolutionary Style feature to a love-inspired accessories Style File and the brooch trend feature. We even landed the cover of Charleston Home + Design. Local press knows what we know: you do not have to spend a fortune to look and feel like a million bucks.
And if you want to see these pieces in person before a trip, a curated selection is available in person at Maris DeHart, 32 Vendue Range, Charleston, SC.
Quick Picks: Beach-to-Bar Cover-Up Edit
Short on time? These are the pieces I would grab first to build the look, sorted by what each one does best.
Best as featured — Lilac Swimsuit Coverup with Pom Pom Shell Trim — $158
Best warm colorway — Pink Swimsuit Coverup with Pom Pom Shell Trim — $158
Best day-to-night necklace — Whimsical Ocean Charm Necklace, Gold Multi-Pendant — $118
Best stand-alone earrings — Gold Pearl Encrusted Coral Branch Earrings — $98
Best pool shoe — Navy Blue Terrycloth Pool Slides — $44
Best carry-everything bag — Large Jute Tote, Pink and Orange — $118
Frequently Asked Questions
What do you wear over a swimsuit to dinner?
The easiest answer is a cover-up that already reads like a dress. A cotton piece like our lilac pom-pom cover-up takes you from the sand to a restaurant with nothing more than a couple pieces of jewelry added. Throw on a short slip underneath and it easily transitions to dinner. For more day-to-dinner ideas, our guide to vacation dresses that go from beach to dinner walks through it.
Does a cotton cover-up really double as a dress?
This one does, yes. The relaxed cut and tassel-tie neckline mean the pink and lilac versions both wear like a short summer dress once you are off the beach. Add a short slip and a necklace and you are done.
What shoes go with a beach cover-up?
For pool and beach days, a plush slide beats anything with a strap you have to fight wet feet into. Our navy terrycloth slides are the pair in the magazine photo, and they come in pink too. For more poolside outfit ideas, see how to look chic at the pool.
How do I dress a cover-up up for the bar at night?
Jewelry does all the work. A gold statement necklace like the ocean charm necklace, a pair of coral branch earrings, and a ring like the baroque pearl gold ring turn a pool cover-up into an evening look in under a minute. Coastal and seashell-inspired jewelry is the easiest way to do it.
What accessories pull a beach-to-bar look together?
A wide-brim hat, a roomy tote, and the right sunglasses. Try the blue bow sun hat, the pink and orange jute tote, and caramel round sunglasses. For a full rundown, our resort accessories guide and beach vacation packing list have you covered.
More Style Inspiration
Best Coverups for the Pool and Beach: How to Look Chic
What to Wear to a Pool Party: Complete Styling Guide
Beach Vacation Packing List: 14 Accessories That Make 4 Outfits Look Like 14
Best Beach Bags for Day to Night
Best Wide Brim Sun Hats for Women
Seashell and Coastal Jewelry: The Beach-Inspired Trend
The Weekend Getaway Carry-On: Packable Pieces That Fit in One Bag