Best Coverups for the Pool and Beach: The One Piece That Takes You From Lounge Chair to Restaurant
The Coverup Is the Most Underrated Piece in Your Closet
Here's how most women use a coverup: they throw on an oversized t-shirt or a sheer sarong they can never figure out how to tie, walk from the pool to the room, and change into a completely different outfit for lunch. That's an hour of vacation gone. Multiply that by every pool day and you've spent half your trip in your hotel room changing clothes.
A great coverup eliminates that cycle entirely. The right one doesn't just cover your swimsuit — it becomes the outfit. Pool at 11, lunch at 1, shopping at 3, happy hour at 5 — all in the same piece, just swapping accessories along the way. That's not lazy dressing. That's smart dressing.
SHOP Metallic Chevron Halter Maxi Dress — $328
The difference between a coverup that works this hard and one that doesn't comes down to three things: the fabric has to look intentional (not see-through, not ratty), the details have to read as "outfit" not "beach towel," and the shape has to flatter you standing up, not just lying down. When you find one that checks all three boxes, it changes how you vacation.
Quick Picks: Coverups and the Accessories That Complete the Look
The Coverups
Metallic Chevron Halter Maxi Dress — $328 — the ultimate pool-to-dinner piece, no slip needed
Lilac Swimsuit Coverup with Pom Pom Shell Trim — $158 — the pool-to-dinner hero piece
Pink Swimsuit Coverup with Pom Pom Shell Trim — $158 — same versatility in a bolder colorway
Pool Mode Accessories
Wide Brim Straw Sun Hat, Turquoise and Tan — $128 — instant polish poolside
Pink Terrycloth Pool Slides — $44 — soft, quick-dry, better than flip-flops
Large Woven Straw Pool Tote, Turquoise — $78 — fits everything for a full pool day
Dinner Mode Accessories
Palm Tassel Jute Clutch — $68 — swap the tote for this and you're restaurant-ready
Pearl Raffia Clutch Purse — $158 — the dressed-up evening option
Statement Earrings and Gold Jewelry — $38–$128 — the fastest way to transition any coverup to dinner
What Makes a Coverup Worth the Investment
You can buy a coverup at Target for $20. You can buy one at the airport for $30. So why spend more?
Because the cheap one looks like a coverup. The good one looks like an outfit.
A $20 coverup is sheer polyester that wrinkles the second you sit down, has no shape, and screams "I'm wearing this over a wet swimsuit." It does the job of covering your body. It does not do the job of making you feel put together walking into a restaurant, a boutique, or a beachside bar.
A coverup worth investing in has structure, detail, and a fabric weight that reads as clothing — not swimwear. The trim, the cut, and the way it moves all signal "this is what I'm wearing today" instead of "I just came from the pool." That distinction is the difference between rushing back to your room to change and never needing to.
The Statement Piece: For the Woman Who Wants One Dress That Does Everything
SHOP Metallic Chevron Halter Maxi Dress — $328
This is the piece that makes the entire concept of this post click. A Missoni-inspired metallic chevron print in lilac and gold that catches light in a way that reads poolside glamour at noon and restaurant-ready at 8pm. The halter tie neck gives it structure. The maxi silhouette flows and moves. The metallic thread woven throughout gives it shimmer without being costumey.
Here's what makes this one different from the other coverups: you don't need the slip trick. This dress has enough fabric weight and detail to stand completely on its own as an evening look. Throw it over a swimsuit at the pool and it's the most stylish coverup there. Take off the swimsuit and wear it on its own with gold sandals and statement earrings and you're dressed for dinner at the best restaurant in town. Belt it at the waist with a clutch and it's a completely different silhouette.
One dress. Three looks. Zero outfit changes. At $328, this is the vacation piece that replaces half your suitcase.
The Everyday Coverups: Detail That Makes the Difference
SHOP Lilac Swimsuit Coverup with Pom Pom Shell Trim — $158
This coverup is the one that changes the game. The pom pom and shell trim along the hem takes it from "pool layer" to "I could wear this to brunch and nobody would blink." The lilac colorway is one of the strongest colors for warm-weather dressing right now — it photographs beautifully against blue water, tan skin, and sunset backgrounds. The fabric has enough weight to feel like clothing without being heavy in the heat.
SHOP Pink Swimsuit Coverup with Pom Pom Shell Trim — $158
Same silhouette and trim detail in a bolder pink that pops against every backdrop. If lilac is the "quietly chic" option, pink is the "main character at the resort" option. Both get the same compliments. Both work the same way. It comes down to whether you want to blend beautifully or stand out completely.
The Slip Trick: How to Turn a Coverup Into a Mini Dress
This is the styling move that takes a coverup from one outfit to two.
At the pool, you wear the coverup over your swimsuit — that's the obvious use. But when you're ready to transition to lunch or dinner and don't want to sit in a restaurant in a damp swimsuit, throw on a short slip underneath the coverup instead. A simple, lightweight slip in nude, white, or black turns the coverup into a mini dress instantly. The shape reads completely differently — it looks intentional, structured, and like a real outfit.
Nobody will know it's a coverup. They'll just see a woman in a gorgeous trimmed mini dress with statement earrings and a clutch, looking like she got ready in five seconds. Which she did.
The slip trick works because:
It eliminates the transparency issue — no more worrying about the fabric being too sheer for a restaurant. It gives the coverup a different silhouette over a slip than it has over a swimsuit, so it genuinely looks like a different outfit. And it solves the comfort problem of sitting at dinner in a wet or sandy swimsuit. Pack one lightweight slip on vacation and you've doubled every coverup in your suitcase.
How to Style a Coverup From Pool to Dinner: 3 Complete Looks
Look 1: Pool Mode (10am – 2pm)
The goal is looking put together without trying too hard. Coverup over your swimsuit, a great hat, sunglasses, and slides. Done.
The outfit: Lilac or pink coverup over swimsuit + Wide Brim Straw Sun Hat ($128) + cat eye sunglasses + Pink Terrycloth Pool Slides ($44)
The bag: Large Woven Straw Pool Tote, Turquoise ($78) with your Yellow Terry Pool Pouch ($38) inside for phone and sunscreen
The jewelry: Keep it simple — a brass cuff bracelet that can handle water and sun. Skip necklaces that'll get tangled with your swimsuit straps.
This is the look for lounging, reading, ordering a frozen drink, and looking like the most stylish person at the pool without anyone thinking you spent more than two minutes getting ready. Because you didn't.
Look 2: Lunch Mode (12pm – 4pm)
Pool-to-lunch is the most common transition and the one most women overthink. You don't need to change. You need to swap three accessories.
What changes: Take off the sun hat. Add a headband to manage pool hair (a pearl or crystal embellished headband adds instant polish). Swap the pool tote for a smaller bag. Add earrings.
The outfit: Same coverup over swimsuit + headband + oversized sunglasses pushed up on your head + slides (or sandals if you packed them)
The bag: Palm Tassel Jute Clutch ($68) — big enough for phone, card, lipstick, room key
The jewelry: Add gold bow earrings or statement drops. Earrings are the single fastest way to take any outfit from "at the pool" to "at lunch." Keep the brass cuff on.
Total transition time: 90 seconds. Total outfit changes: zero.
Look 3: Dinner Mode (5pm – whenever)
This is where the slip trick comes in — or, if you went with the Metallic Chevron Halter Maxi Dress ($328), you skip the slip entirely because that dress already reads as eveningwear. For the pom pom coverups, swap the swimsuit for a short slip underneath and it transforms into a mini dress. Now you're dressed for a waterfront restaurant, a rooftop bar, or a sunset walk through town.
What changes: Slip replaces swimsuit underneath. Sandals replace slides. Clutch replaces any daytime bag. Jewelry goes from minimal to statement.
The outfit: Coverup over slip + sandals + an embellished headband or let your hair down
The bag: Pearl Raffia Clutch Purse ($158) or the Embroidered Raffia Clutch ($128) — either one takes the look from daytime to evening instantly
The jewelry: Now go bold. Layer necklaces — a gold charm necklace with a longer chain works beautifully over the coverup neckline. Add a cocktail ring. Keep the statement earrings from lunch or swap for something more dramatic. If you're feeling bold, pin a brooch to the coverup or your clutch for unexpected detail.
This is a $158 coverup giving you three distinct looks in one day with zero outfit changes. That's the math that makes it worth it.
Coverup Styling Tips That Most People Miss
Belt It
A loose coverup becomes a completely different silhouette with a belt or even a hair tie cinched at the waist. It creates shape, shows your figure, and makes the whole thing look more like a dress and less like a tunic. If you have a woven or raffia belt, even better — it adds texture and keeps the vacation vibe.
Pin a Brooch on It
A brooch on a coverup is the unexpected move that makes people ask where you got it. Pin it at the neckline for a clasp effect, at the waist as a belt accent, or near the shoulder for a structured look. An animal brooch or a vintage-inspired pin adds personality without adding weight or bulk. And it takes two seconds to move it to your hat, your bag, or your dinner outfit later.
Match Your Slides to Your Hat
Color coordination between your slides and your hat is the styling detail that makes an outfit look curated instead of thrown together. The pink terrycloth slides ($44) with the fuchsia sun hat ($138) is a combination that looks like a magazine editorial. The navy slides ($44) with the navy and white hat ($128) is the classic, can't-go-wrong pairing.
Don't Forget Sunglasses
Sunglasses are the accessory that ties every poolside look together. Cat eye frames add instant glamour to a coverup — you'll look like you're on a movie set, not just at the Holiday Inn pool. Oversized frames give off that effortless "I woke up like this" energy. Either way, they're doing double duty as sun protection and style. Bring two pairs — read our beach vacation packing list for the full breakdown.
How to Pack a Coverup Without Destroying It
The pom pom and shell trim on these coverups needs a little care when packing. Don't ball it up at the bottom of your suitcase — the trim can get crushed and the embellishments can snag on zippers.
Best method: Fold the coverup in half lengthwise, then roll it loosely (don't fold). Place it along the top of your suitcase or in a separate garment bag. The rolling prevents creases and the loose method protects the trim. If it does wrinkle, hang it in the bathroom while you shower — the steam will release the wrinkles in minutes.
Pro tip: Stuff your sun hat with your coverup on the way there — it protects the hat shape AND prevents coverup wrinkles. Two problems solved at once.
Why Getting Dressed at the Pool Still Matters
There's a version of vacation where you throw on whatever's closest and don't think about it. And honestly, that's fine sometimes. But there's another version where you show up at the pool in a coverup that makes you feel like the best version of yourself, with a hat that frames your face and sunglasses that make you feel like a different person. That version is more fun.
Getting dressed is self-care — even on vacation. Especially on vacation. Because how you dress affects how you feel, and how you feel affects how you experience every single moment of a trip you worked hard to take.
A great coverup isn't just clothing. It's permission to stay at the pool longer, to say yes to lunch without stressing, to walk into any restaurant feeling good. That's worth way more than $158.
Shop coverups, swimwear, and all vacation accessories at JuJu Loves, or visit us in person at Maris DeHart, 32 Vendue Range, Charleston, SC.
Not sure what to pack for your next trip? The Surprise Me JuJu Gift Box can be curated as a vacation accessories kit — just choose the "Vacation Vibes" theme and JuJu handpicks the perfect mix of jewelry, sunglasses, and accessories for your trip. Starting at $115.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between a cheap coverup and a good one?
Fabric weight, detail, and versatility. A cheap coverup is sheer polyester that looks like swimwear. A good coverup has structure, trim detail, and fabric that reads as clothing — which means you can wear it beyond the pool without looking like you forgot to change.
Can I wear a coverup to a restaurant?
Yes, if it's the right coverup. Pieces with trim detail, good fabric weight, and an intentional silhouette work for casual waterfront restaurants, resort dining, and beach bars. For nicer restaurants, use the slip trick — put a short slip underneath the coverup and it becomes a mini dress. Add earrings and a clutch and nobody will know it doubles as swimwear.
How do I turn a coverup into a dress?
Layer a short, lightweight slip underneath instead of a swimsuit. The slip eliminates sheerness, changes the silhouette, and makes the coverup read as a dress rather than swimwear. Add a belt at the waist for more structure, swap slides for sandals, and accessorize with statement jewelry and a clutch.
What accessories go with a coverup?
For the pool: a wide brim sun hat, sunglasses, pool slides, a straw tote, and a simple bracelet. For the lunch or dinner transition: swap the hat for a headband, add statement earrings, switch to a clutch, and layer necklaces. A brooch pinned to the coverup adds an unexpected finishing touch. See our full beach vacation packing list for the complete accessory breakdown.
Are pom pom coverups still in style?
Absolutely. Pom pom and shell trim coverups have been trending for several seasons because the detail adds visual interest without being over the top. The trim is what makes the coverup look like an outfit rather than a basic layer — it's the difference between "I'm wearing a coverup" and "I'm wearing a gorgeous trimmed piece."
How do I wash a coverup with pom pom trim?
Hand wash in cold water with mild detergent, or use a mesh laundry bag on the delicate cycle. Lay flat to dry — don't wring it or hang it by the straps, which can stretch the fabric. The pom pom and shell trim should hold up well with gentle care.
What color coverup is most versatile?
Lilac and soft pastels work with almost every swimsuit color and photograph beautifully against blue water and sand. Pink makes more of a statement and pairs best with black, white, or neutral swimsuits. Both colors transition easily from poolside to lunch or dinner.
Can I wear a coverup to the beach and the pool?
Yes — these coverups work for both. At the beach, pair with a wide brim sun hat and a large tote. At the pool, the same coverup works with slides and sunglasses. The only difference is you might want to rinse off sand before transitioning to a restaurant.
Where can I try on coverups in person?
Visit JuJu Loves at Maris DeHart, 32 Vendue Range, Charleston, SC. You can try on coverups, hats, sunglasses, and all the accessories that go with them.
More Style Inspiration
How to Look Chic at the Pool: Stylish Poolside Outfit Ideas
Beach Vacation Packing List: Accessories You'll Actually Wear
Best Wide Brim Sun Hats for Women