The 9 Finest Swimsuit Cowl-ups, Examined and Reviewed


For any journeys involving a pool or seaside (or a lake, a river, or a day spa), a flexible swimsuit cover-up is an absolute packing important. It’s the wardrobe must-have that means that you can transition seamlessly from lounging by the water in your swimsuit to heading right into a restaurant or store, all while not having an entire outfit change.

As a frequent traveler to tropical locales, I keep stocked with cover-ups which can be each sensible and classy — typically even versatile sufficient to double as a costume for a jaunt away from the water. Whereas looking for a cover-up, search for consolation, high quality, quick-dry supplies, and match.

From breezy clothes and trendy sarongs to eye-catching crochet items and opulent caftans, we’ve gathered high suggestions from Journey + Leisure editors — who examined them in real-life journey situations for a interval of a number of months to a yr or longer — to convey you this curated record of the easiest cover-ups to raise your trip wardrobe.

Amazon CupShe Crochet Mini Dress

PHOTO: Amazon
Why We Love It

  • Comfy, breathable, cute, and affordably priced, this one has all of it.

This piece is every little thing we wish to see in a swimsuit cover-up: it’s flattering, comfy, breathable, trendy, and really easy to throw on and go. It’s out there in 18 colorways, so there’s sure to be one (or extra!) that works along with your journey wardrobe. And regardless of its reasonably priced value level, this short-sleeve costume is solidly made, with high quality building that may maintain as much as rugged journey utilization.

Manufactured from one hundred pc polyester in a mesh weave, this cover-up is absolutely breathable. Which means we have been by no means uncomfortable tossing it over a moist swimsuit when it was time to move as much as the room or go to lunch in a resort atmosphere. We additionally love the cinch-waist silhouette, which is tremendous flattering. A little bit little bit of stretch means you would possibly want to measurement down for a extra body-con vibe. We examined the pink colour, which is so vibrant, with a wonderful pop on digicam for journey pictures.

It has a V-neckline with a half-button placket (however we do want the ornamental buttons have been useful as an alternative). And the holes within the crochet-like weave present sufficient protection that we by no means felt uncomfortably uncovered whereas in retailers or in any other case away from the seaside or pool.

The Particulars: XS to 2XL | Polyester

Tommy Bahama Cotton Clip Jacquard Cover-up Shirt Dress

PHOTO: Tommy Bahama

Generally, you want the flexibility to move straight from the pool into a correct meal or meetup. And we love a packing powerhouse that serves a number of capabilities. That’s why we love that this feature is dressy sufficient to go for a daily costume if you transfer away from a waterside atmosphere — and even simply to slide on for an outing when there’s no swimsuit concerned.

We wore this flounce-sleeve jacquard quantity to the pool, sure — and likewise to the workplace throughout a New York Metropolis summer time as a result of it’s simply that versatile. It additionally has two layers of material within the building, so it’s not as see-through as many cover-ups. Nonetheless, we wore bike shorts beneath the costume for a bit extra protection once we weren’t carrying a swimsuit beneath.

Manufactured from one hundred pc cotton, this costume is tremendous light-weight and it dries rapidly when it is moist. It is also simple to clean and didn’t keep wrinkled for lengthy after we pulled it out of our suitcase.

The Particulars: 2XS to XL | Cotton

Lake Coco Cover-up

PHOTO: Lake

As a result of this beautiful piece of linen clothes is made with thicker cloth than conventional light-weight cover-ups, it additionally works nice as a correct costume. Nevertheless, you would possibly wish to layer it with a slip or bike shorts for extra protection with no swimsuit beneath.

The female and flirty shoulder ties give it a fancier look, too, constructing on the flexibility of this costume to move straight to dinner — no swimsuit or pool required. And did we point out it has pockets? We love a useful pocket for stashing a room key and lip colour for a hands-free night stroll.

This costume hits simply above the knee, making the size pretty beneficiant in comparison with a number of the different brief kinds on our record, with a sq. neckline and a little bit of delicate pleating sewn in. Given the roomy match, measurement down in case you are between sizes or if you happen to like a extra body-skimming feel and look.

The Particulars: 2XS to 2XL | Linen

Tommy Bahama Harbour Eyelet Cover-up Shirt Dress

PHOTO: Tommy Bahama

This maxi cover-up is destined to be your warm-weather packing go-to due to its super versatility with tons of various methods to type it: you’ll be able to put on it absolutely open over a swimsuit, or loosely bow the waist tie for a robe-like match with the swimsuit peeking via beneath. Then, in case your seaside day extends into the night, you’ll be able to button all of it the way in which up and remodel it into a stunning eyelet costume for dinner on the resort. We particularly just like the lengthy sleeves, which make this piece nice for locations the place temperatures drop after the solar goes down.

Manufactured from one hundred pc cotton, this costume has thread tassels dangling from the adjustable waist tie, and aspect pockets full the peerlessly wearable, sensible, versatile piece. A few notes: it’s higher handy wash this garment for the longest-lasting look, and select a measurement up if you need extra protection.

The Particulars: XS to XL | Cotton

Alicia Bell Angel Caftan Mini

PHOTO: Alicia Bell
Why We Love It

  • This elegant silk caftan is light-weight, polished, and rich-looking, with a shapely match and fairly sample.

We subscribe to the caftan life-style on the whole, and this silk cotton voile hand-blocked flutter sleeve mini-dress caftan is a dreamy alternative. It’s our favourite caftan to put on to a poolside lunch as a result of it’s light-weight to put on whereas eating but additionally absolutely covers a swimsuit beneath. Not solely is the printed sample colourful sufficient, however the brief flutter sleeves and slim match set it other than extra shapeless, sleeveless alternate options.

This one rings in at an funding value level, and it’s effectively definitely worth the splurge, particularly if you happen to plan to put on it extra typically than simply a few occasions a yr. It’s appropriately rich-looking, with delicate tassel ties fitted with golden beads.

The Particulars: XS to XL | Silk cotton voile

Monday Swimwear South Beach Sarong

PHOTO: Monday Swimwear
Why We Love It

  • That is so light-weight and ultra-compact, plus it’s not possible to wrinkle, so it’s a dream for packing.

This brief sarong with a rounded hem makes packing oh really easy: it’s tremendous light-weight and compact, so it takes up subsequent to no room in a suitcase or seaside bag, which is a big motive why we by no means journey with out it now. The crinkled linen materials is sort of not possible to wrinkle, so you’ll be able to ball it up in a tiny pouch if that you must.

Manufactured from one hundred pc linen, it’s not absolutely opaque — however not too sheer both, so it gives sufficient protection. It is available in two sizes and has an adjustable tie waist so you may get a bespoke match each time you put on it. It is available in eight stable colour choices, plus a geometrical print.

The Particulars: P to VVV (roughly U.S. costume measurement 0 to 18) | Linen

SKIMS Swim Sarong Skirt

PHOTO: SKIMS

We love this lengthy sarong, made from a stretchy and quick-drying materials. The waistband of this sarong mimics shapewear in that it sucks you in and offers you that sculpted, snatched look;  sure, it’s from the model identified for compression shapewear in any case. You may modify the slit and put on it on both aspect. It’s also possible to hike up this sarong for a high-waisted look, or put on it decrease in your hips if you happen to want. Any means you put on it, it’s excellent for including a bit extra protection whereas carrying a two-piece swimsuit.

Due to the compression issue, it may be a little bit of a combat to slide on this piece, particularly you probably have a curvier body. In the event you want a cover-up you’ll be able to slip on or off simply, you might be higher off with a basic wrap-style sarong as an alternative.

The Particulars: 2XS to 4XL | Recycled nylon, elastane

Carve Designs Blair Dress

PHOTO: Carve Designs

Consider this one as a basic collarless button-down with a tiered skirt and ruffle detailing for a female vibe — it seems to be completely easy however polished on the identical time.

We love how this costume works equally effectively as a swimsuit cover-up or as a flowing summer time costume. It is excellent for going from the seaside or pool to a restaurant with out having to vary, and with out trying sloppy. The cotton materials is thick and plush, so water from damp swimsuits does not bleed via as a lot as it could lighter cover-ups — and it really gives some heat, too.  The entire buttons are useful, so you’ll be able to change the type relying in your wants. It comes nearly to the knee so it gives loads of protection for solar safety and modesty. It’s a long-sleeved costume, however there are aspect buttons, so you’ll be able to roll the sleeves and cuff them on hotter days making it superversatile.

The Particulars: 2XS to XL | Natural cotton

Blooming Jelly Crochet Cover-up

PHOTO: Amazon

This budget-friendly cover-up will set you again lower than the price of an airport cocktail, nevertheless it’s superstylish and well-made. We discovered it paired equally effectively over one-piece and two-piece bikinis. There is a deep cutout within the again, which we discover so stylish, and it is available in a big selection of colour choices. We examined it in white and felt the look was applicable to put on from the seaside straight into lunch.

The crochet materials is smooth, gentle, and stretchy for a comfortable match, with lengthy sleeves, a spherical neckline, and a thigh-skimming size. Nevertheless, the material might really feel a bit a lot for sweltering days, for which you may want one thing a bit lighter and breezier as a backup.

The Particulars: XS to L | Polyester, rayon, spandex

Our Testing Course of

All of our picks for one of the best swimsuit cover-ups come really helpful by T+L editors, who’ve packed them to put on on journeys from the Caribbean to Europe. Our testing group has owned these items for wherever between a number of months and several other years, which is loads of time to completely vet them in real-world situations to make sure that they’ve options which can be pleasant for the seaside, pool, and extra, like quick-dry and light-weight supplies. We additionally sought to suggest varied cover-ups which can be versatile sufficient to be worn over swimsuits in waterside environments or as common journey clothes in different environments, a versatility characteristic that’s ideally suited for packing and touring.

Suggestions for Shopping for a Swimsuit Cowl-up

Select the proper type

Cowl-ups are available in quite a lot of kinds, and a few of these kinds are extra versatile — and extra sensible — than others. A wholly mesh choice most likely can’t be worn a lot outdoors the seaside or pool space, whereas a extra basic costume type could be worn extra ceaselessly, even with no swimsuit beneath. The fitting search for you all comes down to non-public type preferences and utilization plans.

Search for quick-drying and light-weight supplies

Fast-drying and light-weight materials are key options for consolation and practicality when looking for swimsuit cover-ups. After a dip within the pool or ocean, moist cloth can really feel heavy and clingy, so supplies like polyester, nylon, or light-weight cotton blends are ideally suited materials for drying quick and holding you comfy. Light-weight choices are particularly essential in sizzling climates that can assist you keep cool, and lots of now include UPF safety to protect pores and skin from UV rays.

Ceaselessly Requested Questions

  • Can I swim in a swimsuit cover-up?

    Sure, you’ll be able to swim in a swimsuit cover-up so long as it’s light-weight and comprised of quick-drying supplies that may deal with the water — similar to polyester or spandex. Keep away from swimming in a cover-up made of fabric that absorbs water like cotton or something that’s too voluminous — as it might probably change into heavy and limit motion, making swimming uncomfortable (and even harmful). As an alternative, toss cover-ups like these to your towel earlier than hitting the water.

  • How do I wash a swimsuit cover-up?

    Swimsuit cover-ups require totally different washing strategies relying on the fabric, so be sure you learn the care directions in your particular garment earlier than washing. Most cover-ups could be hand-washed, and that is typically a secure technique. Handy wash, replenish a basin with cool water, add detergent for delicates, and gently agitate earlier than rinsing and squeezing out extra water. (Don’t wring it out, as this will stretch the material.) If the cover-up is machine cleanable, achieve this on a delicate cycle in chilly water, ideally inside a mesh laundry bag for cover. Skip the dryer (until the tag says it’s secure), and lay flat on a clear seaside towel to air dry. For canopy-ups with elaborations like tassels and beads, spot clear to keep away from damaging these delicate items.

Why Belief Journey + Leisure

T+L contributor Alesandra Dubin is a veteran journey and life-style author {and professional} product and journey type reviewer. She’s visited a whole lot of the world’s greatest seashores and swimming pools for work and leisure, and for many of her travels, packing swim garments is a should. For this story, she referenced her personal experience alongside the detailed real-world testing outcomes for dozens of cover-ups, then cross-checked product descriptions and buyer evaluations to compile a complete record of one of the best swimsuit cover-ups in the marketplace.

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