HomeTravelThe 9 Greatest Swimsuit Cowl-ups, Examined and Reviewed

The 9 Greatest 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 lets you 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 might be each sensible and trendy — generally even versatile sufficient to double as a costume for a jaunt away from the water. Whereas purchasing for a cover-up, search for consolation, high quality, quick-dry supplies, and match.

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

Amazon CupShe Crochet Mini Dress

PHOTO: Amazon
Why We Love It
  • Snug, breathable, cute, and affordably priced, this one has all of it.

This piece is every part we need to see in a swimsuit cover-up: it’s flattering, snug, breathable, fashionable, and really easy to throw on and go. It’s obtainable in 18 colorways, so there’s sure to be one (or extra!) that works along with your journey wardrobe. And regardless of its inexpensive value level, this short-sleeve costume is solidly made, with high quality development 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 had 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 surroundings. We additionally love the cinch-waist silhouette, which is tremendous flattering. A bit little bit of stretch means you may want to dimension down for a extra body-con vibe. We examined the pink shade, which is so vibrant, with a wonderful pop on digicam for journey photographs.

It has a V-neckline with a half-button placket (however we do want the ornamental buttons had been useful as a substitute). And the holes within the crochet-like weave present sufficient protection that we by no means felt uncomfortably uncovered whereas in outlets 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

Typically, 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 selection is dressy sufficient to move for a daily costume if you transfer away from a waterside surroundings — 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 season as a result of it’s simply that versatile. It additionally has two layers of cloth within the development, so it’s not as see-through as many cover-ups. Nonetheless, we wore bike shorts beneath the costume for a bit extra protection after we weren’t sporting 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 straightforward to scrub 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 material than conventional light-weight cover-ups, it additionally works nice as a correct costume. Nevertheless, you may need to layer it with a slip or bike shorts for extra protection and not using a 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 shade for a hands-free night stroll.

This costume hits simply above the knee, making the size pretty beneficiant in comparison with among the different quick kinds on our listing, with a sq. neckline and a little bit of refined pleating sewn in. Given the roomy match, dimension down if you’re between sizes or if you happen to like a extra body-skimming feel and appear.

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 large versatility with tons of various methods to fashion it: you possibly can put on it absolutely open over a swimsuit, or loosely bow the waist tie for a robe-like match with the swimsuit peeking by way of beneath. Then, in case your seaside day extends into the night, you possibly can button all of it the best way up and rework it into a beautiful 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 superbly wearable, sensible, versatile piece. A few notes: it’s higher handy wash this garment for the longest-lasting look, and select a dimension up in order for you 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 basically, 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 quick 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 well worth the splurge, particularly if you happen to plan to put on it extra usually than simply a few instances 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 inconceivable to wrinkle, so it’s a dream for packing.

This quick 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 inconceivable to wrinkle, so you possibly can ball it up in a tiny pouch if you must.

Manufactured from one hundred pc linen, it’s not absolutely opaque — however not too sheer both, so it gives enough 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 strong shade choices, plus a geometrical print.

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

SKIMS Swim Sarong Skirt

PHOTO: SKIMS

We love this lengthy sarong, fabricated from a stretchy and quick-drying materials. The waistband of this sarong mimics shapewear in that it sucks you in and provides you that sculpted, snatched look;  sure, it’s from the model recognized for compression shapewear in any case. You’ll be able to alter the slit and put on it on both aspect. You may also hike up this sarong for a high-waisted look, or put on it decrease in your hips if you happen to favor. Any approach you put on it, it’s good for including a bit extra protection whereas sporting a two-piece swimsuit.

Due to the compression issue, it may be a little bit of a combat to slide on this piece, particularly if in case you have a curvier body. When you favor a cover-up you possibly can slip on or off simply, you could be higher off with a basic wrap-style sarong as a substitute.

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 appears 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 season costume. It is good for going from the seaside or pool to a restaurant with out having to alter, and with out wanting sloppy. The cotton materials is thick and plush, so water from damp swimsuits would not bleed by way of as a lot as it might lighter cover-ups — and it truly gives some heat, too.  The entire buttons are useful, so you possibly can change the fashion 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 possibly can 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, however 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 shade 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 gentle, mild, and stretchy for a snug match, with lengthy sleeves, a spherical neckline, and a thigh-skimming size. Nevertheless, the material may 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 useful 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 circumstances to make sure that they’ve options which might be pleasant for the seaside, pool, and extra, like quick-dry and light-weight supplies. We additionally sought to advocate numerous cover-ups which might be versatile sufficient to be worn over swimsuits in waterside environments or as common journey clothes in different environments, a versatility characteristic that’s perfect for packing and touring.

Ideas for Shopping for a Swimsuit Cowl-up

Select the precise fashion

Cowl-ups are available a wide range of kinds, and a few of these kinds are extra versatile — and extra sensible — than others. A wholly mesh possibility in all probability can’t be worn a lot exterior the seaside or pool space, whereas a extra basic costume fashion will be worn extra continuously, even and not using a swimsuit beneath. The precise search for you all comes down to non-public fashion 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 purchasing for swimsuit cover-ups. After a dip within the pool or ocean, moist material can really feel heavy and clingy, so supplies like polyester, nylon, or light-weight cotton blends are perfect materials for drying quick and holding you snug. Light-weight choices are particularly necessary in sizzling climates that will help you keep cool, and lots of now include UPF safety to defend pores and skin from UV rays.

Often Requested Questions

  • Can I swim in a swimsuit cover-up?

    Sure, you possibly can swim in a swimsuit cover-up so long as it’s light-weight and constituted of quick-drying supplies that may deal with the water — corresponding 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 will possibly change into heavy and prohibit motion, making swimming uncomfortable (and even harmful). As a substitute, 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 make sure you learn the care directions in your particular garment earlier than washing. Most cover-ups will be hand-washed, and that is usually a secure methodology. At hand wash, refill 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 could stretch the material.) If the cover-up is mechanically 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 fashion reviewer. She’s visited a whole bunch of the world’s finest 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 critiques to compile a complete listing of one of the best swimsuit cover-ups available on the market.

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