Beach/Pool cover ups

[Yorkshiremum80]

I need help, we have an AI beach holiday every year and I always feel like I miss the mark with my pool cover up and I don't know why. What can I take that I can pop over my bikini to go for lunch etc, that looks swish and stylish. I always feel like I'm a mess compared to others

I can’t stand viscose or polyester and a lot of these suggestions seem to be made from those. I stick to cotton, linen etc which helps limit that awful sweaty/sticky feeling that unnatural fabrics give. Which only adds to that uneasy feel.
I’ve been all sizes and unfortunately the long shirt look hides all my best features - I always try and stick with something that has some shape around my bust or waist. V necks, an easy slip on bandeau dress (next had some great ones last year). If it’s floaty it still needs some shape around the ribs/waist, not too baggy.
You need to start with an understanding of what shape looks good on you.

I have ordered one! After much consideration I realised I need something that is fitted around the waist, all of mine in the past have been flown and that makes me look bigger than I am. I have found this one, it's only in one size but hopefully it will look ok. I went for black as my bikinis are mainly black with patterns on, my flip flops are black and my beach bag is orange with gold on so it should all look put together 🤞 https://www.monsoon.co.uk/ivy-palm-embroidered-kaftan-black-1000499143.html

Good work ! This isn't fitted round the waist but pretty I think and there is a matching sarong you could tie round your wait to make it look more like a dress. https://uk.seafolly.com/products/amnesia-kaftan-52162-black. Also lots of colours

I am also on the hunt for a new cover up, I have lost some weight and want to get rid of my tents kaftany things of previous years in favour of something more flattering. I however would like midi to maxi length, and they must be quick dry or OK to wear wet, as I spend a lot of the holiday wading to and from a boat and so am always in a wet swimsuit whether on the boat or shore. Chiffony material works well. Must be sleeveless/short sleeve. Any suggestions for long ones?

Monsoon had a few, I love this one. www.monsoon.co.uk/miley-ombre-kaftan-dress-orange-20017780010.html

First AI holiday coming up. I have never had a cover up. What are the pros and cons vs just putting a loose, linen dress or shorts on?

I’m the same, everyone else seems so much more out together than me, i mostly wore shorts and bandeau tops, however last year i wore oversized colourful shirts, only from primark, but actually felt good, so much si i’ve seen some print ones in next, more expensive but i feel worth it. Ive seen a lot od the crochet dresses/co ord sets and always thought why would you wear knitted in the heat 😂 but actually might give it a try.

I buy men's XXL linen shirts, great length to cover me, cool and sleeves rolled up. Can't stand the abundance of nylon or polyester out there for beach wear.

https://www2.hm.com/en_gb/productpage.1214786026.html

I have a couple of this style from H&M and they work really well as a breakfast dress/cover up for lunch/ walk along the beach. Personally I find a lot of cover ups a bit skimpy and cheap looking and in horrible ‘ holiday’ colours. But then I’m in my 50s and don’t have the body for skimpy stuff any more!

None really that I can see apart from they make you feel that you’re not just sitting at the pool bar in your bikini. The macrame style ones don’t offer any practical amount of sun protection, whereas shirts or solid cotton ones keep the sun off/ look a bit more put together if you’re in a restaurant/ cafe.

I like a cover-up but also think there’s a fine line between the more substantial cover-ups and just getting dressed!

Fundamentally it’s something that you are happy to wear over slightly damp swimwear, covers enough of you to be in public spaces and is robust enough to get folded up in a tote bag or shrug off a bit of sand without needing to be laundered immediately.

Does anyone else remember an episode of Trinny and Susannah where they did mini beach makeovers? It most involved stripping middle-aged women of flowing kaftans and putting them in slightly fitted cover-ups. Even they didn’t dare to mess around with people’s swimwear! 😁

I like to have something I can easily fling on over my bikini even if it's wet to go to lunch or just a walk around. I don't like walking in just my bikini. I find shorts and vest can be tricky if you have damp swimwear on.

My favourite things and too many to choose from this year! One is not enough!

https://www.pourmoi.co.uk/products/crinkle-o-ring-woven-beach-kaftan/?styleid=99316
I bought this is in black and white and then dyed the white one a nice ocean blue with dylon. White is not my colour. It's fine for the cooler days of holiday but once it gets to 30c it gets a bit too hot for it. I've got some basic linen tunics from h&m that I like to pull on when it's really hot. They look European chic even though they're fairly cheap.

Fascinated by this- do you pack swimwear specifically for this purpose, that always stays dry, ie never gets swam in?

OP I bought this from H&M last year and it’s perfect for chucking over anything and looks chic too- I’d go for something like this www2.hm.com/en_gb/productpage.1213847001.html

I think this is my new favourite shop! no indications of sizing though

Crikey, that's not really a coverup is it...flashing your knickers.

I have the same issue 36H and everything looks matronly. I love the shape of this Moi cover up but it’s polyester

I went against my ‘only natural materials’ instinct and bought a poi moi dress a couple of years ago - couldn’t resist the shape and colour, it was perfect apart from the material content. Went straight in to the charity bin once I came home. Awful feel against hot skin, I was picking at it the whole time I wore it. It’s a shame because the brand does have some excellent holiday styles, but they’re all viscose or polyester.

Crikey you wear your knickers in the pool?

I've bought a couple of things from this shop, lovely kaftans. All the sizing is the same.

If it helps, I'm 174cm tall and I ordered one in a longer length, so it reached the floor. I'm about 100cm around the bust and hips, and broad-shouldered. The kaftans are nice and floaty on me.

Lots of good suggestions on here, I’d say also think about your swimwear too. A lovely striped cotton shirt is great but if you’ve got multicoloured swimwear underneath it or clashing straps with a sundress it’ll ruin the overall ‘put togetherness’

@KakulasSister - erm, it’s bikini bottoms, not knickers!

The monsoon kaftan has arrived and it is perfect. It's 100% cotton and looks lovely with all my bikinis. Two are black with flowers on and one is yellow, it's slightly sheer so you can just see them through it. My husband said it looks posh so I'm happy 😁 thank you for all the excellent suggestions. I know a few have mentioned just getting dressed, I do wear a dress for breakfast then it's beach cover ups after that unless we go in to the restaurant for lunch.