The 9 Best Swimsuit Cover-ups, Tested and Reviewed

This piece is everything we want to see in a swimsuit cover-up: it’s flattering, comfortable, breathable, stylish, and so easy to throw on and go. It’s available in 18 colorways, so there’s certain to be one (or more!) that works with your travel wardrobe. And despite its affordable price point, this short-sleeve dress is solidly made, with quality construction that will hold up to rugged travel usage.

Made of 100 percent polyester in a mesh weave, this cover-up is fully breathable. That means we were never uncomfortable tossing it over a wet swimsuit when it was time to head up to the room or go to lunch in a resort environment. We also love the cinch-waist silhouette, which is super flattering. A little bit of stretch means you might wish to size down for a more body-con vibe. We tested the pink color, which is so vibrant, with an excellent pop on camera for trip photos.

It has a V-neckline with a half-button placket (but we do wish the decorative buttons were functional instead). And the holes in the crochet-like weave provide enough coverage that we never felt uncomfortably exposed while in shops or otherwise away from the beach or pool.

The Details: XS to 2XL | Polyester

Sometimes, you need the versatility to head straight from the pool into a proper meal or meetup. And we love a packing powerhouse that serves multiple functions. That’s why we love that this option is dressy enough to pass for a regular dress when you move away from a waterside environment — or even just to slip on for an outing when there’s no swimsuit involved.

We wore this flounce-sleeve jacquard number to the pool, yes — and also to the office during a New York City summer because it’s just that versatile. It also has two layers of fabric in the construction, so it’s not as see-through as many cover-ups. Still, we wore bike shorts underneath the dress for a bit more coverage when we weren’t wearing a swimsuit underneath.

Made of 100 percent cotton, this dress is super lightweight and it dries quickly when it’s wet. It’s also easy to wash and didn’t stay wrinkled for long after we pulled it out of our suitcase.

The Details: 2XS to XL | Cotton

Because this pretty piece of linen clothing is made with thicker fabric than traditional lightweight cover-ups, it also works great as a proper dress. However, you might want to layer it with a slip or bike shorts for more coverage without a swimsuit underneath.

The feminine and flirty shoulder ties give it a fancier look, too, building on the versatility of this dress to head straight to dinner — no swimsuit or pool required. And did we mention it has pockets? We love a functional pocket for stashing a room key and lip color for a hands-free evening stroll.

This dress hits just above the knee, making the length fairly generous compared to some of the other short styles on our list, with a square neckline and a bit of subtle pleating sewn in. Given the roomy fit, size down if you are between sizes or if you like a more body-skimming look and feel.

The Details: 2XS to 2XL | Linen

This maxi cover-up is destined to be your warm-weather packing go-to because of its tremendous versatility with tons of different ways to style it: you can wear it fully open over a swimsuit, or loosely bow the waist tie for a robe-like fit with the swimsuit peeking through underneath. Then, if your beach day extends into the evening, you can button it all the way up and transform it into a lovely eyelet dress for dinner at the resort. We especially like the long sleeves, which make this piece great for destinations where temperatures drop after the sun goes down.

Made of 100 percent cotton, this dress has thread tassels dangling from the adjustable waist tie, and side pockets complete the perfectly wearable, practical, versatile piece. A couple of notes: it’s better to hand wash this garment for the longest-lasting look, and choose a size up if you want more coverage.

The Details: XS to XL | Cotton

We subscribe to the caftan lifestyle in general, and this silk cotton voile hand-blocked flutter sleeve mini-dress caftan is a dreamy choice. It’s our favorite caftan to wear to a poolside lunch because it is lightweight to wear while dining but also fully covers a swimsuit underneath. Not only is the printed pattern colorful enough, but the short flutter sleeves and slim fit set it apart from more shapeless, sleeveless alternatives.

This one rings in at an investment price point, and it’s well worth the splurge, especially if you plan to wear it more often than just a couple of times a year. It’s appropriately rich-looking, with delicate tassel ties fitted with golden beads.

The Details: XS to XL | Silk cotton voile

This short sarong with a rounded hem makes packing oh so easy: it’s super lightweight and compact, so it takes up next to no room in a suitcase or beach bag, which is a huge reason why we never travel without it now. The crinkled linen material is nearly impossible to wrinkle, so you can ball it up in a tiny pouch if you need to.

Made of 100 percent linen, it’s not fully opaque — but not too sheer either, so it provides adequate coverage. It comes in two sizes and has an adjustable tie waist so you can get a bespoke fit every time you wear it. It comes in eight solid color options, plus a geometric print.

The Details: P to VVV (approximately U.S. dress size 0 to 18) | Linen

We love this long sarong, made of a stretchy and quick-drying material. The waistband of this sarong mimics shapewear in that it sucks you in and gives you that sculpted, snatched look;  yes, it’s from the brand known for compression shapewear after all. You can adjust the slit and wear it on either side. You can also hike up this sarong for a high-waisted look, or wear it lower on your hips if you prefer. Any way you wear it, it’s perfect for adding a bit more coverage while wearing a two-piece swimsuit.

Because of the compression factor, it can be a bit of a fight to slip on this piece, especially if you have a curvier frame. If you prefer a cover-up you can slip on or off easily, you may be better off with a classic wrap-style sarong instead.

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

Think of this one as a classic collarless button-down with a tiered skirt and ruffle detailing for a feminine vibe — it looks absolutely effortless but polished at the same time.

We love how this dress works equally well as a swimsuit cover-up or as a flowing summer dress. It’s perfect for going from the beach or pool to a cafe without having to change, and without looking sloppy. The cotton material is thick and plush, so water from damp swimsuits doesn’t bleed through as much as it would lighter cover-ups — and it actually provides some warmth, too.  All of the buttons are functional, so you can change the style depending on your needs. It comes almost to the knee so it provides plenty of coverage for sun protection and modesty. It’s a long-sleeved dress, but there are side buttons, so you can roll the sleeves and cuff them on warmer days making it superversatile.

The Details: 2XS to XL | Organic cotton

This budget-friendly cover-up will set you back less than the cost of an airport cocktail, but it’s superstylish and well-made. We found it paired equally well over one-piece and two-piece bikinis. There’s a deep cutout in the back, which we find so chic, and it comes in a wide array of color options. We tested it in white and felt the look was appropriate to wear from the beach straight into lunch.

The crochet material is soft, light, and stretchy for a comfy fit, with long sleeves, a round neckline, and a thigh-skimming length. However, the fabric could feel a bit much for sweltering days, for which you might want something a bit lighter and breezier as a backup.

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