Being stylish at the beach doesn’t require a millionaire’s budget. In fact, having a beautiful beach wardrobe is easy to achieve with some quality basics and some creative flair to accessorise. When you want some budget beach style, there are some great ways to achieve that beach chic look without a crazy outlay. Here are my tips:
Always invest in quality swimwear
Swimwear is the most important part of the beach style equation. If you’re uncomfortable or tugging on your bikini or swimwear, you’ll feel absolutely dreadful. However, if you have good quality swimwear that fits perfectly, then you’ll feel wonderful and ready to tackle all the fun ahead of you at the beach.
You don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars on your swimwear, but do get the best you can afford. The better brands of swimwear usually have great quality fabric that stretches and fits well, and offers you great support with quality design and boning. If you’re busty, make sure your swimwear has an underwire, and most of the best brands will ensure that they offer rouching to provide support where you need it, and embellishments where you want to people to focus.
I’m super tall and a healthy average figure and my tummy is my worst area, so my go to swimsuit always is a one piece with a rouched side across the waist and hips to provide support and a great hourglass shape. I always feel confident when my swimwear is fitted well.
Get creative with your beach cover ups
Bring some color and fun to your beach fashion with a bright beach kaftan. Kaftans are flattering for every shape and size because they don’t cling and they can be styled to give you that sexy off the shoulder look, or straight up and down if you so desire. They come in gorgeous fabrics like cotton, silk or lace to provide you with exactly the look and feel you love, and don’t be scared to bring your bling! Kaftans are meant to be bright and fun – and lots of embellishments like sequins and beading makes them even more holiday-worthy.
If kaftans aren’t your thing, try a beach kimono which is essentially a light weight jacket you can wear over your swimwear. Beach kimonos are on trend right now, with a little bit of an indie boho chic feel to them that means you’ll not only cover up at the beach but you’ll also feel fashionable and stylish with the hip young things!
The other alternative is a beach tunic, which is a cross between a dress and a shirt. A tunic can sit over your swimwear to provide you the coverage you need, and comes in any shape or size you desire. The reason we love beach tunics is you can wear them year round, not just at the beach, as you can dress them up or down with the right accessories, so you’ll get lots of wear from this one piece.
No matter which beach cover up you choose, this isn’t a beach fashion piece you need to splurge on. There are plenty of beautiful options that don’t cost a lot, and so you can afford to be a bit more creative and fashionable with your choices rather than sticking to basics.
Resort Wear on a Budget
If you’re on a cruise or relaxing by the pool with a cocktail in hand at a resort vacation, you’ll want to look the part with beautiful resort wear. Fabulously, when you’re on a beach vacation, your day wear can turn into evening wear with a few key adjustments.
Those kaftans that you have invested in not only look beautiful by the pool as a cover up, but you can also make them style worthy at night for date night, a cocktail party or a beach wedding. Choose a maxi kaftan and add stacks of bangles and necklaces in clashing metals and wood, and long drop earrings and a scarf around your head for the ultimate resort chic look on a budget. All of your accessories can be costume, so go crazy and get layering for that gorgeous resort style look on a budget.
GUEST POST By Kathryn Porritt
Kathryn Porritt is the owner of Bondi Lifestyle, your beach fashion online shop filled with a curated collection of kaftans, beach dresses and tunics to buy online inspired by Australia’s most famous beach, Bondi Beach in Sydney. A celebrated author and an experienced stylist, Kathryn’s unique feminine beach style is brought to her customers through her beautiful online beach fashion collections that are shipped worldwide from Australia.
