A perfect beach day requires a perfect beach day outfit. Choose the wrong clothes on a hot summer day, and you’ll be left spending the day overheating under the shade of your beach umbrella. Forget your sweatshirt on a windy fall day, and you’ll be left asking to borrow someone’s jacket.
To help you find the best beach outfit for any weather, we’re breaking down what to wear at the beach for every temperature.
What to Wear to the Beach Depending on the Weather
Beach Outfit Essentials
Needless to say, there are a handful of beach day essentials you’ll want to bring along every time, regardless of the weather. On a sunny day, tuck your swimsuit and cover-up in your beach tote so you can swim, surf, , or soak up some Vitamin D on the sand. Accessorize your beach outfit with our sand-ready Flipjacks and a baseball cap to keep the sun out of your eyes and tame your wind-blown hair. Don’t forget to grab your sunglasses before you head out the door!
Undoubtedly, the most important thing to wear to the beach is sun protection. Sunburns can happen at any temperature, even on a cloudy day, so be sure to slather on sunscreen before you hit the sand. Slip on a rashguard or to further protect yourself from the sun’s harmful UV rays and the painful sunburns, early aging, and skin damage they can cause.
80s or Higher
Though you’ll likely be spending the majority of the day in a swimsuit, you’ll want to stick with lightweight fabrics and breezy silhouettes in terms of clothing. When the temperatures are high, tank tops, activewear dresses, and technical shorts in breathable natural materials like linen and cotton or a quick-drying performance fabric can make all the difference.
70s
A basic t-shirt and shorts make the perfect combination for beach weather forecasts in the 70s. On sunny days, go with a short-sleeve tee, sailboat-ready polo shirt, or a loose tank dress. Opt for a long-sleeve tee or layer on a lightweight button-up shirt when the temperature is hovering in the low 70s on a cloudy day. Be sure to pack a sweatshirt and breathable, moisture-wicking shorts to toss on for your morning beach walk or late at night as you curl up in front of the campfire to toast marshmallows.
60s
You’ll need to start dressing in layers as soon as the temperature dips below 70 degrees. Beach weather in the mid-60s can change in an instant depending on cloud cover and wind speeds. While at times you may feel fine in just a short-sleeve tee, one gust of wind later, you’ll be glad you packed your favorite pullover . Temperatures in the 60s also mean you should wear pants to the beach instead of shorts. Consider wearing something with a relaxed and looser fit throughout the leg such as our Intercoastal Pant that can be cuffed to keep them from getting wet or sandy.
50s or Below
Once the forecast dips into the 50s, you’ll need to pack layers that can withstand any weather conditions. Start with a sweatshirt or long sleeve tee as your base layer and throw on a zip-up pullover, windbreaker, or quilted jacket. Knit accessories are also a great way to keep warm in fluctuating beach temperatures.
