French Girls Don't Go to the Beach Without This One Accessory

Dressing for a beach day can be tricky. I've experienced a few battles with insecurities throughout the years but can finally say I feel more confident than ever when I head out to the beach. It was an overnight change that I'm so grateful for, and I still remember the first day I wore a swimsuit without feeling nervous. And who do I have to thank for this transformation? I attribute a lot of it to quite a few self-love rituals that helped me learn to love my body. But something that very much sped up the pace was finding chic cover-ups that made my look feel more styled and made me feel confident. 

French girls are my style icons, so of course, I am always turning to them for inspiration, and you will very rarely see them at the beach without a chic and effortless cover-up draped over their bikinis. All you really need for your swimsuit collection is one or two good styles and a bin filled with cover-ups that make them each feel brand-new every time you wear them. I love that with many of these style options, for example, a good button-down shirt or a barely there dress, you can easily wear them with more than just swimwear. Bring the South of France to your backyard with the fun bathing suit cover-ups below.

1. Le Button-Down Shirt

My absolute favorite item to pack for any vacation is an oversize button-down shirt. It looks so cool over a swimsuit and can also be worn to dinner, on the flight home, or to explore the destination of choice. No pool day is complete without this in my bag.

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2. Barely There Dresses

The sheer trend is all over the runways, and while I am loving it, I tend to shy away from such a risky fashion move with my everyday NYC wardrobe. However, a trip to the pool or beach is the perfect opportunity to have some fun with a see-through item. I'm kind of obsessed.

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3. Bottoms Up

Sometimes, when the bikini is so good and the sun is relentless as can be, covering up is not ideal. In this case, it's fun to try a pair of shorts or pants that still show off that bikini top. This is a great time to wear linens or knits.

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4. Pareo Party

A good pareo definitely brings the party to whatever beach or poolside you land on. I think this is the chicest add-on to any bikini or one-piece look that just needs a little something to take it to the next level.

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And now, shop the swimsuits we'll be pairing these cover-ups with: 

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