Following on from my last post, it seemed the logical thing to have a little look into options as to what to wear over the top of the swimming costume.
Practicalities have to be thought of here: it has to be easy to throw on over the top – you don’t want to be fiddling about with complicated fastenings – especially if you’re like me and want to put on something a little less revealing the second you emerge from the water. It has to be easily washable; sand and suncream are unavoidably thrown together despite being so incompatible and if you have children, no doubt sticky ice cream fingers will be clutching at your clothing at some point in the day. If you’re single, looking for a holiday romance and are thinking of spending much of your time lounging casually by a pool-side bar sipping cocktails whilst fluttering eyelashes (covered in waterproof mascara) at the fit locals, then a certain amount of sexiness factor is a priority.
The garment above by NaddyClair combines everything that is practical, and looks fab too. The fabric is terry cloth, so it will even help dry you off.
There is of course the sarong. A little obvious in my opinion, but never-the-less, an extremely useful piece of material to have with you at the beach. You can wrap it around you to keep a little warmer if the sea breeze is chilly; you can drape it over your 
shoulders to prevent them from burning in the midday sun, whilst being light enough to not make you over heat; you can lay on it if you haven’t brought a towel with you to save on luggage weight allowance on the flight and will help stop the sand getting in awkward places, and you can get a friend to hold it up for you to get changed behind. All those uses, and we haven’t even started on the various ways of wearing it. I love the blend of colours in this one by The Peddling Gypsies
This beach cover up by Chabri certainly fulfils the 
sexiness factor – it doesn’t really cover up anything! It does however, exude glamour and confidence and would certainly grab plenty of attention at that beach bar.
Lastly, I have a lovely soft organic cotton gauze cover-up for sale (Addendum: now sold out, but I have chiffon beach cover-ups for sale at Threads of a Fairytale.) So light, it will take up no space at all in your suitcase; and very versatile – wear as a short dress or
skirt, or layer over longer skirts for a bohemian style.
NB. This article was originally published last year for Try Handmade.
