20 of the best beach cover-ups

Is there anything chicer than a kaftan or a carefully chosen wrap skirt effortlessly thrown over a bikini? In super-soft materials, they are to warm summer skin what a cozy knit is to winter goose pimples. But cover-ups aren’t just about shielding yourself from the midday sun; contemporary beachwear brands such as Talitha, Mara Hoffman, Zimmermann and Su Paris have turned these vacation afterthoughts into the stars of our wardrobes. In lightweight but luxurious cotton, silk and linen, and with beautifully bohemian details, they look just as good for sundowners as they do on the sunlounger. Just add gladiator sandals, hooped earrings and cat-eye sunglasses.