Beach Kaftans: What to Wear Over a Swimsuit This Summer
The best thing you can wear over a swimsuit isn't a sarong, a towel, or an oversized shirt — it's a kaftan. One piece, thrown on in two seconds, and you go from swimming to lunch without a change of clothes. It floats instead of clings, covers exactly as much as you want it to, and looks intentional in photos rather than improvised. Here's how to choose the right beach kaftan, and how to wear it well past sunset.
Why a Kaftan Beats Every Other Cover-Up
A sarong needs re-tying every ten minutes and a shirt reads as borrowed. A kaftan is cut to be worn: it has a neckline, sleeves, and a silhouette, which is why it photographs like a dress rather than a beach accessory. The loose cut keeps air moving against your skin — genuinely cooler than anything fitted — and it never sticks to damp swimwear the way jersey does.
It's also the most forgiving shape on the beach. There's no waistband, no clinging panel, no adjusting. Whether you're a US 2 or a US 20, the fabric falls from the shoulders and skims everything else — which is exactly why kaftans have been resort dressing's best-kept non-secret for sixty years. If you want the deeper styling logic, our guide on how to wear a kaftan from beach to ballroom covers it.
Choosing the Fabric: Sheer, Cotton, or Chiffon
Fabric decides everything at the beach — how fast it dries, how it moves in the wind, how it looks wet.
- Sheer and semi-sheer weaves are the classic resort look: your swimsuit shows through as a deliberate layer. They dry almost instantly and pack down to nothing.
- Lightweight cotton is the most breathable option and takes embroidery beautifully. It's the right choice if you want your cover-up to double as a real dress for the boardwalk café. Our cotton kaftans live in this territory.
- Chiffon and georgette float on the slightest breeze — the most photogenic of the three — and resist wrinkles in a packed suitcase.
Whatever you choose, salt and sunscreen ask for a gentle rinse at the end of the day. Cold water, mild soap, drip dry in the shade — done.
Length: Short, Midi, or Maxi?
Short kaftans (above the knee) are the practical swim companion — easy in and out of the water, nothing to trail in the sand. Midi lengths are the all-rounders. And the floor-skimming maxi is the one that turns heads at the beach club: worn with flat sandals and sunglasses, it's a full look, not a cover-up. If you're between lengths, size down in drama for daytime and save the maxi for the sunset hour. Petite? A quick hem is easy — see our kaftan hemming guide.
Our Favorite Beach Kaftans This Season
A few pieces from our Beach & Cover-Up collection we keep reaching for:
- Tropical Leaf Palm Beach Kaftan in White — the postcard look, crisp against tanned skin (also in black).
- V-Neck Gold Embroidered Beach Kaftan in Black — gold thread on black, polished enough for the beach bar.
- Floral Long Kaftan Beach Cover-Up in White — the maxi moment, sheer and floor-length (and in black).
- Lightweight Striped Cotton Kaftan — pure cotton, nautical stripes, the one you'll wear to breakfast.
From Beach to Dinner Without Going Home
This is the kaftan's party trick. Swap flat sandals for a wedge, add earrings and a waist belt to give the silhouette shape, and the same piece that covered your swimsuit at noon is dinner-appropriate at eight. A boho print leans effortless — see our boho kaftans — while gold embroidery leans glamorous. Either way, you packed one piece and got two outfits.
Find Your Beach Kaftan at Naylara
Explore the full Beach & Cover-Up Kaftans collection and this season's Summer 2026 edit — handcrafted, breathable, and made to move. Not sure about sizing? Our size guide makes it simple. Enjoy free US shipping on orders over $150, plus 10% off your first order when you subscribe.
FAQ
Do you wear anything under a beach kaftan?
At the beach, your swimsuit is the underlayer — sheer kaftans are designed to show it as part of the look. Off the beach, lightweight cotton and chiffon kaftans are opaque enough to wear as dresses with a slip or neutral underlayer.
What's the difference between a kaftan and a sarong?
A sarong is a flat rectangle you tie; a kaftan is a sewn garment with a neckline and sleeves. The kaftan stays put, covers more evenly, and works in settings where a sarong would feel too undone — restaurants, hotel lobbies, evening walks.
Can a beach kaftan work for the pool and the city?
Yes — that's the point. Choose an embroidered cotton or a maxi length, belt it, and it reads as a summer dress. One piece covers the pool, the café, and the sunset dinner.