Coastal wear blends breezy fabrics, relaxed silhouettes, and sun-safe layers you can take from the boardwalk to dinner. Think linen shirts, airy dresses, polished sets, and swim-and-cover-up pairings. Prioritize breathable natural fibers like linen (valued for comfort in hot climates) and look for UPF-labeled pieces for better sun protection when you’ll be outdoors for long stretches. Sources: Britannica on linen’s comfort in warm weather, and The Skin Cancer Foundation on UPF clothing https://www.britannica.com/topic/linen https://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-prevention/sun-protection/clothing/upf/
- Faherty — Elevated surf-coastal staples
- Why it’s great: Laid-back yet polished pieces—striped sets, beachy knits, easy dresses—that nail a timeless coastal palette.
- What to shop: Linen shirts and shorts, sweater polos, cover-ups.
- Start here: Women’s shop — https://fahertybrand.com/collections/women
- J.Crew — Nautical classics with modern polish
- Why it’s great: Crisp shirting, stripes, shirtdresses, and lots of beach-to-town styling options.
- What to shop: Linen essentials, swim, pareos, raffia accessories.
- Start here: Women’s swim & beach — https://www.jcrew.com/c/womens_category/swimwear
- Reformation — Vacation-ready dresses and sets
- Why it’s great: Light, wear-anywhere resort dresses and matching sets that pack beautifully.
- What to shop: Vacation shop standouts, linen slips, airy midi dresses.
- Start here: Vacation Shop — https://www.thereformation.com/us/en/featured/vacation
- DÔEN — Romantic California ease
- Why it’s great: Breezy silhouettes and gauzy fabrics made for long seaside days and golden-hour dinners.
- What to shop: Floaty dresses, peasant blouses, woven totes.
- Start here: https://shopdoen.com/
- Sézane — French coastal chic
- Why it’s great: Effortless knits, basket bags, and sundresses in sun-washed colors and stripes.
- What to shop: Cotton-linen dresses, crochet layers, seaside accessories.
- Start here: https://www.sezane.com/en
- Everlane — Clean-lined linen and easy basics
- Why it’s great: Minimal silhouettes and natural fabrics that mix and match across your suitcase.
- What to shop: Linen button-downs, wide-leg trousers, tanks.
- Start here: https://www.everlane.com/womens
- Quince — Budget-friendly linen staples
- Why it’s great: Accessible prices for mixable coastal basics you can stock up on.
- What to shop: Linen shirts, shorts, slip dresses, lightweight sweaters.
- Start here: https://www.quince.com/
- Summersalt — Fit-focused swim and cover-ups
- Why it’s great: Confident swim fits and travel-friendly cover-ups you can style as day dresses. Summersalt reports using 1.5M+ body measurements from 10,000 women to inform fit (brand claim) https://www.summersalt.com/pages/fit.
- What to shop: UPF-labeled suits, wrap skirts, matching resort sets.
- Start here: https://www.summersalt.com/collections/swim
- L*Space — Sporty-luxe beach-to-brunch looks
- Why it’s great: Modern swim with coordinating skirts, pants, and crochet that elevate vacation outfits.
- What to shop: Textured bikinis, knit cover-ups, coastal sets.
- Start here: https://www.lspace.com/
- Madewell — Relaxed layers with a coastal-cool edge
- Why it’s great: Easy fits, neutral palettes, and denim/linen pairings that suit beach towns to city piers.
- What to shop: Linen-blend shorts, camp shirts, lightweight cardigans.
- Start here: https://www.madewell.com/
- Anthropologie — Boho-leaning resort favorites
- Why it’s great: Statement sundresses, crochet, and artful prints that still read coastal and effortless.
- What to shop: Cover-ups, raffia bags, woven slides, vacation dresses.
- Start here: https://www.anthropologie.com/
- Outerknown — Surf heritage with a refined bend
- Why it’s great: Beach-first perspective with polished, packable pieces and a focus on responsible production. Outerknown is a Certified B Corporation (verification by B Lab) https://www.bcorporation.net/en-us/find-a-b-corp/company/outerknown-llc/.
- What to shop: Beach pants, relaxed shirts, ribbed dresses, sun-faded tees.
- Start here: Women — https://www.outerknown.com/collections/women
- EILEEN FISHER — Timeless linen you’ll rewear
- Why it’s great: Simple, elegant silhouettes in breathable fabrics that layer seamlessly.
- What to shop: Organic linen tops, pants, long vests, lightweight wraps.
- Start here: Linen — https://www.eileenfisher.com/clothing/fabrics/linen/
- Mango — Mediterranean-inspired beach style
- Why it’s great: Trend-forward coastal outfits at accessible prices, from crochet to airy sets.
- What to shop: Swim, pareos, crochet dresses, raffia accessories.
- Start here: Women’s swimwear — https://shop.mango.com/us/women/swimwear
- Zimmermann — Luxury resort and statement pieces
- Why it’s great: Event-worthy prints and elevated resort silhouettes for standout vacations.
- What to shop: Resort dresses, swim, coordinated sets, statement skirts.
- Start here: Swim & Resort — https://www.zimmermannwear.com/collections/swim-resort
How to shop coastal wear online in 2025
- Choose breathable fabrics first: Linen and cotton help in warm, humid climates; linen is prized for comfort in heat (Britannica) https://www.britannica.com/topic/linen.
- Add sun-safe layers: Look for UPF ratings; UPF 50+ fabric blocks about 98% of UV (Skin Cancer Foundation) https://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-prevention/sun-protection/clothing/upf/.
- Build a capsule: Stick to sand, navy, white, driftwood, and soft pastels so pieces mix and match.
- Pack multipurpose pieces: Shirt dresses as cover-ups, linen pants over swim, light sweaters for breezy evenings.
- Mind care and travel: Wrinkle-friendly textures (crinkle gauze, knits) travel better; bring a fabric refresher or steamer.
Methodology
We prioritized brands with:
- Strong coastal assortments (linen, cotton, crochet, gauze, resort sets)
- Easy styling versatility (day-to-dinner, beach-to-town)
- Clear online shopping experiences and reliable seasonal availability
We verified technical claims with credible sources where applicable and linked directly to brand or third-party verification pages.
Sources and further reading
- Linen overview and warm-weather comfort: Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/topic/linen
- UPF clothing basics and what ratings mean: The Skin Cancer Foundation — https://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-prevention/sun-protection/clothing/upf/
- Summersalt fit methodology (brand claim): https://www.summersalt.com/pages/fit
- Outerknown B Corp certification (B Lab directory): https://www.bcorporation.net/en-us/find-a-b-corp/company/outerknown-llc/