Beach Cover-Ups: How to Choose a Wrap, Sarong or Turkish Towel
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The best beach cover-up is one that is light, quick to dry and easy to throw on over a wet swimsuit. A sarong or scarf wrap is the most versatile, a kimono or cover-up dress is the most polished for lunch, and a Turkish towel is the one that doubles as a towel. At Riviera Towel Co. in Santa Barbara, we carry all three styles, so here is how to choose.
What is a beach cover-up?
A beach cover-up is a lightweight layer you wear over a swimsuit for sun, modesty, warmth or walking to lunch. It should slip on fast, breathe well and pack small.
Cover-ups range from a simple rectangle of fabric you tie yourself to a sewn kimono or dress. On the coast here, where the breeze can pick up in the afternoon and evenings cool off, a cover-up is less of an accessory and more of an essential.
Which type of beach cover-up should I choose?
Choose a sarong or wrap for versatility, a kimono for easy elegance, a cover-up dress for the most coverage, and a Turkish towel wrap if you want one piece that dries you off too. Here is how they compare.
| Cover-up | Best for | Packability | From our shop |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sarong or scarf wrap | Tying as a skirt, dress or shoulder wrap | Excellent, folds tiny | Lucca Lightweight Scarf Sarong Wrap, from $38 |
| Turkish towel wrap | Drying off and covering up with one piece | Very good, folds flat | St. Tropez Bamboo Scarf Wrap Towel, from $48.98 |
| Kimono | An open, flowy layer over a suit or outfit | Good | Chelsea Kimono, from $158 |
| Cover-up dress | Beach-to-lunch with the most coverage | Good | Mylah Dress, from $148 |
| Classic Turkish towel | A budget-friendly towel you can tie on | Very good | Essential Turkish Towel, from $29.98 |
Is a sarong a good cover-up?
Yes. A sarong is one of the most useful cover-ups you can own because a single piece of fabric can be tied as a skirt, a dress, a halter or a shoulder wrap. It also weighs almost nothing in your bag.
Our Lucca Lightweight Scarf Sarong Wrap (from $38) is designed to work as both a scarf and a sarong, so it earns its spot in your suitcase. Wear it at the beach in the afternoon, then wrap it around your shoulders at dinner. Browse more styles in our scarves, wraps and shawls collection.
Can you wear a Turkish towel as a cover-up?
Absolutely. A Turkish towel (or peshtemal) is thin, flat-woven and generously sized, so it ties easily as a sarong or drapes over your shoulders like a wrap. When you are done, it is still a towel.
That is the reason Turkish towels caught our founders' eye on European beaches in the first place: people used them for everything. The St. Tropez Bamboo Scarf Wrap Towel (from $48.98) is made with wrapping in mind, and the Essential Turkish Towel (from $29.98) is a lightweight everyday option in lots of colors. For more ways to wear one, see how to style a Turkish towel.
How do you tie a sarong or towel wrap?
The simplest way is the classic skirt tie: wrap the fabric around your waist and knot the two top corners at your hip. From there, a few small changes give you a whole wardrobe.
- Skirt: Hold the long edge horizontally behind you at your waist, bring both ends to the front or side and tie a knot.
- Strapless dress: Wrap it under your arms instead of at your waist, then knot or tuck the corners at your chest.
- Halter dress: Hold it behind you under your arms, cross the top corners in front and tie them behind your neck.
- Shoulder wrap: Drape it over your shoulders like a shawl for a breezy afternoon or a cool evening.
- Mini skirt: Fold the fabric in half lengthwise first for a shorter, more secure skirt.
Thinner fabrics knot more neatly, which is why lightweight sarongs and flat-woven towels work so well.
Is a kimono or a cover-up dress better?
A kimono is better if you want an open, flowy layer you can wear over anything, and a cover-up dress is better if you want full coverage and a finished look. Both are great for going from the sand to a waterfront lunch.
The Chelsea Kimono (from $158) layers over a swimsuit at the beach and over a tee and jeans in town. The Mylah Dress (from $148) is a midi silhouette that feels just as right at a patio table as it does on the boardwalk.
What should I look for in a beach cover-up?
Look for a breathable, quick-drying fabric, a size and shape that suits how you will wear it, and something easy to pack. If it can do double duty as a scarf, towel or travel layer, even better.
- Fabric: Natural fibers like cotton breathe well in the sun.
- Drying time: Thin, flat weaves dry faster over a damp swimsuit.
- Versatility: A piece you can tie several ways replaces several items.
- Warmth: Coastal evenings cool off, so a wrap that also works as a shawl is a smart pick.
- Packability: Fold it into a tote alongside your towel and sunscreen.
Where can I buy a beach cover-up in Santa Barbara?
You can find sarongs, kimonos, cover-up dresses and Turkish towel wraps at Riviera Towel Co., 17 W. Gutierrez St., just off State Street, or online in our clothing collection. Try a few tying styles in the shop and see what works for you.
Clothing and bags come with "mix & match 1, 2 or 3 pieces" savings, and gift wrap with a handwritten card is available for $10 if a cover-up is headed to someone else's beach bag.
FAQ
What is the best fabric for a beach cover-up?
Lightweight, breathable fabrics like cotton work best. Thin, flat weaves dry quickly over a wet swimsuit and are easy to tie and pack.
Can a Turkish towel be used as a sarong?
Yes. Turkish towels are thin, flat-woven and generously sized, so they tie easily as a sarong or drape as a wrap, and they still work as a towel afterward.
What is the difference between a sarong and a kimono?
A sarong is a single piece of fabric you tie yourself as a skirt, dress or wrap. A kimono is a sewn, open-front layer with sleeves that you slip on like a light jacket.
How do you tie a sarong as a dress?
Wrap the fabric under your arms and knot or tuck the corners at your chest for a strapless dress, or cross the top corners in front and tie them behind your neck for a halter.
Where can I buy beach cover-ups in Santa Barbara?
Riviera Towel Co. at 17 W. Gutierrez St. in downtown Santa Barbara carries sarongs, kimonos, cover-up dresses and Turkish towel wraps, and you can also shop online at rivieratowel.com.
Looking for the perfect cover-up? Visit our shop at 17 W. Gutierrez St. in Santa Barbara or call 805-560-1571. We offer free shipping on orders over $95, and 5% of our net profits go to organizations that heal and protect the ocean we all love, with $76,439.30 donated so far.
