The coastal granddaughter look is what happens when the viral coastal grandmother look gets handed down to someone in her twenties. The crisp Hamptons polish loosens up: shirts are borrowed and oversized, linen comes in matching sets, sundresses are cut so you can actually ride a bike in them, and the bags are raffia that looks secondhand even when it isn't. When I put these outfits together for summer, I'm dressing for a beach town in July, with salty hair and a day that runs from the market to a late dinner. You don't need to live anywhere near the water for these twenty to work. You just need a few pieces that tolerate heat and wrinkles.
Living With Linen All Summer
Almost every outfit below leans on linen, so it helps to know how the fabric really behaves before you buy a closet full of it. Linen wrinkles the moment you sit down. That's part of the look here, but there's a difference between soft creases and a crushed, slept-in mess, and the difference is mostly weight and finish.
- Buy washed or garment-dyed linen when you can. It's already softened and shrunk, so the size you try on is the size you keep.
- Hold it up to a window in the fitting room. If you can see your hand clearly through a white shirt, plan on a tank or a nude layer underneath.
- Size up slightly in raw, unwashed linen trousers. A tight linen seat strains at the seams, and linen has almost no stretch to recover.
- Linen-cotton blends crease less and feel softer from day one, which suits rompers and fitted tops better than pure linen.
At home, I wash linen cool and gently and pull it out of the machine while it's damp. Shake it hard, smooth the collar and placket with your hands and hang it. That alone gives the relaxed, lived-in look without an iron. High dryer heat is what makes linen stiff and shrinks it, so I keep it out of the dryer.
1. White Linen Button-Down Outfit With Striped Trousers
If I could only keep one piece from this list, it would be the oversized white linen button-down. Worn open over a plain white tank, it sets the relaxed tone straight away. Here it goes with blue and white striped linen trousers, and the vertical stripe does quiet work: it pulls the eye up and down, so the wide leg doesn't read as bulk. Tan flat leather sandals warm up all that white, and a big straw tote, tortoise sunglasses and a few thin gold rings finish it. One thing I check before anyone buys the shirt: hold it up to daylight. Cheap linen is loosely woven and shows everything underneath, which is why the tank isn't optional.
2. Oversized Striped Shirt Beach Cover-Up Outfit
Swimwear is the starting point here. A white bikini with small o-ring hardware sits under an oversized blue striped button-down, worn open, sleeves rolled twice, top buttons undone. High-cut bottoms matter more than people think, because they let some leg show below a long shirt hem and stop the whole thing looking like a nightshirt. I'd pick waterproof Birkenstock Arizona sandals in a pale oat shade over leather ones for this outfit, since leather footbeds stiffen and stain once they get soaked in salt water. A faded cap and a canvas tote cover the rest of a long day by the water.
3. Blue and White Striped Maxi Dress Summer Outfit
A blue and white striped maxi dress gets you the whole look in one piece. I look for sleeveless cotton gauze with a relaxed body; stretch jersey in a stripe clings and the lines warp over the hips. A side slit is worth having, because a full-length skirt without one shortens your stride on a beach path. Raffia wedge espadrilles add height, a straw top-handle bag keeps it neat, and a chunky tortoise headband holds hair off your face. When the sun drops, drape a light cream knit over your shoulders. I'd wear this to brunch or a baby shower without changing a thing.
4. Cream Knit Polo Sweater With Light Wash Jeans Outfit
Coastal mornings can start cool even in midsummer, and that's when I reach for a cream knit polo sweater. The collar keeps it preppy; the knit keeps it soft. Tuck only the front hem into light wash straight-leg jeans with a mid-rise and a slight ankle crop, so the sweater sits at the hip bone instead of swallowing it. Caramel leather slides, a woven basket bag with leather straps, a thin gold chain and tortoise sunglasses finish it. Cotton knit is my choice over wool here, because it doesn't trap heat once the afternoon warms up.
5. White Nap Dress Outfit With Pearl Necklace
The Hill House Home nap dress became almost a uniform for this look. A white cotton eyelet version with puffed sleeves and a smocked back bodice is easy to move in and still dressy enough for dinner by the water. The smocking is why it fits so many bodies: it stretches across the back instead of relying on a zip. Flat tan sandals that wrap the ankle, a single strand of pearls at the collarbone and a rattan crossbody keep it simple. I'd pull hair into a loose low bun so the puffed sleeves stay the focus. White eyelet does show sunscreen marks, so I put lotion on before dressing, not after.
6. Linen Co-Ord Set Outfit With Birkenstock Clogs
A sandy beige linen co-ord makes a long, unbroken column of color, and that's the reason matching sets flatter almost everyone. Here it's a boxy, slightly cropped button-up over high-waisted wide-leg trousers that just touch the floor. Cropped tops with high waists are a smart pairing; with a low-rise trouser the gap at the midriff shows. The shoes are Birkenstock Boston clogs in taupe suede, and I'd wear them on dry days only, because suede darkens and spots in sea spray. A wide raffia bucket hat, an oversized woven tote and chunky gold hoops are all it needs for a coastal road trip.
7. Breton Stripe Top With White Linen Shorts Outfit
Few pairings say summer by the sea faster than a classic Breton stripe top with white linen shorts. I like a knit boatneck in navy and cream with three-quarter sleeves, because the wide neckline shows the collarbone and balances the horizontal stripe across the chest. Tuck it loosely into high-waisted drawstring shorts. Cognac flat sandals with a small gold buckle, a straw market bag with colored tassels and a fine anklet keep it from looking like a sailor costume. A claw clip and minimal makeup suit the mood for a boardwalk ride.
8. Navy Cable Knit Sweater Over Shoulders Outfit
Wearing a sweater over the shoulders is a coastal granddaughter signature, and it's also the most practical way to carry a layer you'll need after sunset. Start with a white ribbed tank tucked into mid-thigh denim cutoffs. Lay a navy cable knit cotton sweater across your back and tie the sleeves once in front, loosely, with no arms through. The knot adds a little width at the shoulder, which balances wider hips. Closed-toe brown fisherman sandals are better than open ones if you're walking on a dock or sand at night. A sandy canvas tote and gold hoops complete it.
9. Blue Floral Maxi Tube Dress With Gold Jewelry Outfit
For a waterfront dinner or a summer birthday, a blue floral maxi tube dress is the dressiest outfit on this list. A strapless fitted bodice only works if it's actually fitted: I tell people to check that the top edge stays put when they lift both arms, because a loose tube bodice spends the night being hitched up. A blue floral print on white or cream keeps the coastal palette. Layer a few fine gold chains at different lengths, add slim bangles and flat strappy sandals in champagne or tan, and carry a small rattan clutch. Air-dried waves and a bit of bronzer are plenty.
10. Seersucker Two-Piece Set With Platform Espadrilles Outfit
Seersucker is my favorite fabric on this list for humid days. The puckered weave keeps most of the cloth off your skin, so air moves underneath it, and it doesn't need ironing. A pale blue and white set with a cropped sleeveless button-front top and high-waisted wide-leg shorts reads young without being cutesy. Platform espadrilles with ankle ties lengthen the leg, and a straw clutch and wide-brim hat pull it together. I'd wear this to a bridal shower or a daytime garden party.
11. White Babydoll Top With Striped Linen Shorts Outfit
A romantic white babydoll top next to blue and white striped linen shorts is all about contrast: the soft top, the crisp short. The empire waist and small puff sleeves give a vintage softness. Tucking it in fully gives a cleaner proportion, but if you're short-waisted, I'd leave it loose, since an empire line tucked in can make the torso look cut in half. Brown gladiator sandals and a natural raffia crossbody suit both versions. Drape a light blue cotton sweater over the shoulders for the morning market and keep it there for an afternoon under a beach umbrella.
12. Butter Yellow Tube Top With White Linen Pants Outfit
Butter yellow sits better in a coastal palette than you'd expect, because it's soft enough to read as a neutral next to white and sand. A fitted strapless tube top in that pale shade goes with crisp white high-waisted linen trousers, wide-leg and full-length. With flat sandals the hem should just skim the floor; any shorter and the leg line breaks. Tan braided leather sandals, an oversized straw tote with leather handles, a few gold rings and tortoise oval sunglasses are enough. Pale yellow can wash out very fair skin in bright midday sun, so if that's you, let the white trousers sit near your face instead.
13. Blue Striped Button-Down With White Jeans Outfit
This is the outfit I'd pack if I could only bring one for a coastal weekend. A blue and white striped button-down goes open over a white tank and tucks into white straight-leg cropped jeans that stop just above the ankle, which is the right length for flat sandals. Roll the sleeves twice and leave a few buttons undone at both ends. Tan suede fisherman sandals are comfortable all day and look a bit smarter than slides. A structured straw top-handle bag with gold hardware, a thin chain and big tortoise sunglasses carry it from a casual office to dinner.
14. Crochet Cover-Up Dress With Raffia Accessories Outfit
A knee-length crochet cover-up in ecru or soft sage works over a swimsuit and on its own. Choose a bikini in sand or olive so whatever shows through the open stitch looks intentional. Crochet does stretch when wet and can snag on wicker chairs, so I keep it for the walk and lunch, not the swim itself. Flat beaded sandals, stacked beaded bracelets, a wide raffia sun hat and a canvas tote finish it. To head to a waterfront lunch afterward, swap the bikini bottom for white linen shorts underneath.
15. White Eyelet Sundress With Wedge Sandals Outfit
An all-white eyelet sundress never looks dated. Look for a midi with a square neckline, thin adjustable straps and a gently tiered skirt; the tiers add swing, so the dress moves when you walk instead of hanging flat. Raffia wedges give height and still cope with cobblestones and sandy paths, which a thin heel won't. A pearl necklace with matching drops dresses it up, a natural straw clutch keeps it relaxed, and a light cream cardigan covers the evening chill. I'd wear it to a bridal shower or a graduation celebration.
16. Navy Knit Cardigan With Denim Shorts Outfit
A navy knit cardigan worn open over a white camisole is the easiest layer in this set. The navy reads nautical; the white keeps it summery. Longer denim shorts with a relaxed leg look more current than very short cutoffs, and they're more comfortable on a bike seat. Tobacco Birkenstock Arizona sandals, a woven raffia belt at the waist, a canvas bucket hat and a straw crossbody make it a full-day outfit. If the cardigan is cotton, it can go in a beach bag all day without creasing badly.
17. Linen-Blend Romper With Straw Hat Outfit
A linen-blend romper in sea foam green or powder blue is a one-piece outfit, but I always check the fit at the crotch before anything else. Rompers are cut for one torso length, and if yours is longer, the whole thing pulls when you sit. The blend helps here, because it softens linen's creasing. Look for a smocked waist, flutter sleeves and a relaxed short, with a self-tie belt for shape. Espadrille flatforms with ankle ties, a wide straw hat for sun and a small rattan crossbody are all you need to explore a coastal town on foot.
18. White Satin Slip Skirt With Blue Button-Down Outfit
For an evening version, pair a white satin bias-cut slip skirt with an oversized blue button-down tied at the waist. Bias-cut satin follows the body closely, so I'd choose one with a bit of weight; very thin satin shows every seam underneath and creases as soon as you sit. Tie the shirt into a soft front knot rather than tucking it, which gives the waist shape without adding bulk under the skirt. Thin black flat sandals, a shell-shaped gold pendant and a woven clutch are enough for a sunset dinner or a rooftop drink.
19. Blue and White Gingham Shorts With Oversized Sweater Outfit
Gingham has a picnic-blanket nostalgia that suits this look. Blue and white gingham shorts with a relaxed elastic waist go with a cream oversized knit sweater worn loose and untucked. The proportions only work if the shorts show below the sweater hem; if the knit covers them completely, it looks like you forgot your bottoms. White Adidas Sambas give it a sporty, younger edge. A mini canvas backpack and sporty oval sunglasses keep it practical for a coffee run or a morning at a seaside market.
20. White Linen Tiered Maxi Skirt With Blue Knit Tube Top Outfit
The last outfit is the softest one here. A white linen tiered maxi skirt swings when you walk, and a fitted blue knit tube top balances that volume with something close to the body. That contrast of fitted top and full skirt works on most shapes, though if you're petite, I'd make sure the skirt doesn't puddle on the ground, since a tiered hem dragging on sand looks heavy fast. Flat tan sandals, a fine gold anklet, a woven raffia tote and thin gold hoops complete it. Tie a light blue cotton sweater around your neck for an outdoor concert or a dinner under string lights.
What Sand, Wind and Salt Water Do to These Outfits
Pictures of coastal outfits are taken on calm days. Real beach towns have wind off the water, sand in everything and the odd spray of salt. A few things I've learned to plan around:
Hems and hats in the wind
Light maxi skirts and tiered dresses lift in a sea breeze. Cotton gauze and eyelet are heavier than chiffon and stay down better. Wide-brim straw hats need a chin strap or a hat that fits snugly at the crown; otherwise you'll spend the walk holding it on.
Shoes on sand and boardwalk
Flat sandals and fisherman styles are the most practical shoes in this list. Wedges and flatforms are fine on pavement, but they sink into soft sand. Rinse salt off leather straps with fresh water and let them dry out of direct sun, or they crack and fade.
Raffia and straw
Straw bags and hats go limp and lose their shape when soaked. If one gets wet, stuff it with a towel so it dries in shape. Keep sunscreen away from natural raffia too, since oily lotion stains it and the mark rarely comes out.
Pack the Linen, Keep the Wrinkles
You don't need a beach house to dress like this. You need linen that's been washed a few times, one oversized shirt, one knit to throw over your shoulders and a raffia bag. Most of the pieces here swap between outfits, so the striped shirt from the cover-up look works with the white jeans, and the cream knit works with nearly everything. Keep the palette to soft blues, sand, cream and the odd touch of butter yellow and it flatters most skin tones. Then wear it all summer, wrinkles and all.
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