Swimsuits & Cover-Ups: Cover-Ups: Skirts Are Replacing the Sarong This Spring

Every few years, beach style gets a reset. This spring, it’s happening through the cover-up skirt. After a decade of oversized linen shirts and predictable wrap sarongs, fashion’s attention has shifted toward pieces that blur the line between swimwear and ready-to-wear. You can see it in the sheer dressing movement that’s still dominating runways, in celebrity vacation wardrobes that look more editorial than practical, and in the growing obsession with clothes that work from poolside to dinner without requiring a full outfit change. That’s where cover-up skirts come in. The best ones don’t feel like beach accessories. They feel like the outfit. If your vacation mood is quiet luxury with a little saltwater thrown in, I’d start with the Stop And Stare Skirt from L*Space. The low-slung cream silhouette has that effortless ease everyone is trying to fake right now. Wear it over a black bikini, throw on a tank later, and suddenly you’re dressed for the entire day. Crochet is having another major moment, but not in the festival-core way it did a few years ago. Today’s version feels cleaner and more intentional. That’s why I keep coming back to the Sao Paulo Skirt from Camila Coelho. The open-weave cotton and side-tie construction feel equal parts beach cover-up and fashion piece. The nude version is equally good if you lean toward neutral resort dressing. Then there’s the sheer trend. And honestly, if you’re going to do it, commit. Norma Kamali‘s Flared Maxi Skirt in dark emerald delivers exactly the kind of drama that makes a simple swimsuit look intentional. It’s giving old-school jet-set glamour. Think oversized sunglasses, slicked-back hair, and a poolside entrance that doesn’t go unnoticed. For something more playful, I love the western-boho energy of the Bellemont Mini Skirt from Lovers and Friends. The bandana print feels perfectly timed with fashion’s ongoing fascination with Americana influences. Wear it over a simple triangle bikini and let the print do the talking. And then we have the after-dark options. superdown‘s Keva Wrap Maxi Skirt in metallic pink isn’t for a quiet afternoon by the pool. It’s for rooftop cocktails, beach clubs, and those vacations where dinner somehow turns into dancing at midnight. The bronze version catches light beautifully, while the black style feels sleek and slightly dangerous. Even Beach Riot, long known for making swimwear that looks good beyond the beach, fits naturally into this movement toward cover-ups that stand on their own. My take? Skip the basic sarong this season. The women with the best vacation style in Spring 2026 aren’t treating cover-ups like an afterthought. They’re building the entire look around them.