There's a precise moment, every summer, when you realise the swimsuit alone isn't enough. It's when you come out of the water and have to cross the beach club, when you move from the sunbed to the bar for an aperitivo, when the beach day slips into the evening and you don't feel like going home to change. In all these moments the cover-up isn't a detail: it's the piece that decides how you feel and how others see you.
For summer 2026 beachwear has taken centre stage. We're no longer talking about a scrap of fabric to drape over your shoulders, but a proper outfit system: openwork cover-ups, lace kimonos, chiffon sarongs, boho tunics and lamé co-ords worn from the sand to the aperitivo without missing a beat. At Dream Shop you'll find everything you need to build your own, with one eye on the budget and one on the style. In this guide we've picked the fifteen pieces we think are must-haves. Let's begin.
The openwork cover-up: the clever piece that solves everything
If you had to buy just one cover-up for the whole summer, I'd start here: the openwork model, lightweight, one size. It's the wildcard of beachwear, the one you slip into your bag in the morning without a second thought and that by the end of the day turns out to be the most-worn piece of all. The open weave lets the air through, dries in a moment over a wet swimsuit and creates that play of transparency that instantly says holiday, without ever looking vulgar.
The beauty of openwork is its versatility with colour: cream white lights up your tan, black slims and adds a more sophisticated touch, sandy tones go with any bikini you have in your drawer. Wear it over a solid-colour two-piece for a clean look, or leave it open like a shirt over shorts for the evening stroll along the seafront.
Openwork Beach Dress
One size, open weave, a soft fit that falls well on every silhouette. It's the "no more thinking about it" cover-up: it goes over everything and works anywhere, from the free beach to the chic beach club.
Pair it with your favourite bikini and you're ready in three seconds. The classic piece you'll wear more than you imagine.
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Lace and crochet: the boho-chic soul of the summer
If there's one trend that dominates summer 2026 it's boho: embroidered lace, crochet, gypsy details and that whole world of artisan weaves that smell of Formentera and long sunsets. The lace or crochet cover-up is the most immediate translation of this imagery, and it has a huge advantage: it turns even the simplest bikini into an outfit that looks carefully put together.
White is the absolute king of this category. On amber skin it creates a luminous contrast that photos adore, and it lends itself to a thousand uses: open over your swimsuit on the beach, cinched with a belt as a mini dress for aperitivo, paired with jewelled sandals and a straw bag for the evening market look. It's the piece that, on its own, says "I'm on holiday and I feel wonderful".
Baleari Cover-up
Tulle and white lace, a wide floaty silhouette, that gypsy romance that never goes out of fashion. It's the piece to wear when you want the beach to become a photo set.
Perfect over a solid-colour bikini or, why not, a jewelled bikini to raise the level of sparkle even further.
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Tulle, polka dots and sheer fabrics: the peek-a-boo that makes the difference
There's an art to covering up while showing just enough, and tulle masters it better than any other fabric. The sheer tulle cover-up is the most sensual piece in the beach wardrobe precisely because it doesn't reveal: it suggests. It plays with the light, lets you glimpse the swimsuit underneath and creates that soft, light effect that becomes pure elegance in movement.
The long models are the most dramatic: they fall to the ankle, move with the wind and lengthen the figure like few other pieces can. The details — ruching ties, appliqué polka dots, frills — add character without weighing things down. It's the perfect category for anyone who wants to feel elegant even barefoot on the sand, and for anyone who doesn't want to give up glamour just because they're on holiday.
Ribi Tulle Cover-up
Sheer tulle with ties that let you ruche and adjust the length: wear it long and soft on the beach, ruche it shorter for the evening. Two pieces in one.
The movement of the fabric does all the work: light, feminine, photogenic. A small style investment that gets noticed.
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The kimono: from the beach to aperitivo without changing
If you're looking for the most strategic piece of all, it's the kimono. Its genius lies in its double life: by day it's a fluid, cool cover-up, by evening it becomes a light jacket to throw over a top and trousers. With a kimono in your beach bag you've already sorted the aperitivo outfit, and that, when you're on holiday, is worth its weight in gold.
The floral satin versions have an oriental elegance that redeems any basic look, while the embroidered lace models with fringing lead straight into gypsy-chic territory, that of barefoot evenings and beach bonfires. The bell sleeve is the detail that makes them special: it gives movement, gracefully covers the arms and creates a theatrical silhouette the moment you rise from the sunbed.
Flowergreen Kimono
Floral satin, bell sleeve, that soft drape that instantly says riviera. It's the piece you wear over your bikini at noon and keep on until the evening glass of wine.
Knot it at the waist to define the silhouette, or leave it open and fluid: either way, you win.
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Sarongs, lamé and co-ords: the glamour that lights up the evening
When the sun goes down and the beach turns into a dance floor, it's time for the boldest pieces. The sarong remains the timeless classic — knot it at the waist as a skirt, across the chest as a mini dress, on the hips for a casual outing — but summer 2026 reinvents it with fabrics that catch the light: fringed lamé, printed chiffon, bikini-sarong co-ords that take away the worry of matching.
The secret of co-ords is exactly this: they give you a finished look with no effort. Swimsuit and cover-up designed to go together, same prints, same tones, zero risk of clashing. It's the smart choice for anyone who wants to look put together even after eight hours of sun, salt and wind. You'll find the whole selection in the swimwear and bikinis collection at Dream Shop.
Taghy Lamé Cover-up
Shimmering lamé with fringing in motion: the piece that catches every ray of sunset and every glance. Sheer just enough to steal the show without overdoing it.
Over a dark bikini it's pure magic. The perfect piece for the beach party you hadn't planned but where you'll be the most beautiful.
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Frequently asked questions about beach cover-ups
What is the most versatile cover-up for summer 2026?
The most versatile model is the openwork one-size cover-up, like the Beach Dress by Dream Shop: lightweight, it dries quickly over a wet swimsuit and pairs with any bikini. Alternatively, the kimono is the most strategic option because it goes from the beach to aperitivo with no need to change.
How do you style a white lace cover-up?
White lace, like that of the Baleari Cover-up, is at its best on tanned skin. Wear it open over a solid-colour bikini for a clean look, or closed with a belt as an aperitivo mini dress, finishing with jewelled sandals and straw accessories for a boho-chic effect.
What's the difference between a cover-up, a kimono and a sarong?
The cover-up is an already-structured piece (tunic, dress or smock) that you slip over your swimsuit. The kimono is an open jacket with a fluid sleeve, ideal for going from day to evening. The sarong is a length of fabric to knot in different ways: skirt, mini dress or hip wrap. You'll find all three in the swimwear and bikinis collection.
Is there a cover-up suitable for the evening too?
Yes: for the evening choose fabrics that catch the light, like the fringed lamé of the Taghy Cover-up or the long tulle models with a sheer effect. Worn over a dark bikini, they become real mini dresses for a beach party.
How much is shipping at Dream Shop and how can I pay?
At Dream Shop shipping is free for orders over €100. You can also pay in three interest-free instalments with Klarna, so you can complete your beach wardrobe in total comfort.
Is the tulle cover-up see-through? Does it show too much?
Tulle has a carefully designed sheer effect: it hints at the swimsuit underneath without revealing, creating an elegant play of transparency. Models like the Ribi Cover-up have ties to ruche the fabric and adjust its length and coverage as you like.
Build your beach look
Cover-ups, kimonos, sarongs and co-ords: all the summer 2026 beachwear awaits you at Dream Shop. Free shipping over €100 and payment in 3 instalments with Klarna.
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