The list runs from swim shorts and swim briefs to a white shirt with linen trousers, and what you plan to do that day picks the outfit.
White shirts and white shorts show sand and sunscreen fast, so I’d save them for strolls and dinners and put the sandy hours in swim shorts or looser, darker pieces.
1. Swim Shorts
Fit decides whether swim trunks look sharp or sloppy. A drawstring waist lets you dial in the hold so they stay put without digging in, and the hem should land near the knee or just above it.
Bright ombre trunks like these carry the whole outfit, so I’d keep everything else plain: a white tee or nothing at all. Loud color works best on a shorter, cleaner cut.
2. Beach Bag
A canvas tote beats a leather backpack at the beach, because sand brushes off it, damp towels won’t stain it, and a cream-and-green one stays light in the sun.
Sand, water and sunscreen will wreck anything precious, so bring a bag you don’t mind scuffing.
Pick a large, open-top canvas style in a color that matches your shorts or cap.
It fits a towel, and it can be shaken out afterward. A grocery-store tote like this one does the job fine.
3. Beach Pants
Loose white drawstring pants make a good case for covering up at the beach. They keep the sun off your legs and still read as relaxed, especially with slide sandals and a simple top.
I’d keep the top fitted or sleeveless so the outfit doesn’t become a wall of fabric. A striped knit vest against white pants is a clean contrast, and the look depends on the pants staying light.
4. The Sunglasses
Sunglasses matter most on a bright day, when squinting ruins every other part of the outfit. Round frames, like the pair here, soften a face and work with a bare chest, denim shorts or a printed shirt.
Choose one pair you like and wear it often. A simple frame in black or tortoise goes with nearly everything, so you won’t have to think about it each morning.
5. Leather Sandals
Leather sandals in tan, black, olive or blue all work on sand, and I’d start with tan or black because they match nearly anything. Olive and blue are good second pairs once you want some color.
Choose a simple strap design over anything bulky. Leather looks better than rubber with shorts or linen, though it’s not something to wear into the surf.
Fisherman sandals are about as hot in fashion circles as they’ve ever been, and they look as good anchoring casual beach outfits as they do dressed up with a crisp summer suit.
— GQ
6. Textured Shirt with White Shorts
A dark waffle-textured shirt over off-white drawstring shorts is a pairing I’d copy for a beach club. The dark top gives the pale shorts something to push against, and the texture adds interest without any pattern.
Keep the shorts trim, not baggy, and the shirt untucked at a short length.
Add sunglasses and you’re done. Off-white shows stains quickly, so I’d skip it for a sandy day.
7. Light Blue Button-Down Shirt
A light blue button-down worn open over dark trousers is an easy way to dress a beach at sunset. Leave it unbuttoned and let the front hang loose, which keeps it relaxed instead of office-bound.
Roll the sleeves to the forearm and pick a shirt with some wear in the fabric.
Pale blue against dark pants gives a clean contrast, and sunglasses finish it. I’d skip it for time in the water; it suits the walk before dinner.
8. White Shirt and Linen Trousers
Matching tones do the work here: an off-white short-sleeve shirt with beige linen trousers reads calm and expensive without any pattern. Keep both pieces in the same pale family and add sunglasses.
Linen creases, and I’d let it. Wrinkles are part of the look.
Go barefoot on the sand, or wear plain leather sandals when you’re walking farther. Choose a trouser cut that’s loose but not wide, so it doesn’t drag in the sand.
9. Swim Briefs
Swim briefs are the boldest choice in beach style, and a fitted, colorful pair suits a confident wearer at a pool deck or an open beach. Skip the shirt, keep accessories minimal, and let the print speak.
Fit matters more than color here.
Choose a snug waistband that stays put and a cut that doesn’t ride up. If briefs feel like too much, the trunks in entry 1 are the safer choice.
10. Mesh Tank Top and Fedora
Olive mesh tank, khaki shorts and a tan fedora make a coordinated outfit built from earth tones. Because the colors are quiet, a necklace is enough extra.
Mesh breathes well on a hot day, though it shows skin, so I’d wear it only where you’re comfortable with that.
A fedora with a brim shades the face better than a cap does. Keep the shorts plain, and the hat becomes the focus.
11. Embroidered Camp Collar Shirt
A white short-sleeved camp collar shirt with embroidered starfish and palm trees carries the pattern in stitching rather than print, which looks more refined up close. The open collar lies flat and needs no tie or tuck.
Wear it untucked with plain shorts in a solid color, so the embroidery stays the focus. White shows sunscreen and sand, so I’d save it for dinners and strolls instead of a day of lying on the sand.
Choosing Fabrics
Linen is the fabric I’d build a beach wardrobe around. Linen-blend and quick-dry cotton shed water fast, move air across your skin, and hold their shape through a full afternoon in the sun.
Tencel is the one to try if linen feels scratchy to you. It’s a biodegradable fiber made from wood pulp, it feels like silk, and it breathes well.
Cotton is the easy everyday option, but it holds water longer than either of those. Swimwear especially shouldn’t feel heavy or stay wet, so pick pieces that dry quickly.
If you own two beach shirts, make one a linen button-up. A retro-style knit, a breezy polo or a short-sleeved printed button-up can be the second.
Avoiding Overthinking
A single pair of well-made swim trunks, a light shirt that breathes, and clean shoes or sandals cover almost every beach day. That is a complete beach outfit.
Balance keeps it from looking like effort. If the shorts are the loud piece, go cleaner on top.
A few good shirts, versatile pants and relaxed-fit pieces that mix and match will cover most summer days. Rotate them through the season.
Color Coordination
Match a shirt and shorts in colors that sit well together, such as sage with sand, and the whole look comes across as a single decision rather than two.
Start with the louder piece and let the other one support it. A patterned shirt wants a solid short in one of its quieter shades; a bold short wants a plain shirt.
2 pieces is enough. Add a third color only through a small item like a cap or sunglasses, and keep it close to the other two.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should a guy wear to the beach?
Start with a pair of swim trunks with a drawstring waist and a hem near the knee, then add a light shirt in linen or quick-dry cotton and leather sandals in tan or black.
Keep one piece loud and the rest plain, so the outfit looks like one decision. Sunglasses finish it.
What is coastal chic for a man?
It is a relaxed, light-toned look built on breathable fabric, with linen leading. Picture an off-white camp-collar shirt over beige linen trousers a shade or two darker, then add sunglasses and stop there.
Creases in the linen are part of the look, and your feet can stay bare or go into flat leather sandals.
What fabric is best for men’s beach clothes?
My pick for the base of a beach wardrobe is linen, with linen blends and quick-dry cotton close behind.
Each one dries quickly, lets air through to your skin and keeps its shape from the first swim to the last hours of sun.
If linen feels scratchy, Tencel feels like silk and breathes well, while plain cotton holds water longer.
