Beach Cover-Ups Exposed

Each day while in Play del Carmen, I wore outfits that matched the energy of the city. Playa del Carmen is full of fashion with great handmade pieces, colours and inspiration.

One thing I am proud of is my high level of confidence. Now that I have lost over 20 pounds and it has made a difference in my love for swimsuits. Even though confidence runs through my veins, I am very picky when it comes to wearing swimsuits. They have to be perfect for my body shape and porportions. I mention porportions a lot but that is because it makes a major difference in your overall look and how great you look.

I have a trunk of swimsuits and I usually travel with each one for a max of five times prior to getting new ones. Sometimes they stretch out ( I don’t really take great care of my swimsuits), pill or just are not on trend anymore. The swimsuits that I took with me are relatively new and I felt great wearing them.

To add even more confidence when wearing a swimsuit, I love making simple cover-ups that make me feel like Carrie from Sex & the City 2. Things to think about when selecting a swimsuit cover-up:

• Does the cover-up cover the areas that you want to cover?
• Make sure the fabric is breezy and flows
• Get a flexible cover-up to transition from the beach to lunch or the dinner table
• Colour is important. Ensure that the cover-up compliments your swimsuit.
• The cover-up should have easy access meaning it should be easy to put on or take off

​The covers-ups I wore varied from day to day. On the first day I wore a Vegan leather fringe belt from Toni Clark Boutique in Toronto. The belt had so much movement and swayed when I walked. It was a cool alternative to the traditional beach cover-up. To cover my shoulders, I draped two yards of fabric for a more rustic elegant look.The swimsuit underneath was by a two piece by Bikini Village. In my hair I attached some gold gems at the beginning and ends of my braids to compliment my gold Gucci sandals. My sunnies are  by Celine.

​I also wore a black one piece with cutouts on the sides from ASOS. I bought this swimsuit a while ago and it has become my favorite. The material has also stayed in tact over the past 3 years. I made the cover-up using fabric from my friend Cherith B Designs. It was a simple design and I tied the two sides for a covered look and opened them up for a more… umm… attractive look. Ha! My turban is an old H&M scarf adorned with a vintage Chanel pin.

​My Hermes scarf is so versatile and can be used as an accessory or as a clothing piece. In Mexico I used it as a top, my bikini bottom was from H&M ( you can’t see it in the picture) and the gold cover-up was literally two yards of fabric that I draped to make a royal cover-up. To top off my queenie look, I wore a headdress from ASOS.

​TIP: Purchase two yards of fabric from your local fabric store and create your own cover- up by tying it at the front.

My poolside shoes were my favorite Gucci Slipper mules from the 2016 collection.
​Very comfy, practical and stunning.
 
Stay poolside ready with a cover-up, chunky heels, sunnies and fun accessories.
 
-MsChurchDress