A cotton sundress works for both.

That’s the move. A simple cotton or linen sundress—nothing too fancy, no sheer panels—goes straight from the beach to the cafe without looking like you forgot to change.

The key is fabric. You want something that doesn’t cling when wet (no jersey-knit nightmares) and doesn’t look like a glorified towel. A-line or shift dresses in cotton, linen, or a linen-cotton blend hide the swimsuit lines and breathe in the heat. Bonus: they pack flat and wrinkles look intentional.

If you’re not a dress person, an oversized linen button-up over shorts works the same way. But that feels more “I just got out of the pool” than “I’m running a quick errand.” The sundress is cleaner.

Past you will thank present you when you’re grabbing coffee and don’t look like a wet towel.