An oversized linen button-down is the best beach cover-up.

It is.

A linen shirt (men’s or women’s, doesn’t matter) does everything a flimsy mesh cover-up or a tied sarong tries to do, but better. You can wear it open over a bikini, button it up as a dress over a one-piece, or tie it at the waist for shape. It looks intentional, not like you forgot a towel.

Kaftans are fine if you’re lounging by a pool in Ibiza, but they billow weirdly in the wind and make you look like a lampshade. Sarongs require tying, untie at the worst moments, and never stay put. A linen shirt is just a shirt. It’s breathable, dries fast, and you can actually wear it to lunch without looking like you’re still on the beach.

Get one in white, beige, or a muted stripe. The slightly rumpled look is part of the charm. Skip the “beach cover-up” aisle entirely.