You walk through the gate. The sun is already high. There is a row of sunbeds facing the water, a bar behind you with proper glasses on it, and a lunch menu that expects you to stay. The music is low. The service is quiet. Everyone around you looks like they made an effort without trying too hard.
The beach club is a particular kind of setting. More curated than a public beach. Less formal than a restaurant. The dress code is almost never written down, but it is enforced by the atmosphere itself. Get it wrong and you will feel it immediately.
Start With the Swim Shorts
Everything else builds from here. At a beach club, your swim shorts are not just functional. They are the base of the outfit you will wear for the next five hours, from the pool to the sunbed to the bar. The right pair should work in the water and out of it, without a change in between. That means a tailored cut, a flat waistband that sits cleanly, and a fabric that dries in the air rather than staying damp until sunset.
Stick to solid colours or clean, classic stripes. Strong graphic prints read as resort-casual at best, and tourist at worst. A well-chosen solid navy or a fine two-colour stripe will hold its own from mid-morning through aperitivo without drawing attention for the wrong reasons.
The Cover-Up Layer
Between the sunbed and the bar, you want one layer. A linen shirt left open is the most universal: light, easy, and it dresses up a simple swim short immediately. A lightweight polo works equally well if the sun is high and you want something with buttons. Skip the hoodie. Skip the technical rashguard once you are out of the water. Skip anything that signals you got dressed in a rush.
Colour matters here. A navy swim short takes a white or pale blue linen shirt well. An earthy stripe pairs naturally with washed-out cream or olive. The outfit should read as intentional, not coordinated to the point where it looks like you planned it the night before. One thought, not a theme.
Footwear
Simple leather sandals for anything above the sunbed level. Canvas espadrilles if the club has a proper restaurant terrace. Good-quality rubber or EVA sandals at the water's edge. No flip-flops with logos, no running shoes. If you are staying through dinner, a clean pair of white leather sneakers can bridge the gap between afternoon and evening without a full outfit change.
The Finishing Details
Sunglasses are part of the outfit at a beach club, not an afterthought. A classic frame in tortoiseshell or matte black. A cap if the sun demands it, but only if it is plain and structured in a neutral tone. A watch if you wear one. That is enough. The goal at a beach club is to look like you belong there, not like you planned a photoshoot.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to bring a change of clothes to a beach club?
Not necessarily. A well-made swim short in a clean cut, paired with a linen shirt and leather sandals, is entirely appropriate for lunch and afternoon drinks at most beach clubs. If the venue has a formal dinner service, light trousers will usually be expected after sundown.
What colour swim shorts work best at a beach club?
Solid, muted tones work everywhere: navy, sand, olive, chocolate. Classic two-colour stripes read as polished rather than loud. Avoid large graphic prints or neon tones unless the club specifically skews towards a party atmosphere, in which case the dress expectations are more relaxed anyway.
What is the difference between a beach club and a regular beach?
A beach club provides curated sunbeds, food and drink service, often a pool and bar area, and sometimes a restaurant. The atmosphere is more controlled than a public beach, which means the unspoken expectation around dress and presentation is higher. Think of it as outdoor hospitality rather than a day at the beach.
For the swim shorts part of the equation: the Monaco Blue and Monaco Mocha for solid colours, the Portofino Blue and Portofino Green for stripes. Each one designed to go the full distance of the day. Worn CHIC. Everywhere.