Men’s Beach Outfits: 21 Surefire Ways to Dress for the Beach

It's June and it's sunny out. Do we really need much more of an excuse than that to round up some of the best men's beach outfits of all time and dole out a few helpful style tips to get you looking your absolute best sur la plage this summer? Didn't think so.

Proportions Are Everything

Steve McQueen, 1968

A great pair of shades and Faye Dunaway by your side doesn't hurt, but what makes this look from The Thomas Crown Affair so timeless is the interplay between the long sleeves of McQueen's rumpled creamsicle shirt and the thigh-baring inseam of his shorts.

Freak It

A$AP Rocky, 2022

It's summertime and the livin’ is easy. The sand is soft beneath your feet. The ocean is shimmering before you. If you can't let loose and wild out sartorially now, when can you? Follow our guy Rocky's lead and lean hard into searing neons, clashing patterns, and metallic kicks.

Don't Forget to Accessorize

John F. Kennedy Jr., 1980

When you're wearing as little as John-John is here, every detail counts. The tiny trunks do plenty of talking, but it's the tooth necklace (and, frankly, the pack of cigs tucked in his waistband) that really makes this look iconic.

Take Your Ticker for a Dip

Shawn Mendes, 2023

Speaking of accessories: That real-deal dive watch you're so proud of? Let it fulfill its intended purpose. Wearing your timepiece beneath the depths is an especially sick flex if, like Mr. Mendes here, you match the band of your Patek Philippe Aquanaut to your trunks.

Stripe With Abandon

Jackie Chan, 1984

Breton stripes are never not effortlessly cool—and that goes double anytime you happen to be near a body of water.

Stay Chic

Mick Jagger, 1987

The beach is meant to be relaxing, sure. That doesn't mean your clothes always need to be relaxed too. Jagger's graceful pleated trousers and pressed shirt cut a sharp figure, but they don't feel the least bit out of place as he strides across the dunes.

Expose Your Toes

Andre Agassi, 1996

There's plenty to love about (and steal from) this Andre Agassi ensemble. The tucked-in linen shirt! The pleated jorts! The beeper!!! We're gonna zero in on the Grand Slam winner's choice of footwear as the key to the whole thing, though. 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.

Camp Out

Jay-Z, 2020

They're called “vacation shirts” for a reason. Louche, laid-back, camp-collared button-ups have been in again for a minute now, which means there are plenty of options—like Jay-Z's smart plaid Bode shirt here—that run a little subtler and more tasteful than your average thrift-store Hawaiian joint.

Suit Up

Jay-Z, 2018

Yup, two Jay-Z looks in a row. Turns out, when you're the greatest rapper of all time and also a billionaire you wind up with a lot of stellar vacation photos. Another side effect of dashing off to tropical locales as often as the Carters do? You master galaxy-brain moves like wearing a suit on the sand. Sure, you can always pull off an airy linen number at a beach wedding. But what Hov is doing here is way, way more striking—kicking back with a stogie in a fiery red two-piece with no shirt underneath is a hall-of-fame maneuver. If you're gonna pack a suit on your weekend getaway, make sure it's one like this: designed for popping bottles, not the boardroom.

Play Ball

Julio Iglesias, 1980

There's something that just feels right about a sports jersey at the beach. Maybe it's an old-school football pullover like Julio's, maybe it's a splashy hoops uniform, maybe it's a blokecore-embracing soccer kit. Doesn't hurt if you actually bring a pigskin to toss around, either.

Embrace Layers

Ethan Hawke, 2022

One of the biggest misconceptions about getting dressed in the warmer months is that layering is no longer an option. But a simple tee or tank under a vibey button-up—as the ever-stylish Ethan Hawke exhibits here, decades after downright perfecting the look in Reality Bites—gives you plenty of flexibility and versatility for a long day in the sun.

Really Embrace Layers

George Harrison, 1976

Who says you can't hit the beach on a blustery November morning? The thinking person's favorite Beatle understands that no matter the temperature, there are few better places for getting off an epic fit.

Go All-In on Alabaster

Bruce Willis, 1986

OK, so Bruce is backstage at the Emmys and nowhere near the ocean here. But this elegant, all-white-everything kit—with a slouchy, wide silhouette that still feels fresh in 2024—was too beachy and beautiful not to share anyway.

Khakis? Khakis!

Sean Connery, 1962

We're not saying they should replace your nylon board shorts all the time, of course. In a pinch, though, when you're strolling by the shore and decide you really need to take a plunge? A hardy pair of rolled-up chinos works—and looks!—mighty fine.

Let Loose

Justin Bieber, 2021

When it's soupy out, the last thing you want is a tight shirt sticking to your torso like saran wrap. The Biebs, of course, is no stranger to jumbo-sized ensembles, but his billowy agenda especially makes sense seaside.

Bring a Sweater

Paul Newman, 1958

Even in the dead of summer, it can get pretty chilly down by the ocean at night. And, as my pal Amelia recently put it, there's nothing like wearing a sweater on the beach for feeling like you've been swept up into a swoony Nicholas Sparks novel.

Provide Your Own Shade

Russell Westbrook, 2023

As far as maximizing vibes and sun protection is concerned, you can't beat a good bucket hat.

Tie One On

Matthew McConaughey, 2006

Not really a hat guy? A well-deployed bandana might not offer the same level of cover from the rays, but it sure does look pretty rad.

Pull On a Tank

Robin Williams, 1995

A wife pleaser with a whole whack of dangly chains (and maybe a trim tuft of chest hair)? Yes, thank you, more please.

Keep It Simple

Steve McQueen, 1973

One more McQueen photo just to keep the moodboards fed and happy. This is a great lesson in not overthinking things. A flattering navy tee, a great pair of cutoff jeans, and a hell of a watch—that's all you really need to dress like an absolute king.

Just Have Fun

Denzel Washington, 2006

That's what the beach is about, isn't it? Even on a blustery fall day you can still have a damn good time out there, as Denzel, his excellent leather trench, and his extremely good boy prove here.

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