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Cute Cover-Ups for Formal

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Vanderbilt chapter.

Formal is next weekend, and if you’re like me, you’ve spent a decent amount of time looking for bathing suits that stand out and fit your personality. However, in doing so, we often forget all about the cover-up situation and end up wearing oversized frat tanks both days. 

If you like that look, go ahead and rock it again. But if you’re looking for some more creative cover-up ideas, I’ve got you covered- literally! Just pick your vibe for formal and select your cover-up solution accordingly. Problem solved! 

Classic: Button-Down 

I learned about this look from the ever-classy Lauren Conrad. She’s a big believer in pairing a classic, neutral bikini with an oversized button-down and big sunglasses. Just take a look at the pic above- she might be randomly carrying a lacrosse stick, but I think shse looks cute, casual, and flirty in a classy way, everything that a girl should strive to be! If you have selected bathing suits in preppy prints (think Lilly and J.Crew) or solid colors, a button-down will fit your vibe perfectly. They look best if you can find a guy’s, but any oversized women’s button-down will do. Just pair it with Ray-Bans and flip flops for the perfect classy look! 

Fun- Crop Top and Shorts 

If you’re trying to look fun and approachable next weekend, rock a colorful crop top with basic white shorts. This look works especially well if you have bikinis in busy, graphic prints, because a neon crop top makes any printed bathing suit look that much more exciting! Victoria’s Secret has a ton of crop tops in just about every color, so either place an order online or just head to the store in Green Hills! The top pictured is one of their many adorable Muscle Tanks- some even have lace detailing! The best thing about this look is that you can keep the crop top on while you’re at the beach, so if you need coverage, you won’t look too conservative wearing a shirt in all the formal pics. 

Boho- Easy, Breezy Dress 

This is for all you girls who have mastered the beachy boho look. Whether you’re wearing a printed bikini or a neon one at formal, a breezy dress will always complete your look. Roxy has a ton, and they’re even cooler now that they’ve paired up with DVF! I love the Roxy Petal 2 Dress, but feel free to shop Free People or other such stores. Beachy dresses are pretty easy to find and very wearable, so this is a great option if you’re low-maintenance! 

Pretty- Tank and a Skirt 

Nothing works better for a girly girl than a skirt, and cover-ups are no exception. If your bathing suit has ruffles or is a shade of pastel, think about wearing a loose miniskirt and a basic tank. I personally have a white skirt with polka dots from Lilly that I absolutely LOVE, and whenever I wear it with a bathing suit, I feel prettier than everyone else on the beach. The tank just adds a little sex appeal, which you’ll need at formal! The skirt pictured above is the Zoe from Abercrombie and Fitch. 

Hopefully, seeing all of these cute cover-ups has convinced you to ditch the frat tanks this formal. But whatever you’re wearing, remember to rock it with confidence! You’ll never look hot in your formal pics if you’re visibly self-conscious!!! 

Stacey Oswald, originally from South Florida, came to Vanderbilt as a member of the class of 2015 and got involved with HerCampus her freshman year. She became assistant editor that year and is now the Campus Correspondent for Vanderbilt HC as a sophomore. Stacey is currently a columnist for Ask Miss A- Nashville and the life section of The Hustler. She's also very involved in her sorority, Kappa Delta, as well as Invisible Children. Outside of school and her extracurriculars, Stacey finds happiness in many sources, the most crucial being exercise and the sun. She loves to attend exercise classes and is an avid runner; she recently completed the Country Music Half Marathon. She also loves Vitamin D, especially when on the beach- though of course, she only soaks up the sun after applying SPF. A few of the things Stacey couldn't live without? Good food (especially from Sweet Cece's, Bricktops, and Samurai Sushi), great books (The Hypnotist's Love Story is a recent favorite), her family back in Florida, her wonderful boyfriend, and all of the great friends she's made at Vanderbilt.