Coastal Style Guide: How to Get the Relaxed Seaside Look
Coastal style is soft, breezy and sun-washed: linen, stripes and easy neutrals in a relaxed, elegant palette. Here is how to build a coastal wardrobe you can wear far beyond the beach.
Coastal style is the wardrobe equivalent of a deep breath by the sea: soft, light, unhurried and quietly elegant. It had a major moment as the "coastal grandmother" aesthetic, all linen shirts and cashmere draped over shoulders, but the look itself is timeless and far more wearable than a trend name suggests. Best of all, it is comfortable, forgiving and easy to build, which makes it a favourite for warm weather and relaxed living alike.
Here is how to capture coastal style properly, the fabrics, the palette and the pieces, and how to wear it well beyond a beach holiday.
The feeling: relaxed, natural elegance
At its heart, coastal style is about ease. Nothing is tight, fussy or high-maintenance. Fabrics are natural and breathable, silhouettes are loose and comfortable, and the overall impression is of someone who is effortlessly at home and unbothered by the heat. It shares the restraint of Parisian style and the natural-fabric focus of quiet luxury, but with a softer, warmer, more relaxed attitude.
The fabrics: natural and breathable
If coastal style has a secret, it is fabric. Linen is the hero: it breathes, drapes beautifully and looks better slightly crumpled, which takes all the pressure off. Cotton, light knits and the occasional silk round out the palette. Steer clear of heavy synthetics, which trap heat and read as stiff. Because natural fabrics are central to the look, caring for them well really pays off, and our guide to making clothes last covers exactly how.
Linen wrinkles, and that is the point. A few soft creases are part of coastal style's relaxed charm, so you can skip the iron. If you prefer a smoother finish, a quick steam relaxes the fabric without flattening its natural texture.
The palette: soft and sun-washed
Coastal colours are the shades of a calm beach on a bright day.
| Colour | Where to use it |
|---|---|
| Crisp white | Shirts, dresses, trousers |
| Cream and sand | Knits, linen separates |
| Soft blue | Shirts, stripes, accents |
| Navy | Anchoring pieces, stripes |
| Natural tan / straw | Bags, shoes, hats |
Breton stripes in navy or blue on white are the one "pattern" that is practically mandatory, and they mix with everything. It is a naturally neutral palette, which makes it easy to coordinate; if you want to tailor it to your colouring, a colour season analysis helps you pick your best whites and blues.
The key pieces
- Linen shirt: the coastal cornerstone, worn open over a tee or buttoned with trousers.
- Wide linen or cotton trousers: breezy, elegant and endlessly comfortable.
- Breton striped top: the effortless classic that goes with everything.
- Easy knit or cardigan: for cooler evenings, often draped over the shoulders.
- A simple white or linen dress: a whole outfit in one breezy piece.
- Espadrilles, flat sandals and a straw bag: the finishing accessories.
How to wear it beyond the beach
Coastal style is not just for holidays. The trick to wearing it year-round is layering and a shift toward the cosier "coastal grandmother" end of the spectrum. In cooler weather, add chunky knits, longer linen layers, a tailored coat and closed shoes, keeping the soft palette and natural fabrics. A cream cashmere jumper over a white shirt with wide trousers is pure coastal, and perfectly office-appropriate.
Love the coastal look? Explore it alongside eleven other wardrobe aesthetics, each with signature pieces and a palette, in our Style Edit.
See Coastal in the Style EditHow to build a coastal capsule
- Start with linen and cotton in white, cream and soft blue.
- Add a Breton top and a simple dress for instant outfits.
- Layer with easy knits for cooler days and evenings.
- Finish with natural accessories: straw, tan leather, flat sandals.
- Invest in quality natural fabrics and care for them well so they last.
Because the palette is so cohesive, a coastal wardrobe is a natural fit for the capsule method: a handful of breezy, coordinating pieces that mix into a whole relaxed summer.
The bottom line
Coastal style proves that relaxed and elegant are not opposites. Build it on natural fabrics, a soft sun-washed palette and easy, comfortable silhouettes, layer it up for cooler weather, and you will have a wardrobe that feels like a holiday and works all year. Breezy, forgiving and quietly beautiful, it is one of the most livable looks there is.
Frequently asked questions
What is coastal style?
Coastal style is a relaxed, elegant aesthetic inspired by seaside living: light natural fabrics like linen and cotton, a soft palette of white, cream, sand and blue, and easy, breezy silhouettes. The coastal grandmother trend is a cosier, layered version of the same idea.
What fabrics are best for coastal style?
Natural, breathable fabrics are key: linen, cotton, light knits and the occasional silk. They drape beautifully, keep you cool and give the relaxed, lived-in look that defines the aesthetic.
What colours are coastal style?
A soft, sun-washed palette: crisp white, cream, sand and beige, soft blue and navy, with classic Breton stripes. Think of the colours of a calm beach on a bright day.