Beach cover-ups: The holiday essential you shouldn't be without

Now that we're feeling the summer vibes, it's time to start prepping for that all-important holiday wardrobe, starting with the humble beach cover-up...

A good beach cover-up really is your holiday hero. Not only do they take up minimal room in your suitcase, but the humble cover-up is so versatile it can move smoothly from beach-to-bar with very little styling.

All the more reason to invest heavily in the trend.

A classic white playsuit is a versatile piece to take away with you. When it comes to choosing the right cut, we say bigger is better. There's nothing worse than feeling uncomfortable in tight clothing when the weather's warm, and a roomy style will be ideal for throwing on over any style of bikini or swimsuit.

You really can't go far wrong with a kaftan and at the moment we're loving paying homage to the 70s by going for burnt orange tones and muted yellow shades. We'll be wearing ours with a string bikini, gladiator sandals and a pair of oversized shades.

When it comes to choosing cover-ups, dresses, skirts and shirts aren't your only option. A bright all-in-one will look just as chic and can be transformed for cocktails with leg-lengthening platform shoes and a few delicate gold pieces of jewellery.

We'd recommend an off-the-shoulder dress for anyone feeling a little self-conscious.

Tempted to opt for a black, khaki or navy blue? Cool neutral colours will last a lifetime, but we'd also suggest looking to punchy tropical prints to inject a shot of new-season cool into your beach look.

From standout designer styles to purse-friendly pieces guaranteed to liven-up your suitcase - we've got the best buys for your holiday in our round-up of beach cover-ups.