You've received some great advice here. I like the idea of floaty, breezy fabrics. Be careful of a wrap skirt in the wind! I think a long maxi skirt or linen pants would be a better choice. Lots of good shoe advice too. I actually hate wearing shoes on the beach, even sandals. Sand always gets in them and I hate that feeling.

Like the Season, those are excellent suggestions. EF styles and fabrics are mostly natural, easy and breezy. Thank you.
Sara, I know what you mean about the beach and shoes. My ankles still burn in the shower from sand in Hawaii months ago.

Another beachwear story: Back when DH's Big 8 CPA firm merged with another Big 8 firm, they had the partner meeting in Ft. Lauderdale. Dress for dinner one night was specified as Beach Casual.

So DH put on his Hawaiian shirt and shorts and went to to the beach area. There he learned that on the East Coast, Beach means a blazer and white or light pants, no tie. Having grown up in Southern California, he refused to change, insisting HIS version was the true beach casual.

He says all evening guys were giving him drink orders as though he were the waiter.

Nevertheless, he was successful in the new, merged firm.

Great story, MsMaven. It proves that beach wear is different at different locations. Complicated.

I live a quarter mile from the ocean in an arty east coast tourist town. I’m including a photo of my “beachiest” jewelry accessories.

ETA:probably 80% of my lightweight scarves (silk, linen, rayon, cotton etc.) are beach. It’s nearly always windy here, unless it’s so muggy that I still want a scarf to keep sun off my neck and mop up sweat.... scarves are pretty much essential for beach clothing.

Wow MsMaven what a great story! As in NZ there is a big SoCal influence from the GIs coming to NZ during the Pacific War WW2 and then songs by the Beach Boys etc... I'm with your DH! We are also in the Pacific and in Tonga, Samoa, Cook Islands etc those bright floral shirts and wraps are de riguer.
Blazers at the beach?- don't think so!

Are you close enough to your niece to suggest she elope? Dress code problem solved.

I loved reading your replies this morning, 3stylr, JenniNZ and bj1111. 3style, scarves are a great idea! Jenni, I can't see Blazers as beachwear in Samoa, but can in New England where it is probably colder. BJ, the neice has a strong sense of what she likes. Elopement would be ideal for this couple...second marriage for both and she could do things her way. But she's a drama queen that likes an audience.

Bleached blue and white cottons, dresses that blow in the wind, loose cotton sweaters, thin linen wide-legged cropped pants, red and white stripes, old-fashioned white canvas Keds or leather fisherman's sandals (lots of straps, support and coverage compared to regular sandals), hats of straw or cotton twill . . . anything airy and light.

Oh dear, I somehow missed that this was for a wedding! I like a lot of the suggestions above, so I'd pool a few of them and go with something like your pale neutral EF flowy silk pants, some sort of light, elegant tunic (because you look great in tunics over pants, I think), a long, drifting scarf, and ocean-y jewelry like pearls, sea glass, coral, shells--preferably mixed or twisted into one great necklace or bracelet. For shoes, surely someone makes raw silk espadrilles? Just keep it simple and very Joy. You can't go wrong.

Dunno if it helps as I've only been to one beach wedding, but I wore a floral sheath (cotton) and strappy metallic bronze FLAT sandals which came off as soon as we hit the sand; the sandals were my husband's suggestion as I was going to wear closed-toe shoes!

Tulle your description of outfits sounds so beautiful, that I want to go to a beach right now. Aida, what a great dress and photo. So romantic.

You’ve gotten a ton of great suggestions, and I see that my top “beach” element—straw bag, hat, or shoes—is already on your list.

Thinking of MsMaven’s husband, I think you should go the breezy linen tunic/dress and pants route, because it can fit in everywhere. If you wore the Breton stripes and most others were wearing adorable dresses like Aida’s, you might feel awkward.

Are you actually going to a beach event? If your ankles still itch from sand months ago, we’ve got to come up with something to protect them when you’re on the beach.

How about high top sneakers, a boho tunic, and skinnies, with a straw bag & hat?

ETA: Maybe she’ll want a total 180 from her first wedding and the theme this time will be Montecarlo or New York, New York!

PSA for you Joy: Macy's Inc brand has a long white linen-like shirt dress, midi length, right now. It's a beach cover-up more than a dress, as it is sheer. It has slits up the sides, allowing you to tie it in front. Long sleeves which roll up easily above the elbows.

I picked this up this week for a beach cover-up as we are headed to Maui for vacation, but I can definitely see this as a "third piece" topper -- worn basically like a midi length cardigan/ duster.

Here is the only link I can find:
https://www.macys.com/shop/pro.....39&am

I got it in regular not petite as my local store only had it in regular. It's way longer on me, as I said, midi length. Seeing this description I'm surprised it's rayon: feels and hangs more like linen.

No beach event yet. I just want to be prepared for one. My wardrobe is not. Thank you , Fashiontern and Shiny. I had no idea what to even add for such an event but was unhappy with past choices. Shiny, I could use a beach cover-up like that dress. Have a wonderful time in Maui. We enjoyed a vacation there during last winter. I had forgotten about humidity.

Joy you always look beautiful in your white pants and flowing tops, so these would be perfect for a beach themed party. Perth is on the west coast of Australia and we have amazing beaches. Summer dresses, caftans and denim all say beach to me. I would wear a cotton dress like my one in finds with my denim jacket.

Bijou, those pieces are fabulous. I love the idea of a pretty dress with a special denim jacket. I have yet to find my embroidered denim jacket, but may try to applicay something on one.