What to Wear on a Boat: The Coastal Grandma Aesthetic
My favorite lake days explain why I love the coastal grandma aesthetic. They also explain why I named my brand Sunday Drive—even though the best part of those days usually happens on the water.
Growing up near Lake Erie, I learned that a boat ride rarely ends when you get back to the dock. Someone suggests dinner in town. Dinner turns into an ice cream run. Then the sky starts changing, and suddenly nobody wants to head home.
Those are the days I want to get dressed for. I want to feel comfortable and put together, with enough room in the plan to stay out a little longer.
To me, coastal style captures that feeling: familiar, relaxed, and never too precious to actually enjoy yourself. But what makes an outfit work for the whole day, from the first boat ride to the last stop?
It starts with looking at the clothes you already reach for and giving a few of them another way to be worn.
Make the Coastal Grandma Aesthetic Your Own
The name might suggest a very specific look, but you don’t need a vacation house or an entirely new wardrobe to make it yours. What draws me to this style is the feeling of being at ease. Nothing needs constant adjusting, and you can sit down, eat lunch, or catch a breeze without worrying about your outfit.
Before packing for a boat day, I’d start with what you already own. Which shirt feels better after every wash? Which shorts can you comfortably spend hours in? Which sweatshirt somehow makes it into every overnight bag?
Those pieces are worth building around.
For me, the coastal grandma aesthetic works best when it feels personal. If you love stripes, wear them. If your favorite lake sweatshirt has been around for years, bring it. An outfit becomes more interesting when it reflects your actual life.
I’d also consider what the day involves before choosing anything. An afternoon spent swimming calls for something different than an evening cruise followed by dinner. Knowing the loose plan helps you pack clothes you’ll use without bringing half your closet.
Start With Pieces That Can Do More Than One Job
For a warm afternoon on the water, I’d build my outfit around a swimsuit and a loose button-down. Blue-and-white stripes would probably be my first choice. They remind me of summers by the lake, and they’re easy to wear with the basics I already own.
Wear the shirt open over your swimsuit while you’re on board, then button it when you stop for lunch. If you head into town afterward, you already have the beginning of an outfit.
You don’t need to buy a shirt specifically labeled as a cover-up, either. Try the oversized button-down sitting in your closet before adding another one to your cart.
The same idea applies to bottoms. I’d choose cotton drawstring shorts or relaxed linen pants that let me sit comfortably and move around easily. Think about stepping onto the boat, sitting on a seat, and reaching into your bag. If something feels restrictive while you’re getting ready, it probably won’t feel better a few hours later.
A simple tee is another piece I’d make room for. You can pull it on after swimming, wear it with shorts, or tuck it into pants for dinner. That’s how I picture a Sunday Drive tee being worn: as part of a day you’re already excited about.
Try laying out two possible outfits using the same shirt before you leave. If changing the bottoms is enough to take you from the boat to dinner, you’ve saved yourself some packing.
Bring the Layer You’ll Be Glad You Packed
The outfit I picture most clearly on a Lake Erie evening is a sweatshirt pulled over a swimsuit, with shorts and slightly messy hair. By that point, everyone has spent enough time outside that getting comfortable feels especially good.
Even when it’s warm as you leave, think about the ride home. I’d bring a layer that fits comfortably over my shirt and is easy to pull on without rearranging my entire outfit.
This is where a Sunday Drive mockneck fits into my own lake-day wardrobe. I picture reaching for it when the breeze picks up and keeping it on while we decide whether there’s time for one more stop.
A sweater or crewneck you already love can serve that purpose, too. Choose something you’ll be happy wearing for the rest of the evening.
That’s part of the appeal of the coastal grandma aesthetic for me: the comfortable layer belongs in the outfit. You don’t have to sacrifice the feeling of being put together when you get cold.
Before leaving, try your layer over what you plan to wear. Check that the sleeves feel comfortable and that you can move easily. It’s a small step, but it’s better than discovering that your favorite sweater doesn’t fit over your shirt once you’re out on the water.
Keep the Details Easy, From the Boat to Dinner
Shoes and accessories should make the day easier. Ask the boat owner what footwear they prefer, then choose something suitable for moving around on board.
For accessories, I’d bring sunglasses, a secure hat, and a small bag for the things I want close by. A hat you don’t have to chase is especially valuable (speaking from experience).
I’d leave delicate or sentimental jewelry at home if I knew I’d spend the day worrying about it. Being able to relax matters more to me than adding one more accessory.
If dinner is part of the plan, think about a small change you can make after docking. I’d swap my swim shorts for linen pants and tuck in my tee. For an evening boat ride, I might wear that combination from the start and keep my mockneck nearby.
Try this before your next lake day: choose one shirt, two bottoms, and one layer from your closet. Put together an afternoon outfit and an evening outfit using those pieces. Take a quick photo of each so you have an idea ready the next time you’re packing.
You may find that the outfit you were looking for was already there.
The Coastal Grandma Aesthetic, the Sunday Drive Way
Sunday Drive comes from those days I never want to rush: time on the water with family and friends, a good sandwich packed for lunch, and a stop for ice cream before watching the sunset. The drive home becomes one more part of the day worth enjoying.
That’s what I want our tee and mockneck to become part of. The tee you wear again because it works with your favorite shorts. The mockneck you keep nearby because you know you’ll want it later. Pieces that earn their space through the memories you make wearing them.
Before buying something new, try a different combination of what you own. If there’s a gap, choose something you can picture wearing well beyond one afternoon.
For me, the coastal grandma aesthetic comes down to feeling comfortable enough to say yes when someone suggests staying a little longer. Get dressed for that possibility. The sunset might be the best part.
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Looking for a little inspiration? I’ve linked a few of my favorite pieces for the coastal grandma aesthetic below, alongside the Sunday Drive styles I’d bring along.
An oversized button-down: An easy swimsuit cover-up that works just as well tucked into shorts for lunch.
Relaxed linen pants: For heading into town after a day on the water.
A classic cotton sweater: A familiar layer for breezy evenings.
The Sunday Drive tee: Wear it over your swimsuit, then tuck it into your favorite pants for dinner.
The Sunday Drive mockneck: The layer I’d pack for the ride home—and reach for again during the week.
Use these as inspiration, starting with what’s already in your closet. My favorite part of the coastal grandma aesthetic is finding pieces you’ll keep living in, long after the boat is back at the dock.
