We had occasion to be in the water this past weekend, and we were reminded of a critically important element in any woman’s summer wardrobe:  The Cover-Up. It is a mitigator of bumps here and lumps there, an all-purpose weapon for beach, pool or hot tub.

In short, the cover-up is our BFF.

Its entire job description is to make us look casually chic while wearing a swimsuit, which is challenging on multiple levels. It must be pretty wet or dry. It must rise to the complexities of beach breezes and swimming-pool stares. And if we are sensitive about certain areas of our body, it must cover them up.

Behold, some proper examples. This brightly colored cabana dress can be worn as either a dress or a skirt simply by adjusting the tie in front. The fabric drapes on the bias, creating a flowing look that flirts with your smooth summer legs. At Victoria’s Secret ($34, above left). J. Crew’s Tangiers lightweight gauze cover-up has a bit of a Henley neckline, a flattering drawstring drop waist, and a hemline just below the danger zone; we love the gauzy cotton and the easy shape ($59.50, above right).

Here’s cute: Vitamin A’s chocolate and white shimmer cover-up tunic at Everything But Water, with its rugby-stripe sensibility and a halter top ($154, above left). Here’s cute times two: A Juicy Couture beach butterfly cover-up dress at Nordstrom ($173, above right) in a short style with peasant sleeves, a smocked waist and metallic butterflies flitting about.

Kenneth Cole creates a draped-front tube cover-up dress that just needs jewelry and sandals and it’s ready for dinner. Customers gave it raves. At Macy’s ($70, below left). And you could take Debbie Katz’s cover-up out for lunch; her embroidered Boho cover-up tunic for Victoria’s Secret is beautifully printed and slightly sheer ($114, below right).

Let’s hang out around the pool, sipping drinks and feeling comfy. The smocked tube dresses at Old Navy (above left) would be perfect, and at $15 each, you can indulge in more than one of their 9 solids and prints. Trust Land’s End to come up with a pretty bargain: their sleeveless solid  jersey tunic cover-up comes in 8 colors and is $19.50; if you buy two or more, they go down to $14.50 each (above right).

If you’re more sensitive about your arms than your legs, consider a tunic top. Lauren by Ralph Lauren’s tunic swimsuit cover-up comes in a brilliant aqua with a tucked bodice and three-quarter sleeves (At Macy’s, $61, below left). Vix Swimwear offers their Bombay cover-up tunic at Everything But Water. Its plum and yellow paisley design gives the pullover a bit of an island feel. ($154, below right).

If you need a little length, we’re smitten with Lucky Brand’s Strapless Love Potion cover-up. The bandeau bodice is a purple tie-dye print that gives way to aqua around the tea-length hem (at Nordstrom, $64, below left). Or go all the way to flip-flop length with Robin Piccone’s Costa Rica swim cover-up.  The tropical-print pattern has a smocked bodice and a gathered skirt; it falls to the ankle in gorgeous swirls of taupe and brown ($158, below right). We’re envisioning it at sunset at the coast, and it feels irresistible.

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