What to Wear to a Pool Party
Pool party outfit guide by venue. Swim and cover-up combos for backyard, hotel rooftop, resort, evening, and kids pool parties.
A pool party outfit is a swim look, a quick-throw cover-up, and the transition to food and drinks afterwards. Start with a swim suit you can actually swim in. Add a cover-up like a kaftan, linen shirt, or sarong that goes on while still slightly wet. Slide into sandals or slip-ons that handle wet decks. Pack a beach tote for the lounge chair. Backyard parties skew casual; hotel rooftop pools skew polished; resort and tropical pool days require sun protection.
Outfit Forecast earns a commission when you buy through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. Some brands featured here are owned by the company that publishes Outfit Forecast. Affiliate disclosure
🛒 The Pool Party Outfit Forecast Formula
Dress code Swim plus cover-up. Match the venue: backyard casual, hotel pool polished, resort dressy. Key piece Cover-up that goes on and off quickly. Kaftan, linen shirt, or sarong. Base layer Swim suit you can actually swim in, plus sun protection. Avoid White swimsuits and sheer cover-ups at hosted parties, leather, anything that stains in chlorine. Footwear Slip-on sandals, slides, or Birkenstock EVA. Quick on and off, wet-deck stable. Built for An 88F backyard pool party, an 82F rooftop pool, and a 78F resort pool.
Five Pool Party Outfit Formulas (by Venue)
1. Backyard Pool Party, Casual
Bikini or one-piece in a solid or fun print. Loose linen shirt or kaftan as the cover-up. Slide sandals or rubber slip-ons. Wide-brim sun hat. Small tote with sunscreen, towel, phone, and one snack. Skip the makeup.
2. Hotel Rooftop Pool, Polished Casual
One-piece or higher-coverage bikini in a saturated solid. Polished kaftan or silky robe-style cover-up. Block-heel sandals or polished slides. Sunglasses you would not lose in a pool. Small crossbody with a card and phone. The vibe is poolside cocktail, not splash zone.
3. Resort or Tropical Pool Day
Tropical-print bikini or one-piece, lightweight sarong tied at the hip, leather or fabric slide sandals. Wide-brim hat. UPF 50+ rash guard if you burn easily. Reef-safe sunscreen. Pool-day bag with water bottle, paperback, and an extra cover-up for dinner.
4. Evening Pool Party (Sunset Plus After-Dark)
Bikini or one-piece under a darker cover-up that handles ambient lighting. Light wrap or fitted denim jacket for the temperature drop. Sandals you can dance in if music starts. Pack a clean dry top for the after-dinner transition.
5. Kids Pool Party
For adults supervising: a one-piece swimsuit with built-in support, full-coverage cover-up that goes over wet swim, water shoes that handle pool deck and grass. For kids: UPF 50+ swim shirt, swim trunks or board shorts, swim diaper if applicable, sun hat, sunscreen.
PRETTYGARDEN Wrap Dress
A wrap-style dress doubles as a poolside cover-up that also handles the walk to the bar or the lunch table. The single piece that bridges swim and not-swim.
Shop This PickThe Do and Don't List
- Do pack a cover-up that goes on while still slightly wet.
- Do wear sunscreen. Reapply every 2 hours, every 1 if swimming.
- Do bring a small bag that survives splashing.
- Do check the venue for towel and lounge chair policy before you arrive.
- Don't wear sheer white cover-ups at hosted parties. Less covered than you think when wet.
- Don't wear leather sandals or shoes that stain in chlorine.
- Don't wear delicate jewelry. Sunscreen and chlorine destroy gold plating.
- Don't skip the hat at outdoor daytime pool parties. UV reflects off the water.
Best Shoes for a Pool Party
Slip-on slide sandals are the right call for any pool venue. Birkenstock EVA, Adidas Adilette, Crocs Classic Slide. Price range: $25 to $60.
Block-heel sandals work for polished hotel pool venues where you want a touch of dressy. Sam Edelman, Vince Camuto, Steve Madden. Price range: $80 to $160.
Espadrille flats or wedges work for resort pool days that transition to lunch or dinner. Soludos, Sezane, Castaner. Price range: $80 to $200.
Water shoes are the smart pick for kids pool parties and beach-club venues with rocky terrain. Speedo, KEEN Newport. Price range: $30 to $80.
Avoid: leather sandals (chlorine destroys them), heeled stilettos (wet decks), and expensive shoes you would regret losing.
Birkenstock Arizona EVA
Birkenstock EVA slides handle wet deck, hot concrete, and quick on-and-off. The right shoe when the floor goes from poolside to patio to indoor bathroom in five minutes.
Shop This PickMistakes People Make
- Wearing white swimwear at a hosted party. White swim turns sheer when wet. Save it for poolside-only situations where you will not actually swim, or pair with a non-sheer cover-up.
- Skipping the sun protection. UV reflects off the water and adds 20-30 percent more exposure than dry ground. Sunscreen, hat, and sunglasses are non-negotiable for daytime pool parties.
- Wearing a cover-up that needs ironing. Pool parties involve wet, sand, sunscreen, and food. Pick fabrics that survive that without looking destroyed by hour two.
- Bringing the wrong shoes. Stilettos on wet deck cause falls. Leather sandals stain in chlorine. Expensive shoes get lost. Cheap slides win every time.
Why This Approach Works
A pool party outfit lives across three states: dry-and-arriving, wet-and-swimming, dry-and-eating. Most pool-party outfit failures happen at the transitions. A swim base plus a fast cover-up plus quick-on-quick-off shoes solves all three transitions cleanly.
Sun protection is the second filter. Daytime outdoor pool parties produce 20-30 percent more UV exposure than dry-ground events because water reflects light. UPF 50+ swimwear or rash guards, broad-brim hats, sunglasses with UV protection, and reef-safe sunscreen are operational requirements, not style choices. The Arctic Cool angle below addresses the cooling layer for hot pool days where you stay out of the water.
⭐ Claire's Pick
Arctic Cool Cooling Tank
When the pool party runs hot and you want a layer that actively cools, the Arctic Cool tank uses moisture-wicking cooling tech. DPS-manufactured.
Shop This PickFrequently Asked Questions
What should I wear to a pool party?
A swimsuit you can actually swim in, a cover-up that goes on quickly, slide sandals or slip-ons, a wide-brim sun hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, and a small splash-proof bag. Match the venue: backyard casual, hotel rooftop polished, resort more dressy.
Should I wear white to a pool party?
Avoid white swim at hosted parties because it turns sheer when wet. White cover-ups are fine if they are not sheer. Bright solids or fun prints photograph better than white at most pool venues.
What shoes are best for a pool party?
Slip-on slide sandals (Birkenstock EVA, Adidas Adilette, Crocs Classic Slide) for any pool. Block-heel sandals or espadrille wedges for polished hotel or resort venues. Water shoes for kids and rocky terrain.
What do you wear to a pool party that is not in the pool?
A polished cover-up, sandals, a hat, and a bag near the lounge chair. Sip-and-watch outfits skew more dressy than swim outfits. Block-heel sandals, espadrille wedges, or polished slides work.
How do I handle the temperature drop at an evening pool party?
Bring a darker cover-up that handles ambient light, plus a light wrap or fitted denim jacket. Pack a clean dry top for the after-dinner transition.
Related Guides
- What to Wear to a 4th of July Cookout
- What to Wear to a Beach Wedding
- What to Wear on a Cruise
- What to Wear in 85 Degree Weather
- What to Wear in 90 Degree Weather
- What to Wear to a Bachelorette Party
- What to Wear on Father's Day
- What to Wear on a Beach Vacation
- What to Wear to an Amusement Park
- What to Wear to an Outdoor Summer Party
About the Author: Claire Maddox writes Outfit Forecast's occasion-wear and city guides, with a focus on weddings, kids occasion dressing, and seasonal travel. Read more from Claire.
Powered by Outfit Forecast Formulas. Forecast x Occasion x Body.
