15 Stylish Ways To Stay Protected Under The Sun

Arm yourself with sunscreen and a great sense of style. Here are our picks for covering up while keeping it chic.

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summer layering, a woman walks along the beach with a sun hat, a coverup dress and an oversized tote

Keeping your cool with summer layers

While there’s no question SPF is a must when you’re out in the sun, experts agree that covering up is equally important when it comes to protecting your skin from harmful UV rays. Here are 15 stylish ways to shield yourself this summer.

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summer layering: red and white striped beach cover up

Swim side

Talk about a win-win: Safeguard your skin while supporting model Liya Kebede’s Lemlem Foundation. The proceeds of this line helps to improve the lives of African women.

Joe Fresh x Lemlem Cover Up, $29 at joefresh.com.

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summer layering, oversized sunglasses

In the shades

Oversized shades offer added protection for the delicate skin around the eyes. And they’re even better when they offer UV protection.

Ollie Quinn Jelka sunglasses, $145 at olliequinn.ca.

Best Health Tip: For enhanced eye protection, look for polarized lenses, which reduce the reflective glare that leads to eye strain.

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summer layering, oversized sunhat with "Wish you were here..." on the brim

To the brim

Look no further than this sequin-lettered sun hat for a statement-making way to top off your summer vacation looks.

Eugenia Kim Summer Straw Sun Hat, approximately $72.65 at ebay.ca.

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summer layering pants, linen striped pants with a drawstring waist

Leg up

Why sacrifice comfort for style? Sport a pair of lightweight, wide-leg pants featuring subtle vertical stripes for a leg-lengthening look.

Cotton-Linen Stripe Wide-Leg Pants, $59.95 at Gap and gapcanada.ca.

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summer layering scarf, a rectangle scarf with a California map

Neck and call

Add this to your summer layers: A breezy scarf shields the fragile skin of your décolletage while sprucing up your warm-weather wardrobe.

Printed Linear Scarf, $19.94 at oldnavy.gapcanada.ca.

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summer layering UPF, a sun protected crew neck top

Top notch

With a UPF 50 (like an SPF for clothing), this sporty top provides an extra layer of protection while you enjoy your favourite activities under the sun.

Sun Shirt, $89 at jcrew.com.

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summer layering running shoes, a pink running show with white sole and perforated vamp

Sole sensation

It’s easy to forget to put sunscreen on your feet, so skip the sandals (and the sunburn) and choose a pair of light-as-air sneakers instead.

Native Shoes Apollo Moc in Clay Pink Solid, $100 at nativeshoes.com.

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summer layering swimsuit, a pastel patterned one-piece suit

Swim fan

Dive stylishly (and sensibly!) into summer with a printed one-piece bathing suit.

June Swimwear x Cantoro Clara reversible one-piece swimsuit, $100 at Simons.

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summer layering, long pink shorts

Shorts story

These shorts are crafted from UPF 50+ fabric, making them a perfect pick for running errands on a hot summer day.

Rincon Short, US$49 at athleta.gap.com.

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summer layering white dress, a flirty, baby doll eyelet dress

White on

A floaty white dress will keep you cool and covered up at the same time.

Azura Australia dress, $116 at Bikini Village and bikinivillage.com.

Best Health Tip: Choose a convertible neckline that lets you decide how much — or little — skin to show.

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summer layering top, a long-sleeved swim top

Surf’s up

Save your skin in a stylish rash guard (surf speak for a long-sleeve swim top) that looks just as good on the surf line as it does on the street.

Lolë Whitehaven Rashguard in Lichen Santa Fe, $60 at lolewomen.com.

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summer layering baseball hat, fashionable heather grey running hat

Cool headed

The sun can be just as harsh on your hair as it is on your skin. Shield both your strands and your face with a sweat-wicking baseball cap.

Baller Run Hat, $38 at shop.lululemon.com.

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summer layering maxi dress, a long halter-style, floral-print dress.

Go long

A printed maxi dress protects your gams and goes from patio brunch to cocktail party in breezy style.

Halter maxi dress, $59.90 at reitmans.com.

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summer layering slide, a two-tone loafer-style flat

Toe the line

No pedicure? No problem. Closed-toe flats are a chic and sun-protective pick for unpolished feet.

Poppy Barley D’Orsay Flat in Honey and Black, $225 at shop.poppybarley.com.

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summer layering tote, a straw bag with "cottage bound" written on the front

Sun stash

Complete your summer layers with an eye-catching tote that’s big enough to fit all your sun-protection essentials, including lightweight layers, a wide-brim hat and bottle of sunscreen.

La Plage Bag, $195 at Tuck Shop Trading Co. in Toronto.

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