These Are the Beach Outfits Jackie Kennedy Would’ve Packed for a 2025 Euro Summer
Exude rich, retro vibes—like you just arrived on the Italian Riviera.
Yes, I'm a gridlocked Brooklynite whose nearest beach is a 50-minute drive away, but I plan to have my very best Euro girl summer this year. In spirit and style, I'm an Aperol Spritz-sipping socialite vacationing on the Amalfi Coast.
How will I exude 'rich and just arrived in the Italian Riviera' energy despite crossing Atlantic Avenue, not the Ocean? By copying the elegant beach outfits seen on European coasts tucked under orange-striped umbrellas and on yacht cruises, even though my destination will be my neighborhood bookstore and corner store.
I've also spent the last few weeks on an archival deep dive into Jackie Kennedy's fashion, as today's designers turned to the ladylike muse while curating summer 2025's trends. As such, her refined-meets-relaxed vacation style from the '70s is all over my seasonal moodboard—and today's street style set is one step ahead, already drawing inspiration from the former First Lady by wearing elegant silk scarves and Pucci-printed bathing suit cover-ups.
A blend of the past and present, consider these easy summer outfits as your key to Jackie O's signature sophistication while also embracing 2025's top trends. Here's how to capture a Euro summer vacation vibe while staying exactly where you are.
Mariner Stripes
Breton-striped shirts are a staple in Jackie's wardrobe and, in 2025, continue to embody effortless coastal style, especially thanks to fashion's trending fisherman aesthetic. Layer the white and navy graphic top over a sleek one-piece swimsuit, add a pair of comfortable bottoms, and finish off with your favorite oversized, Jackie-approved sunglasses.
A Kerchief Cure-All
When you're unsure about what to wear but want to embody high-brow polish, a silk scarf is the hero piece to rely on. Take inspiration from this Paris Fashion Week street styler by knotting a vibrant foulard under your chin and pairing it with a no-fuss white shirt dress.
Punchy Color Combos
Throughout the '70s, released from her role in the White House, Jackie's style became more playful and reflective of the era's trends, which included vibrant, mood-boosting colors. Embrace her lively spirit with an unexpected color combination—bright blue and butter yellow, for example—and balance the look with a quirky toe-ring sandal.
Boho on the Beach
Alternatively, you can move toward the unsaturated end of the color spectrum with an all-white outfit. For a neutral look that's crisp and clean without being boring, start with a broderie-style bikini and a relaxed button-front shirt dress. An on-theme seashell necklace and sand-proof mesh flats will bring everything together.
Prepared for a Picnic
Admittedly, this photo is from a 1953 stay in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, but her sweet gingham blouse is too good to leave out of my summer '25 mood board. Dôen's picnic-printed blouse ties into today's unexpected plaid trend and will pair perfectly with smart Bermuda shorts in a high-waisted, tailored silhouette.
Cherry Red
Red is not usually a color you want to see on yourself when you're at the beach—it means your sunscreen application was less than stellar. But here's how to wear bright cherry red the right way: a lightweight, gauzy sundress that coordinates with a swimsuit in the matching color. Jackie wasn't afraid of color for bright and colorful beach days, and neither should you.
Belt It—Even on the Beach
Sticking to basic black is a reliable fashion guideline, even in a seaside town. Take a lesson from how Jackie used a coin and chain-link belt to add intrigue to ink-colored printed pants paired with a simple black T-shirt. A pair of flat strappy sandals will anchor the basic-with-a-twist look.
A Center-Stage Cover-Up
The advantage of beachwear is that a one-and-done, throw-on-and-go cover-up can handle most of the outfit's heavy lifting. Start with a one-piece swimsuit as your base, but let a playfully printed caftan or maxi dress take center stage. When it comes to accessories, any of your favorite beach bags and flip-flops will suffice.
Neutrals on the Aft Deck
Meaningful minimalism, a leading fashion trend for 2025, emphasizes doing less while embracing more. Jackie was an arbiter of allowing simple pieces to speak volumes, as demonstrated by the off-white linen pants and lightweight polo sweater she wore on a cruise around Capri, Italy.
Hat Trick
Sometimes, that hat defines the look. This beach-ready attendee at Copenhagen Fashion Week illustrates my point perfectly: a sweet straw summer hat paired with black capri pants, a bandeau bikini, and flats creates a complete look.
