My Beach Vacation Outfit Ideas & Trip Details

Empty Nest Blessed by Suzy Mighell
woman over 50 posing in the surf in a beach outfit

Today I’m sharing beach outfit ideas — from our recent trip to our beach condo! Remember that you can click any pink text link or image for more information and that everything fits TTS unless I tell you otherwise!

Navy Stripe Sleeveless Terry Tunic | Pearl Drop Earrings | Blush Stretchy Apple Watch Band (For more Apple Watch Bands, see THIS post.)

We had a great time at our beach condo on Sanibel Island earlier this month! Bob and I had some time alone, and we also had some friends join us for several days! We had a blast with them — we kayaked, went on a sunset cruise, and ate lots of seafood! We spent a lot of time just sitting on the beach talking and laughing, and it was so relaxing.

Short Sleeve Swing Dress | Hot Pink Flip Flops (on sale this weekend!) | Pink Flower Earrings (part of a 20-earring set!) | Similar Tory Burch Sunglasses | Blush Stretchy Apple Watch Band

Bob and I went out to eat at some fun spots, including The Clam Shack — a new place on the island! The food is New England style, and the lobster roll is the best we’ve ever had! In fact, it was so good that I had to add it to my Sanibel Island Travel Guide post as one of my recommended restaurants! They have indoor and outdoor seating, but we love dining al fresco and do it whenever possible!

woman wearing a floral tie neck dress sitting outside at a table
This was taken on the patio at The Clam Shack!

Floral Print Sleeveless Maxi Dress (This print is nearly sold out, but the other print might be even prettier!) – Plus Size HERE | Braided Strap Sandals (7 color choices) | Handbag (14 color options) | Earrings sold out | Necklaces Stack: Diamond Initial Pendant Necklace; Abbie Strand Necklace

The weather was fantastic in Florida, with highs in the 80s. Humidity was high, though, which is always an adventure for my hair! (The more humid it is, the curlier it gets!)

This Amazon tie strap maxi dress has been a favorite purchase this spring! It comes in 27 colors/patterns! Initially, I ordered it in pink gingham (of course!), but it felt a little young for me, so I sent it back and ordered this animal print instead. I love the juxtaposition between the tougher print and the feminine cut! It fits TTS. I just added the “pink black multi” one to my cart!

over 50 model posing in a smocked bodice animal print sundress

Tie Strap A-Line Maxi Dress (27 colors/patterns) | Tory Burch Flip Flops | Raffia Clutch (5 color options) | Black & Gold Drop Earrings | Lipstick

This was mostly a working trip for me, so I spent a lot of time in the condo working while Bob was out on the beach fishing. I could see him from where I worked, and whenever I saw a crowd gathered around him, I knew he reeled in a big fish! (This sometimes happened multiple times a day!) Since I was working, cozy dresses like this tie dye cotton terry dress were perfect! (BTW, in case you haven’t noticed, this dip dye pattern is the newest way we’re seeing tie dye.)

over 50 model posing outside wearing a dip dye summer dress from loft

Tie Dye Cozy Cotton Terry Pocket Dress (only XS and S still available) – was $79.50, now $27.50! | Pearl Embellished Jelly Sandals (5 color options) | Gold and Pearl Hoop Earrings | Blush Stretchy Apple Watch Band (For more Apple Watch Bands, see THIS post.) | Lipstick (Always Rosy)

Our Sanibel Island condo isn’t too far from where my parents live, so I spend lots of time with them whenever we visit. This time, we got to celebrate my dad’s birthday! I gave him the book The Case for Heaven: A Journalist Investigates Evidence for Life After Death by Lee Strobel and THIS puzzle.

This pretty smocked dress in multi-colored stripes is what I wore when we went to lunch to celebrate his big day with my mom and some of his friends!

woman over 50 posing in front of a bench wearing a colorful striped dress

Smocked Dress in Multi Stripe | Braided Strap Sandals (7 color choices) | Hand-Painted Straw Bag | Pearl Apple Watch Band (For more Apple Watch Bands, see THIS post.) | Necklaces Stack: Gold Open Frame Crystal Pendant Necklace; Abbie Strand Necklace | Lipstick (Always Rosy)

When we go to Florida, I always love that the tropical landscaping looks gorgeous year-round! We left our newly-landscaped yard in Dallas still looking pretty wintery, but when we got home, everything was budding, and a few things were starting to bloom!

It was 10 degrees hotter in Dallas than in Sanibel the last few days we were there. I feel like Dallas skipped spring completely this year!

woman over 50 posing in a garden wearing a blue and white gingham draper james tiered dress

Gingham Tiered Skirt Knit Dress | White Tory Burch Flip Flops | Hand-Painted Straw Bag | Pearl Drop Earrings | Pearl Apple Watch Band | Lipstick (My Papaya)

I love all of the colorful businesses and homes in Florida! I’ve wanted to shoot something outside this restaurant forever! Bob and I finally did! I put together a fun Reel in this pretty UPF 50+ off the shoulder dress.

woman over 50 wearing a coral colored off the shoulder dress standing in front of coral building

Off the Shoulder Dress (I love the tassel hem!) | Braided Strap Sandals (7 color choices) | Handbag (14 color options) | Multi Dot Earrings | Pearl Apple Watch Band | Similar Tory Burch Sunglasses | Lipstick (My Papaya)

Bob and I always eat lots of seafood when we’re in Florida. (It’s so fresh!) But every once in a while, we need a seafood palate cleanser! There’s a good new Italian restaurant on the Island called Tutti Pazzi. (translation: Everybody’s Crazy!) They were great about working with my gluten free diet, which I appreciated! I wore this under $30 Amazon navy tank maxi dress when we went to dinner there.

over 50 woman wearing a navy maxi dress and holding a personalized straw handbag

Navy Tank Waisted Maxi Dress (9 color/pattern options) | Floral Bow Slides | Hand-Painted Straw Handbag | Necklace Stack: Abbie Strand Necklace; Diamond Initial Pendant Necklace; | Gold Huggie Earrings

Click to check out the Instagram Reel we made featuring this outfit.

The last night we were in Sanibel, we headed to the Sanibel Marina to eat at Gramma Dots, one of our favorite island eateries. We always eat there multiple times when we’re on the island, and we always get the mesquite grilled grouper sandwich. Do you always order the same thing when you go to a favorite spot? I tend to! But for some reason, we were feeling brave that night, so we both ordered the blackened shrimp. (Bob and I also tend to order the exact same thing! 😂) It was divine!

I love the blue roof on this gazebo at the marina, and I thought this UPF 50+ tie sleeve A-line swing dress would be perfect with it!

woman posing on a dock in a upf 50 beach outfit idea

Tie Sleeve Swing Dress | White Tory Burch Flip Flops | Pearl Initial Pendant Necklace | Pearl Drop Earrings | Pearl Apple Watch Band | Similar Tory Burch Sunglasses

Since I spent a lot of time up in our condo working, I decided to spend every moment of that working out on our balcony! Of course, that meant I had to be careful about sun exposure, which does tend to exacerbate my lupus. So I used a lot of my favorite sunscreen (20% off through May 24 with code SUNNY20), and I wore lots of midi and maxi dresses like this super soft and stretchy modal Moonlight “nap” style dress.

woman standing on a balcony with the reflection of a beach in the background wearing nordstrom's moonlight dress in black
See the reflection in my screen doors? That’s my incredible view!

Moonlight Dress – The black is nearly sold out, but the other in-stock colors are more summery anyway, so no worries! I just ordered it in light gray! See below for additional color options. (Free shipping/returns.) | Black & Gold Small Drop Earrings

I hope you’ve gotten some good ideas for beach outfits! (Er, or should I say, beach dresses!) As I told you in my 30+ of the Cutest Summer Dresses for Under $30 post earlier this week, when it’s hot outside, dresses are almost all I wear!

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