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Coastal Granddaughter Outfits: Lobster, Gingham & Raffia Finds for Summer
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items Coastal granddaughter is just New England summer with the volume turned up — lobsters on the knitwear, gingham, eyelet, raffia totes, and a straw visor for the porch. I pulled together the pieces I keep reaching for: easy dresses, sweaters that look ...
Sections
6
Easy Dresses for Warm Days
Lobster, Gingham & Other Good Knits
Tops & Skirts
Totes & Shell Bags
Sandals & Flats
Scarves, Straw & Little Extras
Easy Dresses for Warm Days
Throw-on-and-go dresses in the prints that make this whole look — lobster, eyelet, breton stripe. Add flat sandals and you're done.
The whole aesthetic in one dress. I wear it with flat sandals for dinner and nobody believes it's machine-printed lobsters.
Tall Reverie dress in lobster & seashell print
Heavier jacquard so it holds its shape and doesn't cling. This is my "I want to look pulled together but it's 90 degrees" pick.
Billie Dress In Blurred Floral Jacquard For Women | J.Crew
Eyelet is peak coastal granddaughter. Buttons all the way down so it doubles as a swim coverup.
Anne Eyelet Shirtdress
Breton stripes + a midi length = the easiest thing to throw on. The dolman sleeve is forgiving on the arms.
Caslon® Stripe Pleated Dolman Sleeve Midi Shirtdress - Nordstrom
Had to (it's my name). Short, breezy, the one I'd pack for a weekend on the water.
Madewell The Sophie Minidress - Nordstrom
Lobster, Gingham & Other Good Knits
The sweaters and shells doing the heavy lifting: lobster intarsia, gingham, and cotton knits that layer over a swimsuit or under a blazer.
Cotton, not wool, so it works for cool coastal nights without overheating. The lobster does all the talking.
Katie Cotton Lobster Rollneck Sweater
Intarsia knit, not a print, which is why it looks more expensive than it is. Over a white tee and jeans, done.
2025 Rollneck™ Cardigan With Lobster Intarsia For Women | J.Crew
A little gingham shell that layers under everything. I wear it solo in summer and under a blazer when the AC is aggressive.
Jackie Sweater Shell In Gingham For Women - J.Crew
Technically a tee but it wears like a soft knit. Supima cotton, petite-friendly, and the stripe is a staple.
Women's Soft Stretch Supima-Blend Tee, Long Dolman-Sleeve Jewelneck Stripe
Classic Bean cotton crewneck — mine has a red lobster knit right in. Indestructible, washes well, the kind of sweater you keep for a decade.
Women's The Original Double L® Sweater, Novelty Crewneck
Tops & Skirts
Mix-and-match separates — embroidered and smocked skirts, gingham and linen up top — for when a dress feels like too much.
The embroidery makes a plain outfit look intentional. I pair it with a white tank and call it done.
Beckett midi skirt in embroidered floral stripe
Elastic smocked waist = comfortable enough to actually eat dinner in. Twirls nicely too.
Open Edit Smock Waist Midi Skirt - Nordstrom
Gingham + a little peplum. Tucks into the skirts above or wears out over shorts.
Petal & Pup Rory Gingham Cotton Peplum Tank - Nordstrom
The workhorse. Open over a swimsuit, buttoned for dinner, sleeves pushed up always.
Linen Shirt - H&M - Nordstrom
Totes & Shell Bags
Boat totes, madras, raffia, and yes, bags actually shaped like shells. The coastal-granddaughter carry-all in every form.
A bag shaped like a clamshell. It's a little silly and I love it for exactly that — instant conversation starter.
Clamshell Bag
Wicker nautilus shape, very grandmother's-beach-house. Holds more than you'd think.
Nautilus Shell Wicker Bag
The original Boat and Tote — add a lobster or your monogram, that's the whole point. Mine hauls everything to the beach and back.
Boat and Tote®, Lobster
The tiny version for when you only need keys, phone, and lip balm. Embarrassingly cute.
L.L.Bean Embroidered Micro Boat and Tote, Yellow Dog
Madras is so coastal-prep it hurts. Roomy, lightweight, and ages beautifully.
Madras Tote Bag
Longchamp's little basket-shaped crossbody. Hands-free for markets and travel, holds the essentials and nothing more.
Longchamp Extra Small Le Panier Pliage Crossbody Bag - Nordstrom
Same little crossbody in the Envol style with a playful feather trim. I linked both since the colors sell out separately.
Longchamp Extra Small Le Panier Pliage Envol Crossbody Bag
Raffia is the coastal granddaughter neutral. Goes with every dress on this list.
Madewell The Signature Woven Raffia Shoulder Bag - Nordstrom
Sandals & Flats
Saddle sandals, mary janes, a walkable block heel, and washable espadrilles — the shoes I actually wear all summer.
Saddle-tan leather that only looks better as it wears in. My most-worn warm-weather flat.
Saddle Kenley Sandals
A low block heel I can actually walk on grass and brick in — wedding and rehearsal-dinner approved.
Sam Edelman Fynn Block Heel Sandal (Women) - Nordstrom
Mary janes are having a moment and they're so easy with dresses. Comfortable enough for a full day out.
Reyes Mary Jane - Women | Nordstrom
Washable Rothy's in an espadrille shape. Travel shoe of the summer for me.
Rothy's The d'Orsay Ankle Tie Espadrille Flat (Women) - Nordstrom
Scarves, Straw & Little Extras
The finishing touches: a silk scarf, a printed sarong, a straw visor, a pop of beads, and a little East Coast charm for your keys.
Tie it on a bag, in your hair, or around your neck. The cheapest way to make an outfit feel finished.
Printed Silk Scarf For Women - J.Crew
Beach coverup, picnic blanket, makeshift scarf. I keep one in every bag all summer.
Cotton Sarong In Prints For Women | J.Crew
Visor over a hat for me — keeps the sun off without flattening your hair. Very Cape-Cod-porch.
Brixton Newport Straw Visor - Nordstrom
The pop of color against all the navy and white. Layers with everything.
BaubleBar Jane Rainbow Semiprecious Beaded Necklace
Tiny, under $20, and it makes me smile every time I grab my keys. Easy little gift too.
East Coast Charm