Still have some room in your suitcase? Shoes tend to be the area where most of us overpack…they’re cute AND heavy, leading to some serious overestimation. You should be able to make it through a beach vacation with just three pairs of shoes…if they’re the right ones.

Flip-Flops

Everyone I know wears the cheap Old Navy flip flops. Stand out in–gasp–a Forever 21 pair instead. They come in several different colors, but I like the gray pictured here.

Dressy Sandals

• I have a severe “thing” for gladiator sandals. Brandon, my fiance (otherwise known on here as THF), calls them my “Russell Crowe shoes.” My sister calls them “Jesus sandals.” However you decide to look at them, you can’t deny their inherent hotness. This pair from Madden Girl is less than $50.
• Target has some great summer sandals right now. This bejeweled pair is so pretty, and dressy enough for dinner, etc.
• I love red shoes and this strappy, bare pair from Target is firmly on my “to buy” list.
• Payless is a good place to pick up inexpensive footwear, like these strappy sandals which would look smashing with a skirt or dress.
• The wild card here are these sandals from Alloy. They’re a great deal money-wise, but the serpent design and bright colors might be hard to pull off. My suggestion is to wear them something neutral on top, like a casual black or gray dress.
• These elegant Forever 21 sandals have sexy ankle ties. To keep the ties up on your legs, spray them with some hairspray after they’re tied. Gross, but it works!

Comfortable Flats

Let’s face it. You’re on a beach vacation. You probably got a pedicure just for the occasion. So, why would you ever want to wear shoes that cover your feet entirely? Well, let’s see. Maybe you got sunburned on your feet (it happens). Maybe you are going on a severe shopping spree for hours and hours on end. Perhaps you are hiking up to some distant waterfall and don’t care to wear sneakers. That’s where these Crocs come in. I cringe even as I type “Crocs,” but hey, these ballet flat-inspired Crocs don’t really have the hideousness of their related, ankle-strapped cousins. They come in many colors, but as always, I prefer the neutral colors.

Beach Tote

This $20 basketweave tote from Forever 21 is a good item to pack for the beach. You can take it down on the sand, toting your sunglasses and magazines, or you can pack your regular purse essentials and take it out shopping.

Wide-brimmed Hat

Wide-brimmed hats are the epitome of beach style–and they’ll help shield your sensitive facial skin from the tropic sun. Wear it slightly sideways on your head and cast mysterious smiles out from under it.

Sunglasses

Retro styles are popular in swimwear this season: all the ruffles, high-waisted looks and one-piece suits with boyshorts are a testament to that. Why not complement all that vintage style with some equally retro sunglasses?

Sunblock/Tanning Lotion

I have sensitive skin and I’ve gotten some bad sunburns in the past–my trip to Hawaii, I had to buy a bandeau top bikini because my shoulders were so badly burned that I couldn’t wear any straps over them. Scary! To avoid further damage or burning, I like to wear at least SPF 30 in the sun, but I prefer SPF 45. This one by Neutrogena is light and smells nice and won’t clog your pores.
Some of my friends are “tanorexic.” They visit tanning beds like they’re going out of style–except they already have gone out of style. No one likes leathery skin, so try a self-tanner lotion to build up your base tan instead. I love the Neutrogena Summer Glow moisturizers and they’ve come out with a new solution that includes SPF 30. I’ve recently begun to apply my Summer Glow again as bare-leg weather is coming back, and just yesterday THF remarked upon how tan I was looking. See, no one has to know it’s not from the sun.

Is there anything you can’t live without when you go to the beach? Let me know!