The Kimono

Lolita Jaca of Saint Barth designs some of the most feminine, unique beachy creations on the planet. Her kimonos look sexy-cool over a two-piecer and can also double as tres chic cocktail party tops when paired with chandelier earrings and white jeans. The tops average between $500-600 each, but are classics that you will reach for in your closet summer after summer.

La Pullover

Parisians in-the-know (and they are always in-the-know with fashion) stalk Zadig & Voltaire for new cashmere treasures on a weekly basis. Insanely soft and slouchy, the $300-500 collection offers edgy hoodies, tees and pullovers embellished with skull, dragonfly and scorpion designs. Toss one around an Eres black tankini and add white genie pants for a post-beach Moet. Viva La France!

The Kaftan

You can thank Hollywood stylist Rachael Zoe for the return of the kaftan. She wore a striped Missoni front-row at fashion week and at a hostess-chic dinner party. This one stacks up ($1,045) just as well — throw over jeans and belt it or turn tanned heads surf-side with embellished flip flops and a teeny weeny white bikini.

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!

Beach Cover-ups

• This Urban Outfitters coverup is chic, roomy and made of a light, flowy fabric. Wear at home with skinny jeans and a belt (to add shape) so you get more mileage out of it when you’re not at the beach.
• I love this casual coverup from Target. It has a classic dress shape, but an unexpected hoodie on the back and is made of a nubby, towel-y texture.
• This coverup from Target is a bit more classy than some of the others, which would be perfect if you actually want more coveragefrom your cover-up.
• Sarongs are the ideal beach accessory. You can wrap them in different ways around your body, depending on how flexible you are. Me, I’m not super-talented at tying sarongs, but I admire those who can turn them into halter dresses and whatnot.
• This minimalist (as in minimal fabric) cover-up from Bluefly looks like a cute beach dress. Alas, it’s quite see-through and flimsy, so try and limit it to only beachwear, hmm?
• If you want a bit more freedom of movement (read: bloated after that second cheeseburger), this trapeze shape from Victoria’s Secret is ideal.
• One of my favorites here is this cover-up from Jessica Simpson, who apparently now makes beachwear. The open-back is deliciously sexy.
• For a youthful, fun cover-up (with a bit of a scandalous v-neck), this one from Victoria’s Secret comes in this print version and other solid colors.

Dresses

• For a chic lunch or flea market shopping, this dress will give your shoulders a break from the beachy sun. I like the light fabric and the ruffled collar, and because it’s from Alloy, you won’t break the bank. Promise.
• I’m completely in love with 60’s and 70’s styles for spring/summer. This dress from Forever 21 has a great vintage print and would look great on darker skinned women, whether you have a tan or you are naturally dark.
• I could see Rachel Bilson wearing this dress, although her’s would probably cost $500 or so, while this barely hits $25 from Forever 21. Wear this with a thin gold necklace or bangles and some huge sunglasses.
• Orange is a great color to wear when you’re tan, and this dress has a beachy feel with the beaded collar. Buy it from Alloy. (P.S. I’ve seen similar styles at J. Crew for upwards of $70!)

Blouse/Shirt with Sleeves

• This blouse from Forever 21 is a good beach option. It’s got a peasant-y look, a great color combo and combines some of the ethnic print trends that are so popular this summer. And, since it’s F21, the price really can’t be beat.

Tanktop or Sleeveless Shirt

• The sailor-inspired look of this tanktop from Alloy is dressy enough for an evening out or with shorts during the day.
• These spaghetti-strap camisoles from Old Navy are exceedingly inexpensive and come in a few different colors. Try this cobalt blue for a pop of color.

Stylish Shorts

• Shorts are tricky. They can either look extremely chic and summery, or not. To keep the look current, wear them in a bermuda-length style if you’re taller or you are blessed with long legs, or shorter (upper-thigh length), which is universally flattering. Try for lighter, linen fabrics with cuffed hems. These Forever 21 shorts are less than $20 and come in a brown, navy or green shade.

Hoodie/Light Sweater

• Victoria’s Secret Pink is not only a great collection of not-so-affordable, yet covetable, lounging about clothing, but many of the items also translate well to beach attire. I like this hoodie for the adorable recycle icon on the front and the emblazoned, “Bring back the Love,” slogan on the back.
• I’m not a huge fan of American Eagle, but I can’t deny that they make some of the coziest, softest hoodies.
• Roxy is the quintessential beach brand, so why not wear this adorable little hoodie? It’s got great small details and is quite affordable.
• This sweater from the Gap is called “the beach sweater,” which makes it perfectly acceptable to indeed wear it at the beach. I like the crisp white color, which naturally, will look excellent set against a bit of a tan.

Next post, we’ll cover off on shoes and other assorted sundries. Happy packing!

1. I pack too much. And by “too much,” I mean that I literally have to sit on my suitcase to get it closed. It then resembles something my sister fondly refers to as “the bloated whale.”
2. I pack too much black clothing. It’s easy, yes, because everything matches, but it’s boring.

For a beach vacation, you shouldn’t pack too much (think about all the shopping you’ll do!) and you also should not pack black, unless it’s a swimsuit. Who wears black skinny jeans at the beach?

Here are the absolute essentials you’ll need to pack:

1. More than 2 swimsuits and less than 5. If you take 5 or more swimsuits, you won’t ever wear them all as you’ll end up wearing your favorite over and over anyway. Besides, leave some space for picking up a new one at the local boutique. Mix and match bikinis, one-pieces, tankinis…whatever you prefer.
2. 2 beach cover-ups. Make one more athletic and casual, and one a little more dressy.
3. 1 sarong. Tie it around your waist, at your bustline, or turn it into a halter dress. Make sure it’s large enough–don’t skimp on size. Look here for some tips on tying sarongs into different shapes.
4. 2 dresses. Like the cover-ups, you should aim for one dressier piece and one more casual dress, but don’t go too overboard: beach towns are generally laidback and you shouldn’t have to worry about feeling underdressed. You’re on vacation! Leave the Spanx at home!
5. 2 pairs of flip-flops. Bring one pair in a fun color and the other pair in a neutral color, like brown or black.
6. 1 pair of dressy sandals. Try some with ankle ties or beading.
7. 1 pair of comfortable flats. Just in case you do some serious shopping or walking, pack your most comfortable flats.
8. 1 blouse/shirt with sleeves.
9. 1 tanktop or sleeveless shirt.
10. 1 pair of stylish shorts. Look for linen fabrics, cuffed bottoms and a slightly baggy style (avoid the Daisy Duke syndrome!)
11. 1 hoodie or light sweater. It’s sometimes cool at night by the water, so don’t forget a layer.
12. 1 beach tote. Keep it a little more formal than a backpack so it can double as your handbag for going out.
13. 1 wide-brimmed hat.
14. 1 pair of sunglasses.
    
15. Self-tanner/sunblock.

Don’t worry, I’m not going to leave you hanging…I’ll post my suggestions for all of these items over the next few days. Let’s get the one that causes us gals the most consternation out of the way, shall we?

Swimsuit Options:

• This cute green Delias two-piece has a fun printed texture.
• Delias also has this fun one-piece with side cut-outs. The photo shows the navy color, but I also like the kelly green it comes in.
• For something with a bit more coverage and undeniable retro appeal, Delias comes through again, with this plaid suit.
• My favorite (affordable) swimsuit I’ve seen so far this season is the one-shoulder bikini by Victoria’s Secret. It’s a sexy shape and a fun color.
• This Victoria’s Secret bikini has a neat design on the top.
• Retro swimsuits are really in style this summer, like this one from Urban Outfitters.
• For a truly daring look, wear this ombre one-piece with cutouts (and a daring neckline!) from Victoria’s Secret.

Is there any essential items I missed on my packing list? See you next week with more cover-ups, summer dresses and sandals!