The Ultimate Guide To Sleek Beach Style
With the sun out and SPF on, it’s time to turn your attention to this summer’s beach (and poolside) style. Read on to discover the pieces that will ensure you look chic in the heat. By COLLEEN ROSS
You’ve booked your flights, planned your travel itinerary and, mentally, you’re already at the beach. Next comes the age-old vacation dilemma: what to pack? Happily, there is a fail-safe formula to ensure your wanderlust wardrobe delivers. So, whether you’re hitting the sand, surf or sun lounger, here are the staples you’ll want to buy now and wear on repeat…
A breezy sundress
The beauty of a sundress is that it can be worn from day to night and requires little effort to style – think breezy fabrics, eye-catching details and figure-skimming shapes. Ticking every box, Missoni’s ‘Mare’ maxi is made from signature crochet-lace patterned with colorful chevron stripes and has a billowing handkerchief hem. If you’re heading to dinner, simply add layers of gold jewelry and your signature scent. Elsewhere, Dôen’s romantic, 1930s-inpired ‘Tahlia’ dress is cut on the bias from languid silk-charmeuse and patterned with a meadow of vintage blooms.
Summer sandals
There’s nothing like feeling the sand between your toes, but you’ll still need something sleek to slip your feet into. A timeless choice for vacation (and when you’re back in the city), Aeyde’s ‘Nala’ sandals are crafted from leather in a sleek T-bar shape and provide the perfect contrast to whimsical accessories. Alternatively, Amanu’s handcrafted ‘Kigali’ sandals are embellished with glossy carnelian agates and have barely-there straps. If you can’t resist a little bit of bling, then you’ll love the mottled gold-tone monograms on Givenchy’s ‘4G Liquid’ style. Open-toe silhouettes like these call for a fresh pedicure, so be sure to book yourself in for a treatment before your flight.
A raffia bag
Part vital carryall, part style staple, choose your beach bag with care and it will segue straight into your post-vacation closet. As a fail-safe accessory to summer outfits, we can’t get enough of basket bags – that’s why Loewe remixes its cult ‘Puzzle Fold’ style each season. This version from its collaboration with Paula’s Ibiza is both practical and chic, not to mention easy to pack. Meanwhile, Stella McCartney’s crocheted tote is perfectly proportioned for all your beachside essentials – plus, it has a handy zipper pocket inside for securing your passport while traveling.
The one-piece
Perfect if you prefer a little more coverage while sunbathing or taking a dip in the sea, a swimsuit is sure to be one of the hardest working pieces in your vacation wardrobe. Exclusive to NET-A-PORTER, Venetian label Lido’s minimal ‘Sessantasette’ style is cut from high-quality stretch fabric and comes in a deep, ocean-like turquoise shade. Follow designer Daria Stankiewicz’s lead by wearing yours all vacation long with an oversized shirt. On the opposite end of the style spectrum, La DoubleJ’s halterneck one-piece – another NET-A-PORTER exclusive – is every maximalist’s dream. Match your manicure to the vibrant orange blooms.
Cool cover-ups
Designed to help you segue from beach to lunch with ease, the perfect cover-up looks effortless because it is. Pucci excels at this, offering vibrant, retro motifs that instantly evoke summer and require very little in the way of accessorizing. Alix of Bohemia, too, is a master of vacation color and print – the New York-based brand’s ‘Stevie’ shirt echoes retro bowling styles and twinkles with light-catching gold charms. For a more minimalist mood, seek out styles by Toteme – from our NET SUSTAIN edit of consciously crafted pieces, its organic cotton wrap dress is impossibly chic. Accentuate the graphic monogram print with sleek black accessories.
Stylish sunglasses
Sunglasses are a must-have in the summer – not only do they offer crucial UV protection but they also add immediate polish to warm-weather outfits. From its collaboration with New York label Khaite, Oliver Peoples’ timeless ‘1966C’ pair have rectangular tortoiseshell frames that echo the chic, retro feel of the decade they’re named after. Elsewhere, Celine Eyewear’s ‘Triomphe’ style offers a contemporary take on classic aviators, while Saint Laurent Eyewear’s angular cat-eye shades are the ultimate cool-girl staple.
Bikinis
Summer is the perfect time to invest in a new bikini (or seven) – and there is no shortage of covetable styles to choose from this season. Part of our NET SUSTAIN edit and exclusive to NET-A-PORTER, Maygel Coronel’s sunset-orange two-piece has been crafted in the brand’s native Colombia with a flattering wrap-effect top and high-cut briefs. The artfully folded floral appliqués are a brand signature – and undeniably romantic. For all-out poolside glamour, you can’t go wrong with a monogrammed bikini courtesy of Gucci. It comes in a classic triangle shape and has gleaming gold-tone accents that’ll shine as they catch the light.