That would be the woman with the tangled, matted hair wearing the sandy, sagging cover-up and holding various bags of damp stuff. If you're one of us, and you want to clean up your beach act, you're in luck. iVillage stylist Boni Joi says there are only five items required for a successful beach look: a classic big-enough tote, a chic hat, the right bathing suit, a stylish cover-up and pretty sandals.
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Canvas Travel Tote You need one spacious bag that is large enough to hold all your beach essentials. We love this sturdy J. Crew tote because it's a roomy 17 inches high and 22 inches wide. The look is always classic and clean on the outside, even when it's a mess on the inside. This tote also features inside zippered pockets for your wallet and sunglasses. |
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Chic Straw Hat Whenever you want to look brilliant on the beach, wear a great hat. It not only protects your hair color, but it helps keep your hair in place. A woven straw cowboy hat like this one from designer Melissa Odabash will also shade your face while offering a look of relaxed hippie-chic-ness. The tiny natural turquoise beads encircling the top are an especially sweet-at-the-beach feature. |
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Fashion-Forward, Flattering Bathing Suit Whether on sand or in the sea, your bathing suit should offer sufficient coverage, support your curves and be fashion-forward, like this two-piece from |
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Stylish Beach Cover-Up A stylish cover-up is a must for when you want some extra material between you and the sun ‑- or you and everyone else on the beach. We love this white cotton kimono dress from Eberjey, which makes walking to the concession stand or strolling along the boardwalk easy. |
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Practical and Pretty Sandals Beach sandals should be both pretty and sensible. For shoes that look adorable but won't trip you up, we like this buckle thong from Banana Republic. It has super feminine style with a durable rubber sole for stability. |
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And Don't Forget... · Wear only 100 percent UVP sunglasses to protect your eyes from the sun. · Bring along unscented baby wipes to clean hands, feet, sunglasses, tubes, bottles and the residue of those greasy french fries. · Pack your sunblock, lip balm, wallet, keys and camera in individual Ziploc bags to keep them free of sand and beach goo. · Instead of a blanket, use a cotton sheet as a sand coverlet; it's light, dries quickly, and folds up into a tiny square. · Some stylists recommend that you apply conditioner to your wet hair and don't rinse it out before you head to the beach. It keeps your hair moisturized and makes it heavier, helping to prevent flyaways and frizz. · Make sure your waterproof sunscreen offers both UVA and UVB protection. Apply it before you hit the dunes, so it's absorbed before you expose yourself to the sun. Reapply it every couple of hours, even if you don't get wet. If you go into the water, definitely reapply it when you get out ‑- even waterproof sunscreen comes off. |
