By Janet Kelly
BEACH OUTINGS require the right clothing and gear. Here are the items I’m eyeing.
ABOVE LEFT: The black edging on this all-cotton, wide-brim Maurice Floppy Hat ($120) makes the difference between a blah white topper and one with flare.
ABOVE RIGHT: I’m not a fan of tie-dye in general, but I’d make an exception for this frayed Panama Hat. Made from high-quality Toquilla straw from Ecuador, it’s $250 from Sensi Studio. The removable scarf is a bonus.
BELOW RIGHT: The reason I don’t have more (actually any) Helen Kaminski hats—I think they’re unfailingly attractive—is because of, well, the price. They’re rarely on sale, but this raffia Yolanda hat is marked down to $180 from $300. It comes with an adjustable elastic inner band and a flexible wire edge on the almost 4-inch brim so you can set it at your most flattering angle. Besides peony, it comes in blue, tan, burgundy and in beige with a rust-colored fringe.
BELOW LEFT: Versatile, packable, protective (3.5 inch brim) and colorful. What’s not to like? This crochet hat in a sunny palette is $78 at Anthropologie.
LEFT: Made of broadcloth cotton, Frances Valentine’s limited edition Veracruz embroidered caftan dress ($698) will keep you covered while lounging on a Mediterranean beach somewhere and then take you to après beach cocktails or dinner on the veranda. It’s generously sized, has pockets, and there are only a few sizes left on the FV site.
CENTER: Light and airy with a roomy fit, Emerson Fry’s beach-ready Olympia Caftan ($178, Garmentory) is hand block printed on organic cotton. It comes with a removable sash, so you can cinch in the waist—or not.
RIGHT: Easy to wear by itself or to pop over a bathing suit, Vineyard Vines’s Beachy Stripe Tie-Front Cover-Up ($93.99) is a happy combination of pastel hues and hot pink and royal blue tassels.
LEFT: The Next Generation Original Beach Canopy Chair ($69.95, Renetto) has pretty much everything you’d want in a seat for the beach. An attached pillow, a canopy with an adjustable visor in the front, pockets for storing reading materials or sunscreen and such and two cup holders, plus it weighs a reasonable 12 pounds for no-sweat transport.
CENTER: A beach tent—what a good idea, especially one that only weighs 4.45 pounds (the frame is fiberglass), is made of water-repellent polyester and offers UV light protection of 50+. The Pacific Breeze Easy Set Up Beach Tent from Amazon is 87 inches long by 47 inches high and 49 inches deep. It sells for $69.99.
RIGHT: Also perfect for protection (UPF 50) from the sun is the oversize (8-foot) Sport Brella Premiere UPF 50+ Umbrella Shelter ($54.37, Amazon). It weighs 8 pounds and its center pole has a tilt mechanism to provide screen where you want it. Zippered windows let the sea breezes in and prevent a blow-away umbrella situation.