beach – Fashion is a Verb

Beach Bag Essentials

Although the official start of Summer is still a month away, I’ve always considered Memorial Day weekend the start of Summer. So in preparation for the weekend ahead, I want to share my beach bag essentials! I always have my beach bag on standby so I can scurry on up to the beach at a moments notice and these are my must-haves for any beach day.

For as long as I can remember I have always used either a Billabong back pack or a Vineyard Vines tote as a beach bag. However, this year I am buying myself a woven tote because it is much easier to dump the sand out of than a bag with pockets. It is also way cuter! I have narrowed my choices down to the following three bags. The Kayu St Tropez tote (above) which comes in a handful of great colors.

sundry bag

This fun Sundry bag.

giselle

Or this Giselle tote. Each one is so cute but I have yet to make up my mind!

beach people

When it comes to beach towels, I am always trying to find a huge blanket style towel that actually will absorb water. The Beach People towels have been on my radar for a few years now and this guy is officially mine. They make a variety of great towels in tons of patterns and colors – which makes it hard to only buy one!

S&L

My other choice for a nice and big beach towel is Serena & Lily. The aqua color is perfectly beachy and the size is great for sharing!

bain

Now, being born and raised by the beach has given me years to test out all of the tanning lotions out there and there are only two that I use – and swear by. Bain de Soleil Orange Gelee has been an integral part of my tanning routine for years now and it is amazing. This stuff not only helps you tan it also seems to prevent me from burning. Of course, it only has SPF 4 in it, so if you have fair skin then I recommend using a much higher SPF.

maui

Maui Babe is my other favorite tanning lotion. This one literally smells like coffee beans, which I love! It does a great job of helping you achieve a dark tan. The only complaint I have is that the color gets all over your swimsuit when you apply it. The color washes out, but I would recommend the Bain de Soleil on the days that you are wearing a white swim suit!

nuetrogena

As much as I love a deep dark tan on my body, I never play around with my face and neck. My sister always makes fun of me because by the end of the Summer by body is ten shades darker than my face. However, I am trying to protect my face and prevent any sun damage – which could lead to premature aging. Neutrogena makes my favorite face sunscreen. I have been using this for several years and not only does it work well, it also doesn’t make my skin break out. I also use their Ultra Sheer Stick for my lips.

hat

To provide additional protection and to help keep the sun out of my eyes, I found this perfect cotton sun hat from JCrew. They have several great hat options – each for a great price! I particularly love this hat because it is soft and made from cotton which won’t make my head itch.

shades

One thing that you will never catch me on the beach without, is a pair of sunglasses. I typically like my Ray-Bans the best for the beach because they are polarized and sturdy. However, I also love a cute pair of shades that match my bikini, so sometimes fashion out weighs practicality.

The most important item in my beach bag will always be my water. I am honestly not a fan of the Swell water bottles because they don’t hold more than a bottle and a half of water. I drink a ton of water each day – especially when I am out in the sun. I recently discovered these awesome BKR water bottles which actually hold a liter of water. The little spiked guy is so cool, but, at the moment, the spiked collection only comes in the 500mL size. So for the time being I’ll stick to this pretty blue bottle and stay hydrated!

Two additional items that I keep in my beach bag at all times are It’s A 10 leave in conditioner and Off bug spray. The conditioner helps prevent my hair from turning into dreadlocks and of course, the bug spray always comes in handy when the wind suddenly switches and sends the bugs right at you!

I know this was a long post, but these are truly the essentials when it comes to packing a bag for the beach. Fingers crossed the weather is nice this Memorial Day weekend so I can grab my bag and head off to the beach!

Summer Denim

I cannot believe that Memorial Day is only a week away – which means it is time to bust out those white pants! I know white denim has been super on trend lately and it’s no longer considered a fashion faux pas to wear white during the colder months, however, for me, white pants are meant for Spring and Summer. Perhaps it’s because I have always associated white pants with warm, sunny days and a dark tan, but regardless of when you decide to wear white, these are the pants you’ll want in your wardrobe.

I have posted about these jeans a few times now – they really are that awesome. They fit like a glove, yet have so much stretch to them. I am a big fan of skinny jeans that truly are skinny from top to bottom and these Frame ‘Le Skinny’ jeans are perfection. Now the rips may not work for everyone, so if you prefer a milder version, than these JBrand jeans are another favorite of mine.

avedon

If you are looking for a classic pair of white skinny jeans, then look no further. These Citizens were the first pair of white jeans that I bought many years ago and I still love them. The quality is great and so is the fit. I actually have this exact pair in black as well! Being 5’9″, sometimes it is super difficult to buy a ‘crop’ or ‘ankle’ pant because they look like capris on me – however, these jeans are the perfect length which is probably why I love them so much!

These Hudson jeans are a new addition to my closet and I looove them. I would have never picked these out online, but when I saw them in person at South Moon Under I had to have them! They are so stinkin’ cool and unlike any other pants that I own. Hudson’s tend to stretch out a bit over time, so I recommend buying down a size.

shorts

One Teaspoon is most certainly my favorite brand for denim shorts. The cut is exactly what I have always wanted in a pair of shorts and the quality is excellent! I bought the ‘Bandits’ in the buoy wash a little while ago and fell in love. So, of course, now these white ones are going to join them!

Summer is officially creepin’ up on us, so check back tomorrow for my Beach Bag Essentials!

Bikini Season – Part II

As I mentioned in my last post, there truly is no limit to the amount of bikinis you should have. With all of the amazing options out there, it’s impossible to choose just a few. So, I have a few more suits that I am adding to my list for this Summer!

Vitamin A has always been one of my favorite bikini brands. They have the best quality swimwear and some of the cutest beach coverups! This particular suit comes in a variety of colors but I am a major fan of this blue. My favorite part is the braiding detail on the straps – it adds that extra little something that makes this suit amazing!

I have mentioned my obsession with Andi Bagus in previous posts and how much I love all of their products. This top can be worn with the ties in the front which is super cute or it could be worn as an actual top – not just a bikini top. They offer a wide variety of bikini bottoms that you could pair with this top.

These bottoms are my favorite. Since the top is the statement piece, I want my bottoms to be subtle, and these are perfect. You can buy the top and bottoms in almost any color but this periwinkle is perfection!

Next up is this feminine suit from Marysia. I discovered this brand on Instagram about a month ago. They have a small collection of suits but each one is beautiful. This suit comes in white, pale pink, and black. Each color looks so amazing that I truly cannot decide which one I want the most!

mollyj

Another great Insta find was Molly J Swim. This top is perfect for girls like myself – lifetime members to the itty bitty titty club! I am not normally a fan of pink but this “dusty rose” color is so pretty and would look great with a tan.

Now all I need is for Summer to get here so I can break out all these great bikinis!!

Bikini Season – Part I

Every Spring, as the weather slowly gets warmer, I start to compile my Bikini wish list for the Summer. I feel the same way about bikinis as I do about shoes – you can never have too many. I am fortunate enough to live at the beach so, I spend all of my free time laying in the sun, working on my tan. However, I also feel like you need a solid bikini collection so that you aren’t re-wearing the same suit day after day. Not only because you want to keep them in good condition, but also because you wouldn’t wear the same outfit to work three days in a row!

I love this bikini from Indah. The top is so feminine and unique. I am also a big fan of a classic black bikini. The bottoms are a bit skimpy, but once you get some color on those cheeks, you’ll be fine!

Speaking of a classic, this white Kiini bikini would look amazing with a nice tan. I have wanted this bikini for a while now so, I will most certainly be buying it this Summer. The top and bottoms come in a variety of color options if you want something more fun!

This top from Frankie’s Bikinis is so cool. It will probably give me a horrible tan line, but it’s totally worth it. There are several different bottom options to choose from as well.

frankie 1

As far as color goes, I love the pale lavender color, but I am torn between that or this super cool tie-dye option.

I found this brand, Kai Lani, on Instagram back in the Fall and cannot wait to buy one of their bikinis for this Summer. I love this suit, but I am torn between the two colors. Any thoughts? I know I have several white bikinis on my list, but white just looks soooo good!

Beach Babe Swimwear is another one of my recent Instagram finds. I am obsessed with the color of this suit and the braiding details. The best part though is that it appears to be a great suit for swimming in the ocean. Since the top is nice and strapped in, you won’t have to worry about any nip-slips if a wave knocks you over!

Let me know which suits are your favorites! And don’t forget to check back later this week for the other half of my list!!

Bikini Season

Bikini season is right around the corner and I could not be more excited! Each year my bikini wish list is a mile long and it is sooo hard to decide on which ones I want the most. This year I am starting early, and I have already begun checking off my list.

Can you tell I like navy?

This bikini is from JCrew but I actually mixed & matched this set. The Friday top is currently 30% off and the Star bottoms are on clearance with an additional 30% off! If I were you I would scurry on over to JCrew ASAP and check out the bikini selection. They have excellent quality swim suits for unbelievable prices!

This Melissa Odabash bikini was another gift from my Aunt. Melissa Odabash makes some of my favorite bikinis. I have several of her bikinis and they are perfectly cut for just the right amount of coverage. Also, the quality is amazing and they hold up extraordinarily well in the Summer sun – totally worth the money.

These are my first two bikinis for the upcoming Summer season and I have several more waiting to join them. Stay tuned for my next picks!

Time to Tan

As I mentioned in my last post, it can be challenging to get dressed during Spring. The weather is so up and down that you never know what to wear. On the days that the sun is shining and it feels like Summer, I instantly reach for a dress or some shorts. However, I personally feel super insecure wearing such clothes without a tan. I have the type of skin that can get nice and dark, but I also lose my tan super quick. By the end of Winter, I am as pale as a ghost. Last year, I discovered San Tropez self tanner and I do not know how I ever survived without it in my life.

I have tried tanning beds and spray tans, but I am not a fan of either. This tanning mousse is easy as pie and you can control how much color you want. However, I must tell you how imperative it is that you follow the directions.

I always exfoliate the day before and I always lather my body in Kiehls Creme de Corps immediately prior to application. Once my lotion has set in, I apply San Tropez all over my body. It takes me about five minutes to work from neck to toe. I make sure every inch is evenly covered and that it has all been rubbed in, to avoid any streaks. Then once I am finished, I awkwardly walk around the house naked for a good ten minutes so that it has enough time to set!

I recommend starting slowly with self tanner to avoid an unnatural look. I have applied it once a week for the past few weeks and have gradually achieved a bit of color. I certainly do not look like I just got back from a vacation, but I am now confident enough to wear my favorite new shorts on the beach!

Sweater Tank (Jcrew) Shorts (One Teaspoon) Sunglasses (JCrew) Sandals (Schutz)