Fact: good beaches require excellent accessories. A low-key bikini or swimsuit can be instantly elevated by an Instagram sensation sunhat (hello, Jacquemus), or head-turner beach bag (hey, Nannacay). Thankfully, they all feature in this month’s beach accessories special to help make assembling your suitcase easier.
Get the accessories staples right – sandals, sunhat, shades and bag – and you can reinvent your vacation outfits over and over again.
Our fashion and beauty editor, Lisa Haynes, rounds up July’s ultimate vacation must-haves. Buy them now, and wear on the beach.
(Holding shot by Ayla Swim)
All hail Jacquemus, the label-to-know for statement/mahoosive beach hats that everybody wants. This Bomba XL hat is inspired by Riviera dressing (and not wanting to blend in, clearly). The exaggerated, extra-wide silhouette is like a transportable sun shade so you don’t even have to hire a parasol on the beach (bonus). Wear it on the sunbed with your favourite bikini by day and go A-lister incognito by night with a mini dress.
Orange and shells are two of summer 19’s style obsessions. Tick off the trend double with this Aranaz Kaia bucket bag, which is made for propping on the cocktail bar for sundowners. Almost too pretty to use, the dainty shell embellishment gives it a handmade feel (that’s because it actually is), while the square rattan top handle gives it an element of designer chic on the beach. We love.
If you hadn’t worked it out yet, shells are a recurring niche detail for this summer, from bags to footwear to bling. Treat your sun-tanned lobes to Chloé’s dreamy shell drop earrings, dripping from a gold-toned beach body. The semi-circular abalone shells make these a sure-fire beach to bar accessory. Wear them with stark black or white to really make this shell ear candy stand out.
Finding the ideal beach shoe is never easy… They need to a) navigate the sand, b) slip on and off easily and c) still look hot (but not overdone). Step forward ATP Atelier’s Roma snakeskin saviour. Yes, they’re orange, but the snakeskin grain practically makes them a neutral so they’ll go with everything. This backless style has a single toe strap so your foot feels free, but supported as you sprint the sand for the best sun lounger.
Talk about fringe benefits… Nannacay has topped our beach bag wish list yet again with this deep fringe Aurora tote. Made to be noticed (and Instagrammed, a lot), this woven raffia style requires somebody confident enough to swing it on their shoulders and cause a mini hurricane. In a neutral go-with-anything tone, it’s the mega-fringing that gives it ALL the impact.
Newsflash: the sarong is making a comeback. Why did they ever go away…? The speedy wraparound is your cover-up saviour when it comes to impromptu Aperol Spritz breaks. Check out Rajuta Sheth’s colourful prints, because the new wave of sarongs were definitely not made to be low-key. We love the blue paisley and green palm tree designs that will instantly jazz up your neutral swimwear.
Sunglasses can be boring. There, we said it. But not these Ganni works of art for your face. We’re a little obsessed with the fashion brand’s take on sunshine eyewear. Handcrafted in Italy from renewable fibres, the acetate sunglasses feature a tortoiseshell body with yellow corner accents. They’re just edgy enough to give your beach look a lift – without going overboard.
Any Questions or Tips to add?