There’s no better reason to make summer your favourite season than the opportunity to hit the beach. With the heat ramping up as the summer season goes on, it’s only right that you get outdoors and start enjoying the sunshine. If you live close to the beach, you can make it part of your daily routine to come in from work, slip on your summer attire and venture down to the coast for an evening stroll, breathing in the fresh ocean air and enjoying the soothing sounds of the waves lapping the shore. For those of us who aren’t quite so fortunate, why not plan an excursion to the beach this summer, and start dreaming of feeling the sand between your toes?
Either way, you’ll want to be beach ready without spending a fortune on your look. There are some key attributes to any summer look: the dress, the hat, the bag and the sunglasses. Other accessories do come into play, but these are the “big four”. Pull these off without breaking the bank, and you will have achieved the ultimate beach look for less.
The Dress
When scouring the shops and online for the ultimate beach dress, it’s important to consider a few things. Firstly, you want an outfit that isn’t restricting, that allows you to move freely, play a fun game of frisbee or have a cheeky paddle in the sea. You don’t want to purchase a stunning little floral number if it’s made of a material that doesn’t breathe and fits so snugly that you sweat buckets the moment you set foot into the sunshine.
The most apt dresses for venturing to the beach are casual and light beach dresses. Add a cute selection of the latest sundresses to your wardrobe, including longer maxi dresses, off-the-shoulder dresses, and classic shirt dresses. Being looser fitting yet still flattering, these dresses means you’ll be comfortable yet look stylish for a day on the beach. Stick to low prices so that you won’t be disappointed if your dress gets ruined by salty-sea watermarks!
The Hat
A wide brimmed floppy straw hat is the ideal choice when considering summer sun protection – get that scalp covered! Not only will this hat be a practical choice in sheltering your eyes from the glare of the midday sun, but it is also a stalwart fashion accessory. Just like jeans, a floppy straw hat will never go out of fashion meaning that you won’t have to seek out a new hat every season. You could even change the look of your hat depending on your mood by adding different colour ribbons, using suedette cord for a more sophisticated look, or totally customise your hat with personalised detailing, such as sequinned lettering.
The Bag
If you’re hitting the beach, you can’t possibly go without a beach bag. You’ll need a bag that is large and practical so that you can hold your sun cream, food, drink, and summer read. You could opt for a colour or fabric to tie in your other accessories or go for a straw over arm bag that’ll go with anything. On the other hand, you may want to be a little bit more adventurous and plump for the bold and bright. Pinks and oranges are on trend this season and should still be popular next summer too.
The Sunglasses
For a classic look, a pair of black framed, heavy set 1950s-esque shades are hard to beat. Other styles that remain in fashion year on year are the oversized aviators and gold effect John Lennon-esque sunnies. If you select one of these styles, you can save yourself from having to buy a new pair of sunglasses next season as you will already have a classic pair that will last you.
Sunglasses are one of those accessories that you can’t scrimp on at the detriment of your safety. Don’t get a bargain basement cheap pair if they have no UV protection. Invest in a decent pair of sunglasses with industry standard UV protection, anti-glare and a solid build, and they will last you for years to come. Sometimes, it pays to invest that little bit extra!
To achieve the ultimate beach look this summer season, you don’t have to be hot footing it into high-end boutiques or shopping the latest catwalk looks. Look online, check out the high street and explore those trends that remain fashionable every season. Don’t opt for fads as this will see you purchasing new accessories and clothing every year when there is no need. So slip on your summer dress, put on your aviators, place your floppy hat upon your head, pack your bag and head down to the beach!
This article is a sponsored collaboration. The pink links in the content indicate a sponsored link or information source. The blog post reflects my own experience and the sponsor hasn’t had any control over my content 🙂
