The end of a day at the beach brings many sensations: layers of salt and sunscreen tightening across the skin, damp and crunchy hair squished beneath a hat, grains of sand at your heels and a face slightly flushed from the heat. Taking this feeling from the beach to the bar might be one of life’s great pleasures: the steamy freedom of summer.
Sartorially, to avoid feeling dusty and disheveled, the transition from shore to dancefloor needs to be managed, but with a light touch to keep the mood high. Once grooming is taken care of, essentially, the look falls into three categories: your swimwear makes the outfit, you throw on a cover-up, or your beach accoutrement becomes the outfit.
Go easy on hair and makeup
After a day at the beach, Byron Bay makeup artist Candice September suggests a quick rinse to wash excess sand out of your hair and salt off the body.
From there, if you wear makeup, keep it light and fresh. Because sun, sand and salt can all dehydrate the skin, start with a good moisturiser. Use complexion products minimally, and only apply concealer if you feel you need it.
If too much sun has left your chest darker than your face, September suggests using a cream bronzer to colour match. “Keep this to the forehead and cheek area where you naturally bronze,” she says. “Then apply a cream highlighter on the high points of the face to help emphasise your glow.” For lips and cheeks, use an all-in-one tint that can do both, then a swipe of waterproof mascara and some brow gel to finish.
When September is at the beach, she leaves her hair out, hoping the sea salt will work wonders with her curls. If this doesn’t happen, “a little trick” she learned from a colleague on set is to run some body lotion through her hair to calm it down before she pulls it back into a slick bun.
Keep your swimmers on
“I love classic swimsuits,” says stylist Ilkin Kurt. With a good pair of super high-waisted pants or a draped midi skirt, “a one-piece can transfer to your chic bodysuit-top”.
Alternatively, a dress made from flowy, transparent fabric or mesh can be worn over a bikini to show it off. “Play with textures [when] layering,” says designer Lucy Folk, who suggests sheer organza for wearing over a swimsuit. In this instance opt for technical fabrics over delicate silks that might be ruined by salty water, or ensure your swimsuit is bone dry before getting dressed.
It helps to plan ahead so you can swap out your T-shirt and shorts. Folk will often pack a “party trick” in her beach bag, “like a fun dress or pants to wear with my day look”.
Throw on a cover-up
The beach cover-up can take many forms – but generally you want something loose fitting and breathable that “won’t crease easily and can be folded into a beach bag” for later, says Lauren Tapper, creative director of womenswear brand Harris Tapper. It’s important to choose something machine washable that won’t be ruined by sunscreen or a salt stain. Cotton is the best material for this.
The original cover-up, “a crisp, white men’s shirt is a must for me”, says Kurt. “Worn over swimwear, it is very handy and dries super quickly.” A collared shirt offers sun protection for your neck and arms throughout the day too.
Loose fitting, mini or full-length button-up or day dresses also make for an easy transition to the bar. “Nothing feels worse than fussiness after a day in the water,” says Tapper.
after newsletter promotion
Perhaps the most useful garment at the beach is a terry towelling dress or robe – absorbent enough to double as a towel and robust enough to withstand creasing. To avoid overheating – or looking like you’ve worn your dressing gown out of the house – these are best at a shorter length.
While looking a little bit scrumpled is OK after the beach, to stop garments from being totally wrinkled, rather than stuffing them into a beach bag, fold them and set them aside while you swim or hang them from a shade tent pole.
Your beach accoutrement becomes the outfit
If you’re packing light and want maximum versatility, a sarong can do it all. “I find [them] so wonderful tied into a top or around my head, as a skirt or simply to sit on,” says Folk. “You can even use your sarong as a change room!”
Turn a sarong or a very thin Turkish beach towel into a halter top or dress by wrapping it around your back, crossing the two top corners in front of the bust, then twisting them to tie around the neck. Wear it loose or secure it at the waist with a tuck in or a belt.
Add accessories
Earrings, bracelets and rings can dress up a beach outfit in a purposeful way that complements the otherwise carefree vibe. “I have a pouch of jewellery that I always keep in my handbag for some extra sparkle,” says Folk.
Pair a backless top with a good watch or bracelet and a ring that matches. “It’s good to complement the decolletage,” says Kurt. “If I have a bare chest, I do some sort of statement earring and ring combo.”
Keep shoes simple: rope sandals or refined flip-flops. “I would go a leather option,” says Kurt.
Since a larger bag is required for the beach, it’s useful to keep a smaller one handy, such as a clutch or pouch. Your larger beach bag can be hidden under the table, in the car or cloakroom, while a clutch accompanies you to order at the bar.
