Beach bling is officially a thing
YOU’VE FINALLY BOOKED your beach break, and so far your packing consists of slinging an old cossie and a rucksack (that counts as a beach bag, no?) into a wheelie case. But stop right there, because what you wear on the beach is (at least according to the A-listers on sunloungers last week) quickly becoming the whole point of going away. And gone are the days of a simple bikini – now, it’s all about piling it on.
Need guidance? Gigi and Bella Hadid were in Mykonos last week and itsy-bitsy bikinis were just the start of a packing list that included silk headscarves, hoop earrings, hair clips and body chains.
But since when did a holiday become all about Bambi posing (look it up) and getting the perfect waterfall shower shot of your stacked necklaces? Social media has a lot to answer for, but it also has something to do with the booming beachwear market.
Mytheresa.com buying director Tiffany Hsu says the website’s vacation shop is busy year-round. ‘October is when we start seeing a peak in traffic, with another just before Easter.’ Her go-to brands this year were Jacquemus and Zimmermann, and her beachwear mantra is simple: ‘Minimal fuss, big impact.’ Statement Reina Olga swimwear, retro Dodo Bar Or cover-ups and XXL Lola Hats toppers are on her list.
One brand that delivers this mantra in spades is Three Graces London, whose block-colour kaftans are made for blueskied Instagram shots. Founder Catherine Johnson says the reason they’re so popular is that they’re timeless. ‘Loose and relaxed silhouettes are always chic,’ she adds. Bookmark & Other Stories and Arket for brilliant high street alternatives.
Once you’ve bought the beach dress, start thinking about footwear (Tiffany likes Ancient Greek Sandals), a hat (influencers love Mango) and jewellery (Gigi hasn’t taken Missoma’s chain-link necklace off ). Founder Marisa Hordern recommends the Axiom necklace and bracelet set, telling us, ‘You can link them together with our seamless clasps.’ Missoma pieces won’t tarnish if you wear them in the sea, FYI.
If all this shopping sounds like more work than the work you’re trying to escape, don’t panic. The only thing you really need at the beach is sun cream, a good book – and a friend to take pictures.