9 Beach Day Essentials

Liesl
Aug 27, 2019
4 min read

It's been hard to shake off the summer vibes over here at A Style Alike, so I thought I'd share my beach (or pool) day essentials; the things I absolutely need to have for the perfect day next to the water. Having just come back from three weeks in Thailand and the Maldives, I have a pretty good idea of what I NEED in my beach bag. Check out my personal picks, and also where you can buy each of the items for yourself.

1 Large Basket Bag

One of the most important things for me when going to the beach is a light and spacious beach bag. Basket bags are perfect! Sand is bound to get inside (even if you're careful) or stick to it, but because of the material it's so easy to clean off and make sure you're not bringing all that sand with you. As with most of my basket bags, I got this one off Etsy. They come in different sizes (mine is in the large size) and it's really affordable and good quality.

Buy this WOVEN FINDS CO. Straw Market Basket Bag here ($30)

2 Soft Turkish Towel

I love Turkish towels (also called Peshtemal or Hammam towels) instead of regular towels at the beach, as they are soft, lightweight and dries super fast. Once again Etsy is my go-to, as you can find almost any colorway and at great prices. Here I'm using a plain white one, although I have an array of colors and patterns that I like to match with my swimsuits.

Buy this 100% Cotton Traditional Turkish Hammam Towel ($22)

3 Feel-Good Swimsuit

Nothing can ruin a day at the beach or pool for me like ill-fitting swimwear, or something that I just don't feel comfortable in. I recently purchased this bikini by Faithfull The Brand, as I don't have anything like it and I adore the high-waisted fit and the quality of the fabric. It is so comfortable, and I don't find myself fidgeting with it or adjusting it like I do with many of my other bikinis.

Buy this FAITHFULL THE BRAND Marta Bikini ($179)

4 Breezy Cover Up

A light-weight beach cover-up is a must for me! My favorite type of cover-ups are simple, white linen button-up shirts; oversized ones are especially comfortable and looks laid-back and effortless.

Buy this H&M Long Linen-Blend Shirt ($34.99)

5 Sun Protection

My pasty skin ain't going nowhere near the beach without proper sun protection, so I usually apply it to my face and body before I leave the house, and then also each time after going swimming. I've been looooving Drunk Elephant's Umbra Sheer Physical Daily Defense SPF30 (get it here) for my face, because it doesn't clog my pores or leave a white residue, and Darling's Medium Coverage SPF for my body. (It smells great and stays put!).

Buy this DARLING Medium Coverage SPF ($30)

6 Easy Read

Personally, I absolutely need a book when I go to the beach. Few things in life is as relaxing to me as reading a good book with my toes in the sand and hearing the waves crashing in the distance. Bliss! During our 3-week trip, I finished "China Rich Girlfriend" by Kevin Kwan and "Little Fires Everywhere" by Celeste Ng, and my latest beach read is "Normal People" by Sally Rooney.

Buy NORMAL PEOPLE by Sally Rooney ($9)

7 Big Sun Hat

Continuing with sun protection, I HAVE TO have a nice, big sun hat when I go to the beach. Straw hats are light and effective (and stylish!). This summer I added this straw hat from H&M to my collection, and have been loving it as it doesn't lose its shape when you squish it into a bag or suitcase, and dries quickly if it gets wet.

Buy this H&M Paper Straw Sun Hat ($39.99)

8 Stylish Sunnies

I can't even imagine going to the beach without sunglasses, as the light reflecting from the sand will make me squint the day away. It's absolutely essential for me to wear a pair of sunnies with proper UV protective lenses and that feels light on my face. I tend to lean towards my trusty Ray-Ban collection, lately favoring these round ones that are so lightweight and stylish.

Buy these RAY-BAN Round Sunglasses ($153)

9 Snacks and Water

I don't need to tell you guys how important it is to hydrate while you're outside in the summer, right? I can't go to the beach without a proper supply of water and snacks. Water is the only thing that I feel really quenches my thirst after swimming or snorkeling. Snacks are also absolutely necessary! For aesthetic reasons I took an apple to the beach when I took these photos, but let's be honest, the best snack at the beach is a family-size bag (or two) of chips!