Summer Essentials: Best Beach Bags of 2013

There's still plenty of time to squeeze in trips to the beach and pool during this last month of summer, and if you're in the market for a new pool/beach bag here are some great options!

Lilly Pulitzer Shoreline Tote Chin Chin

I have this bag and actually use it as just a regular tote bag, but Lilly markets it as a beach bag. The inside wipes clean easily and there is an interior zip pocket for keeping iPhones and such dry and sand-free.

Lilly Pulitzer Insulated Cooler Bag

Lilly Pulitzer's insulated cooler bags are actually my top choice for a beach bag. I have the Limeade Floaters print from two years ago that I still use and it has held up well! You can fit a decent amount of stuff in it and it zips across the top. As an added bonus it comes with a pink Lilly Pulitzer bottle opener! (I have this cooler bag in Chin Chin as well, that I use as a multi-purpose bag.) 

I don't have these next few bags so can't speak from personal experience of their usefulness as beach/pool totes, but they are all adorable and appear very functional as well:

Stella & Dot How She Does It-Navy Stripe

My Stella & Dot Stylist Sarah highly recommends this tote as a beach bag. Multiple interior pockets, including a water bottle holder, make it easy to stay organized!

Vineyard Vines Nor'Easter Tote

This nylon tote from Vineyard Vines also has multiple interior pockets and would be a great beach tote.

Marley Lilly Monogrammed Large Jute Tote

This monogrammed tote from Marley Lilly comes in multiple color options!

Bamboula Ltd. for J.Crew Market Tote

This woven tote has a beachy vibe!

What have been your "go-to" bags for trips to the beach and pool this summer?

-L

xoxo

Featured Outfit: Aquarium Trip!

During my week at the beach my best friend and I went to the North Carolina Aquarium one day! I incorporated some sea creatures into my outfit by wearing seersucker shorts with embroidered lobsters, a seashell necklace, and a turtle ring!

Cardigan: J.Crew Factory; Camisole: Banana Republic Factory; Shorts: J.Crew Factory; Necklace: Lilly Pulitzer; Bangles: Kate Spade; Turtle Ring: Kate Spade; Shoes: Jack Rogers; Earrings: Kate Spade; Sunnies: Tory Burch

Turtle Ring + Live Turtle!

-L
xoxo

Beach Week Outfits

As y'all can see my beach trip has inspired lots of blog posts. Today I want to share a few more featured outfits I wore during the week.

My best friend came for a couple days and we went out to dinner the first night she was there.  I wore a lightweight sleeveless printed top from Old Navy, my white Joe's Jeans skinnies, Honora Pearls, and my Kate Spade Metropolitan Pearl stud earrings. You can't see in the picture, but my silver Jack Rogers completed the outfit nicely.

The next day we went to a surf shop on the island that also carries lots of preppy clothes, including Lilly, Vineyard Vines, and Trina Turk; as well as a decent selection of Citizens of Humanity and 7 For All Mankind jeans. Here I am sitting in a Lilly chair wishing I could take it with me! I wore my Lilly Pulitzer Petula dress from Resort 2009, along with a Lilly watch (similar style here) and cocktail ring. Lilly croakies are holding my vintage Ray-Bans around my neck. My Honora pearl necklace and Kate Spade earrings made a repeat appearance. 

The last day my bestie was there we both rocked printed shorts. I am wearing a sleeveless Polo Ralph Lauren top I've had for about seven years with my favorite Lilly shorts-the Creme Fraiche Callahans from Summer 2010. I'm also wearing the Honora pearls, Kate Spade earrings, Lilly watch and ring, and vintage Ray-Bans again.

-L

xoxo

Fourth of July Fashion

Hope y'all have had a great weekend! I wanted to share how I celebrated the Fourth of July in style. During the afternoon on the beach I wore my red, white, and blue Old Navy bikini and used my navy blue Vineyard Vines koozie. Banana Republic sunnies and a J.Crew floppy sun hat complemented my patriotic beachwear nicely. Here is my Polyvore set:


After some beach time with beautiful weather I got ready for the evening Fourth of July cookout with my family and some family friends. Here is my outfit:

Top: Banana Republic outlet; Skirt: J.Crew outlet seersucker mini; Necklace: Honora Pearls; Earrings: Kate Spade Metropolitan Pearl Studs; Watch: Lilly Pulitzer; Shoes: Jack Rogers silver Navajos

close-up of watch

Blue toenails! OPI "No Room for the Blues."I think this color is discontinued-I bought it on clearance at Ulta about six months ago.

Red, white, and blue fruit salad was on the menu! Blueberries, watermelon, and sprite melon! I can't take credit for putting this together but it was definitely the most patriotic item on the buffet!

With a dear family friend roasting marshmallows for s'mores using the remaining coals in the grill. Here you can see what my outfit looks like on me!

What did you wear for the Fourth of July and how did you celebrate?

-L

xoxo

Beach Gear!

Hey y'all! Happy Mother's Day to all the moms and moms-to-be out there! And sending prayers up for everyone who has lost a mom or a child in the past year. This year I went to the beach with my mom and dad for Mother's Day weekend. I enjoyed being at the coast for the first time since Labor Day 2011. Here are some of the essentials I take with me for an afternoon of relaxation on the sand.

1. Lilly Pulitzer Insulated Cooler. This is marketed as a cooler but I use it as a beach bag. It comes with a pink Lilly Pulitzer bottle opener as well!

2. Lilly Pulitzer Insulated Lunch Tote. Perfect for keeping drinks and snacks cool!

3. Lilly Pulitzer Koozie. A cold drink just isn't the same without a koozie, and a Lilly koozie makes it even better! The print shown here is Scarlet Begonias but I have multiple prints in my koozie collection!

4.Vineyard Vines flip-flops. This particular patchwork style is not available online right now but you could potentially find it at a Vineyard Vines outlet or browse the Vineyard Vines flip-flops collection for similar styles.

5. Lilly Pulitzer re-usable sandwich bag. These are great for holding snacks that don't need refrigeration or just random loose items you keep in your beach bag. If you use them for food, they are washable.

6. Calvin Klein sunglasses from TJ Maxx. I know I've mentioned these in several posts already, but they are great sunglasses that I found a couple years ago and I get frequent compliments on them. 

7. Lilly Pulitzer sunglasses strap. The Lilly sunglasses straps are available in multiple prints. The one pictured here is Scarlet Begonias. They are reversible and have print on one side and a fun saying on the other.

8. Lilly Pulitzer Tunic. I use a Lilly tunic I found on sale last summer as a cover-up. This exact tunic is no longer available but you can find a similar style here.

9. Tommy Hilfiger towel. You can see a tiny bit of my pink and green Tommy Hilfiger beach towel that I found at TJ Maxx a couple years ago. It has green and white stripes with pink flamingos, and is extra long-which I love!

Add a good book and a great bathing suit, and you are ready for a day at the beach! Just don't forget to wear sunscreen and drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated! I'm thankful it has been consistently warm, but can you tell I'm excited for it to be summer already!

xoxo