BEACH DAY ESSENTIALS

I haven’t really felt like going to the beach around here yet. But my sense is that will soon change. The boys are less than two weeks away from the end of the school year, and baseball just ended for the season, so I’m no longer landlocked in the concrete jungle on weekends. The weather in the Hamptons looks somewhat promising for next weekend, so I’m trying to take inventory on all of my beach day essentials.

I’m going to keep it real here and admit that swimsuit shopping has been a struggle this year. I keep wondering if there is some crash course in fitness, kind of the like the way I used to cram for exams in college. If you have any tips, please feel free to message me. ;-) Unfortunately, Photoshop only works on the screen and not in real life, so what’s the point?

I don’t really like to take a ton of things to the beach. Somehow my children keep acquiring new toys, as if carting an additional two human beings wasn’t enough added weight. So whenever they are in tow (basically always), I have to keep my own baggage to the essentials. In case you’re in the same boat, I thought I’d share a few of them. So here goes…

Let’s begin with the things I can wear, which means I don’t have to carry them. A male friend of mine used to joke and say, “Cosmo tells me to wear black because it’s slimming.” Well, he and Cosmo were right. So if you’re not thrilled with your figure at the moment, a solid black suit can be a safe bet. The scalloped edge swimsuit I’m wearing is a bargain, but very few sizes remain. But always check back as restocks do happen. It’s a knock-off of this designer swimsuit, which I’ve tried and might be worth the splurge if I was in better shape right now. The designer suit definitely stays on my toosh a lot better and is not as cheeky as the lower-priced version. Here is a similar version that might be a nice happy medium between the two.

You might think you need something called a “swim coverup” to go over your suit. Well, I’m here to tell you that you don’t. I’m all about versatility and making things work at least double duty, so I absolutely love using my Grayson Hero Button-Up as a coverup. The length is amazing, and the tissue cotton keeps me covered without making me sweat. Use code JENNIFERMEJIA at checkout for $25 off your order.

A hat is a necessity to protect our faces from sun damage. I’ve had the one I’m wearing for a few years now. A larger option is here. A packable option is here.

Sunglasses are a must to avoid squinting and encouraging more crow’s feet. I love this Hollywood glam pair that comes in both the black I’m wearing and in a tortoise frame.

As for jewelry, I like to keep it simple. I’m wearing my necklaces from Haverhill Collection that I rarely take off. I don't have to because they are real 14K gold and gemstones. These necklaces have special meaning to me. I’m wearing a 15” 5-Birthstone Necklace and a 17” 1-Letter 2-Birthstone Necklace. Use code BEAUTYLOVEANDGRUB at checkout for 15% off your order.

To carry all of my stuff (and probably a lot for my kids), I love this stylish straw tote. If you’re like me and need more than a personal tote, you may want to check out this Cabana Tote. It’s a sustainable bag made of 23 recycled plastic water bottles, and its silicone coating keeps it and its content dry. Plus it contains all of the usual pockets and organization you’d expect from a beach tote or overnighter. To hold sunscreen, lip gloss, money, and keys in a secure place, I love this clear pouch in a perfect shade for the beach. It’s also great for travel because it’s TSA-approved to carry your liquids.

As for what goes inside the bag, the possibilities are endless. At a minimum, sunscreen is a must. I’ve done a lot of research, and I’ve narrowed the face options down to three to keep in my bag. SuperGood’s Unseen Sunscreen is probably the hottest one right now, and that’s because it’s oil-free, hydrating, and dries matte, and clear. This one from Dr. Dennis Gross is wonderful for sensitive skin and leaves a dewy finish. And finally, Versed Guards Up has a slight peach tint and blends into all skin tones to even out discolorations. That’s important when most of us aren't wearing foundation to the beach but still want to look fresh. For the body (and face), try Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch, as it rubs in clear and isn’t greasy or sticky.

For beach accessories, I’m recommending a few options when it comes to chairs, umbrellas, and cooler bags. You basically need to decide if you’re more of a form (style) over function person or value function above all else. It’s not that the stylish items don't also function well, but rather that others may function slightly better in some ways. Hopefully that makes sense. I’ve discovered a new (to me) company called Business & Pleasure Co. I’m loving a few things from their line like this striped beach umbrella. It has a UV- and water-resistant canopy, is trimmed with a fun cotton fringe, and comes with a matching canvas carrier bag to make traveling to the beach easier. If your priority is form, try this umbrella with a sand anchor and tilt mechanism. It gets amazing reviews from Amazon and comes with a 60-day guarantee. You’ll probably have at least one windy day in a two-month period to put it to the test.

To comfortably lounge on the beach, you’ll need a chair. This block print beauty will go nicely with the striped beach umbrella from Business & Pleasure Co. It has a large zippered back pocket to store important items, padded backpack straps to carry it to and from the beach, is made of mold-, UV-, and water-resistant umbrella canvas, and reclines to three positions. Another option is this chair that has five reclining positions, an insulated cup holder, a bottle opener (my nephew always needs one), a mesh pouch for storing keys, a towel bar, and of course backpack straps (I won’t buy a chair without these).

You’ll need to dry off when you get out of the water, or perhaps you prefer to lie on the sand. This extra large towel measuring 35” x 75” is thick, super absorbent, and has 630 grams per square meter (GSM, which is a measurement like thread count in sheets…the higher the better).

And finally, once you get everything to the beach, you’ll want to relax (if you don’t have young kids) and enjoy a beverage. Business & Pleasure Co. makes this darling cooler tote bag that holds 16 cans plus ice. When not in use for the beach, you could easily use it as a chic weekender bag. You might also know the name Yeti, but for a real cooler in the same class, I prefer RTIC. This 40-can cooler is a perfect color for the beach and is a fraction of the price of Yeti. Use that savings to actually fill the cooler. On that note, I’m loving the canned wine trend. One on my list to try this summer is Underwood Pinot Gris. While summer is almost synonymous with rosé, my favorite wine to sip on a hot summer day is a dry, crisp white.

Warm weather is here. I hope to stay. May your days at the beach be relaxing and chic. I’d be thrilled to know this guide helped.

xo,
Jennifer

P.S. Special thanks to my dear and talented friend, Traci Giles, for these fun photos.

BUTTON UP, LADIES!

One of the reasons I started this blog was because I believe that all women deserve to look and feel beautiful. Part of looking beautiful is being thoughtful about what we put on our bodies. Whether you’re on a budget or have oodles of cash to spare, it’s always prudent to invest in timeless, quality pieces. People have gasped at what I’ve spent on some pairs of shoes. But I’ll have the last laugh…there are several in my closet that are over a decade old that still look brand new and are still “in style.” When you buy versatile, quality items that fit well, it’s money well spent. Always calculate cost per wear. Buying cheap clothing rarely pays off because you end up replacing it far sooner and spending more money buying several pieces versus one quality piece that lasts.

The Hero Button-Up Tissue Cotton in Perwinkle
Use code JENNIFERMEJIA at checkout for $25 off

One of my early blog posts was called “Get Down with the Button Down.” I’ve also written about the “Essential White Button Down” that every woman (and man) needs. And you’ll often see me wearing a button down (or “button-up,” as I’m now calling it), even if I’m not writing about it specifically. That’s because every woman needs at least a few as part of her capsule wardrobe.

The Hero Button-Up Tissue Cotton in Shirting Blue

So needless to say, I was ecstatic to learn about Grayson. It’s such an amazing brand for a few reasons. The company is proud to say that “Grayson is founded on one undeniable truth: women are f#*king superheroes.” (Funny, I often fancy myself to be one, so of course that resonated with me!) They continue, “We want every woman to know it and to feel her innate superpowers, every. single. day.” So they brought together 30 real women with real bodies, of all shapes and sizes, and questioned everything about women’s shirts. Then they combined that with their own expertise, developed over 10 years of luxury shirt-making, to reimagine with button-up for women. The end result was the Hero — an every day shirt engineered by women, for women, and inspired by women and the extraordinary moment we are living in today.

The Hero Button-Up Tissue in Shirting Blue
as a swim coverup

In all of these photos, I’m wearing the Hero Button-Up Tissue Cotton in Periwinkle or Shirting Blue. So what’s so special about this shirt?

• 100% ultra-thin, lightweight cotton made from airy loops for maximum breathability

• Impeccably tailored button-up to frame your face

• Perfect button placement to banish boob gap

• Cape-like pleat back for a flattering silhouette

• Cuffed Sleeves made for the perfect sleeve roll

• Relaxed fit, drapes over your hips

• Perfect for layering with blazers and sweaters

When I traveled to Siem Reap, Cambodia one August, it was hot. But malaria is also a risk there. So all of the guides wore super thin, long-sleeved button-up shirts to survive the heat and keep mosquitoes from taking a bite. I actually asked our guide if he could tell me where to purchase his shirt, and apparently they were only for guides. How I wish I’d had my Grayson Hero Tissue Cotton shirt then.

Hero Button-Up Tissue in Periwinkle
dressed up with silk pants and stilettos

It’s been super hot recently in New York, and I’ve worn these shirts about six times in the last few weeks. I can’t get enough of them. Sizing is as follows: 01 (fits like XS), 02 (fits like S), 03 (fits like M), 04 (fits like L), 05 (fits like XL). The best news is that I can wear a button-up so many ways. In winter layered under sweaters and blazers. Over a swimsuit as a coverup. Dressed up with a silky pair of trousers and heels. With shorts. Talk about money well spent.

Beyond the Hero Tissue Cotton, Grayson also offers shirts in Cozy Cotton, Washed Cotton, Tumbled Linen, and a silk-like Liquid Lyocell. There are short-sleeve options and even dresses. In fact, here is their Artist Dress, which is linen and I love belted and just on its own. A true throw on and go easy summer wardrobe staple.

DISCOUNT: If you’d like to try Grayson, use code JENNIFERMEJIA at checkout for $25 off your order. And of course, please feel free to message me with any questions.

xoxo,
Jennifer