From the ultimate beach cover-up to the swimwear silhouettes everyone will be wearing poolside and by the sea, consider these 10 summer styles and accessories for your next adventure in the sun.
Ribbed knitwear
Believe it or not, your knits now belong at the beach. Our picks of this season’s ribbed (and surprisingly breathable) styles are Sydney label Anna Quan’s Lulu skirt in turquoise or olive green, Dion Lee’s pleated cardi dress (which can be worn as a standalone piece or as a cardigan over jeans) and Scanlan Theodore’s crepe knit stripe skirt and matching top. New Zealand label Maggie Marilyn’s Long Story Short shorts marry well with white shirting, while Melbourne label Dress Up is doing relaxed tank tops from a fine, sporty cotton rib jersey material alongside knitted shift dresses.
Extra-wide-brim hat
This summer as you walk along the beach, you’ll notice brims have grown. Marking a return to Brigitte Bardot’s 1960s Saint-Tropez style, designers are releasing hats that almost double as umbrellas. New Zealand label Paris Georgia’s floppy design comes in ivory, a natural hue and berry pink. It can be easily folded away and stored in your beach bag when summer days turn to night.
One-shouldered, one-piece swimwear
Swimwear is minimalist this season. Designers are shelving barely-there bikinis in favour of classic one-shouldered one-pieces that transform once you’re off the beach. You get more mileage out of this perfectly cut silhouette, as it can double as a body suit when worn with jeans, denim cut-offs or a skirt for post-beach drinks. Bassike, Byron Bay label Hakea and Sydney swimwear label Bondi Born have all nailed it.
Skinny, rectangular frames
The ’90s throwbacks just won’t go away. Designers are introducing narrow, rectangular-shaped sunglasses cut in skinny shapes. Le Specs and Melbourne sunglasses label Poms both have sleek designs for your consideration.
Hair slides
Salty swims can wreak havoc on longer hair, but slipping a few hair clips into your fringed straw bag will help keep loose strands at bay. It’s an effortless way to elevate daytime looks for night, and local accessories label Valet Studio and Sunshine Coast jeweller Holly Ryan are our first stop for summer slides for your hair (not your feet).
Grecian sandals
Adorn your feet with strappy, Grecian-style sandals from Sydney footwear label Maria Farro, Bassike or Lucy Folk, who has a summer collaboration with Greek footwear label Ancient Greek Sandals. “Barely there” footwear has ruled the resort runway for a while now, and it’s a worthy investment: it can be worn during the day with low-key bohemian dresses and wide-leg jeans or culottes, or with a black cocktail dress or crisp linen suit at night.
Bucket hats
We’ll be sheltering from the hot Australian sun in floppy bucket hats this summer. Double Rainbouu, Lucy Folk, Sister Studios and Bassike have all introduced iterations of this season’s most popular accessory. As ’90s nostalgia reaches a climax, this retro staple is best reserved for more casual daytime attire.
Rashies
The rashie has been given new life beyond the beach by local labels like Hakea, Matteau, Vege Threads and Salt Gypsy, who have all released long-sleeved suits that are both practical and stylish. As with one-piece swimsuits, pair them with quality summer bottoms (linen pants, denim shorts) so you can go straight from the beach to the bar.
Terry towelling
It’s a trend that began last year and shows no sign of abating: the beach will be awash with terry toweling again over summer, courtesy of labels including Terry and Venroy. Once reserved for the tennis court, the quick-drying fabric has been reimagined for seaside dressing – cut into high-rise shorts, robes, two-piece sets and fringed robes, all primed for Australia’s beach culture. Lucy Folk’s latest towelling drop has been cut into fun accessories, robes and versatile sets.
The cut-out dress
The “taking a pair of scissors to fashion” movement continues with dresses featuring cut outs that show glimpses of skin and highlight your frame. Christopher Esber and Sister Studios are our go-tos for this style.
