Written by The Strategy

In the Great White North this week, we have Canada Day to celebrate, and if you’re a neighbour to the south, your weekend plans are all about the red, white and blue, so it seems like a perfect time to talk about your surf and shore essentials. We all could use a beach or lakeside getaway.

Let’s start off with the fashion, as it’s our favourite thing to talk about, and probably the thing we’re laziest about when it comes to a day at the beach. While we’d love to look like one of Leo’s girlfriends on the shores of Ibiza, our style is more ‘hoodies in Montauk’. It’s our firm belief that your surf and shore style should be effortless, and take you from the blue water to the cabana bar without looking out of place in either.

To start, the most important element: The Swimwear

There are so many great options to choose from, but our favourite is Suboo’s Tanzania Printed Bikini Top and matching bottoms. The halter neckline of the top is very in vogue and will pair perfectly with your cutoffs, overalls or skirt when you’re out of the water.

The Hat

While we will always be a fan of a good old fashioned baseball cap, we’re ready to move onto something a little more stylish. We’re replacing it with Eugenia Kim’s Lillian jacquard-trimmed toyo fedora.

The Sunglasses

The blue mirrored lens’ of Illesteva’Boca cat-eye acetate mirrored sunglasses will perfectly reflect the water as you lounge in the sand or on the docks when you start pruning.

The Towel

Never underestimate the importance of your beach towel when it comes to completing your shore-side look. And, nowadays, there are so many awesome options to choose from, you really have no excuse for using the fraying pink one from your childhood days. We’re accompanying our look with Pendleton’s Los Ojos Towel. The monochrome black and white will go with all our swimsuit options.

The Bag

Also as important as your towel is your beach bag. Heck, it’s what’s carrying all your belongings from the car/house/hotel to the beach, and it’s replacing the everyday bag you normally carry. It should be as chic as the bag you left at home because you didn’t want to get sand in it. We are absolutely obsessed with Balenciaga’s Cabas S leather-trimmed cotton-canvas tote.

Last but certainly not least: The Shoes

When we were younger, we had visions of strolling down the pool deck in 5 inch stilettos and sunglasses almost as large as our head. Now that we’re older and smacked with reality, our surf and shore shoe options have become a ton more realistic. As you most likely already know, slides are pretty much our favourite shoe of the summer, so we’re replacing our Adidas with the fancier option of Marc Jacobs’ Leather and rubber slides.

Now that you are dressed accordingly, check back on Thursday to see what beauty essentials we are packing in our Balenciaga canvas tote!