Timeless Summer Essentials

Keeping it simple to savor the season

Summer is as much a feeling as it is a season.  The days are blissfully long and everything seems to slow down to a more human pace.  We build into the season time to travel and have extended visits with family and friends. With the Fourth of July upon us the summer is in full swing and already I feel it passing too quickly. To savor every minute I like to simplify everything and live in the moment, cliché as it sounds.

I’m spending next week with close friends and family at the sleepy New Jersey beach town where my family has a long history. It’s delightfully low key. No fancy Hamptons vibe here, and not a designer shop on the whole Island. Packing protocol calls for summer essentials for long days on the beach, walks to the vegetable stand and sunset cocktails before dinners cooked at home. To me this is heaven!

This got me thinking of what the essence of summer boils down to in a packing list. As always for me it starts with a feeling. I recall happy memories of summers past watching my daughters grow up at this beach. It was never about what designer you were wearing or what bag you carried as is too often the case in the city. That kind of validation currency does not apply there. Letting that go is liberating. Keeping it simple is the mandate.

To flesh this out, I created mood boards in my favorite summer color palette, which happen to coincide with the colors of July 4th. I could easily get through the entire summer wearing only white, navy and splashes of red.

Nothing says summer more than head to toe white. If I had to pick just one color to wear all summer hands down it would be white. Notice how basic all the pieces are on the board. Most of the photos are from the 1960’s and ‘70’s yet each one could step right into the present and look completely current and chic. I think a lot of clothes today are over designed with too many unnecessary details in loud prints. That’s fine sometimes, but the theme here today is keeping it simple. 

A white linen sarong can go over any swimsuit lending a cool, crisp edge. I love the frayed edges of this one. An oversized white linen shirt can go anywhere. Espadrilles have been regarded as a chic summer staple since the time of Coco Chanel and Salvador Dali in the south of France. To me, they are the ultimate summer shoe, which I would take over a flip-flop or jelly any day. Here I keep it very classic with the white slip-on. A white tank is the perfect summer base layer. I like it under oversized button down shirts worn open or  buttoned once just under the bust. 

To be near the ocean defines summer for me. Once in a while with the right light and conditions the ocean takes on a navy hue. No wonder navy has nautical associations. Play it off of white for a crisp classic summer paring.

A simple crewneck, all cotton sweater in either navy or white is the only sweater needed for a week at the beach. I like an easy fit and heavy gauge knit for some substance. This one fits the bill perfectly. A classic polo gets a new twist in terrycloth. The loose casual vibe is nicely contradicted by the crisp white collar.  Uniqlo collaborated with the French company Comptoir des Cotonniers for this 100% linen tee. The cut is good, though I sized down to a XS for a trimmer fit. I love a good all linen tee but they can be hard to find so I was thrilled with this. Here the same slip-on espadrille in stripes.

Here’s that splash of red in the form of stripes, another summer essential that has looked chic through the ages. When you think about it the American flag is really quite an accomplishment in timeless chic, red and white stripes with white stars on a navy ground. Perfect that we celebrate the nation’s independence in the summer.

I’ve been wanting a simple red and white striped tee. Finally I came across this one.  Make a statement on the beach with this towel. The tassels are an extra bonus and it’s on sale! The other style of espadrille I wear is this flat which laces around the ankle. Here in, what else, red stripes.