Cut-out crochet swimsuit
very.co.uk; £25
The one-piece is back in fashion as demonstrated by this coral style from Very. A very daring plunging-neckline detail adds sex appeal.
De Niro bikini
laraventura.co.uk; £85
Lara Ventura is a premium label with high quality fabric. This taps into the monochrome trend with a dogtooth pattern and gingham frill detailing giving it that extra edge.
Raspberry swimsuit
prismlondon.com; £180
Anna Laub’s swimwear is made in Italy with a focus on materials, craftsmanship and design. All pieces are mix and match. This style comes in a cheerful shade of raspberry.
Blue bikini
tatjana-anika.com; £170
Bikinis really can be flattering for almost every figure type. This high-waisted version by Tatjana Anika is ideal for those who want to hide their midriff. but still want to wear a bikini.
Peplum swimsuit
matchesfashion.com; £256
This swimsuit, from Zimmermann, with its eye-catching floral pattern and innovative peplum design, will take you from beach to bar in high style.
Fringed bikini
missguided.co.uk; £19.99
Put the fun factor back into your beachwear wardrobe with this bikini from online retailer Missguided. This shade of orange is perfect for those who like to turn heads on holiday.
Floral swimsuit
debenhams.co.uk; £22.50
Finding flattering swimwear can be tricky. Luckily, with designs like this one from Reger by Janet Reger at Debenhams, it may have become just that little bit easier.
Striped bikini
thecorner.com; £195
The signature crochet patterns of Missoni Mare’s bikinis are recognisable worldwide and this striped style is an investment piece worth splashing out on.
Baby blue swimsuit
0207 235 5000; £216
For those who like their swimwear on the unusual side, this particular style by Raoul is part playsuit, part swimsuit, and nicely contrasts with more modern designs.
Men’s swimwear:
Patterned swim shorts
etro.com; £140
Tropical prints no longer need to be reserved purely for holidays. These shorts from Italian fashion brand Etro will have you feeling the holiday spirit even if you’re at the local lido.
Blue and white shorts
calzedonia; 020 7479 7791; £29.50
These stylish shorts in a classic combination of blue and white from swimwear label Calzedonia, are a great example of a sleek and super contemporary design.
Hibiscus swim shorts
fatface.com; £30
Most holiday activities involve little more than the journey from sun lounger to bar and back again. Counteract the beach-slob look with these surfer-style hibiscus print shorts from Fat Face.
Striped swim shorts
joules.com; £39.95
A nautical look is always a winner when it comes to choosing a holiday wardrobe. This timeless combination of blue and white stripes is a great example of Joules’ classic appeal.
Vertical stripe shorts
thecorner.com; £108
Vertical-stripe swim shorts such as this style from Marni may be verging on sleepwear, but, then again, pyjama-inspired clothing was a big trend to come off the runways this season.
Orange swim shorts
houseoffraser.co.uk; £40
Make sure you’re not lost in the crowd on the beach this summer with these swimming trunks from O’Neill. Citrus shades like this orange hue are seriously fun and fresh.
Checked shorts
0800 031 9160; £50
In a sea of boring swimming shorts, in dreary colours that have seen better days, ensure you stand out with a pair of these Penguin shorts that have plenty of colour.
Black and white swim shorts
farfetch.com; £95
A geometric pattern in a classic combination of black, white and brown makes for a winning formula from British designer Paul Smith.
Red trunks
victorinox.com; £45
If you ever had aspirations towards a career as a lifeguard then these trunks by Victorinox are the ones for you. This shade of red just screams Baywatch.
Baby blue shorts
stylebop.com; £110
Vilebrequin was founded in St Tropez with the sole purpose of creating stylish swimwear for men. These may not be the cheapest, but they are seriously long-lasting.
Sun care products:
Healing balm
selfridges.com; 0800 123 400; £50
This is a multi-functional product from skincare brand Shiffa that is a must-have in any wash bag. Use on sunburn, heat rash, insect bites and even cuts and grazes.
Soothing and cooling aftersun lotion
boots.com; £5.24
For those feeling the burn, this new aftersun lotion from Piz Buin includes mint extract and aloe vera for their cooling and hydrating properties.
Invisible mist high protection spray
escentual.com; £19
Bioderma’s sun spray has the benefit of protecting the skin from the harmful effects of the sun while also promoting a natural tan.
Aftersun hair conditioner
kikocosmetics.co.uk; £4.40
This conditioner from Kiko Cosmetics will help to repair some of the damage done by sun, sea and sand leaving hair looking healthy and soft.
Fresh lips
0845 604 1888; £11
Specialist products for lips such as this balm from Ole Henriksen are ideal investments that will see you through summer sun and winter skiing holidays too.
Protective sun veil
spacenk.com; £13
Phytoplage is a sun-protection spray formulated by hair care specialists Phyto. The spray can be applied onto hair that’s wet or dry to give it a wet-look and keep it frizz-free and colour protected.
Protect and tan
boots.com; £6.99
This SPF30 spray formula from Boots’ own brand Soltan is an ultra-light lotion designed to quickly absorb into your skin leaving none of the stickiness often associated with sun care products.
Sun protection body lotion
johnlewis.com; £62
For the ultimate in luxury skincare, invest in La Prairie’s sun-protection body lotion to get the benefit of its moisturizing, anti-oxidant and nourishing properties.
Sun shade aftersun
lizearle.com; £13.50
Opt for an aftersun product that really packs a punch with this Botanical Aftersun Gel from Liz Earle. It has a formula that includes 92 per cent aloe vera, lavender, cucumber and vitamin E to revive your skin.
Face sun fluid
superdrug.com; £2.48
The skin on your face may require slightly different treatment to that on the rest of your body. Try a face-specific sun cream, such as this from Solait, which protects against premature ageing.
Accessories:
Striped flip-flops
accessorize.co.uk; £6
Match your summer spirit to your footwear with these rainbow-patterned flip-flops. The white straps mean they are easy to pair with the rest of your wardrobe.
Matt black sunglasses
burton.co.uk; £12
Sunglasses are essential for every summer wardrobe. This pair from Burton comes in a retro wayfarer style, but then matt-black colouring gives them a contemporary edge.
Wide-brimmed hat
gap.co.uk; £13.99
Keep your nose and forehead hidden with an oversized hat. This version from Gap channels this season’s boho Seventies trend with its wide-brimmed floppy style.
Life’s a beach bag
alphabetbags.com; £13
Clothing emblazoned with slogans has been a big trend for the past few seasons. Try it out and place your accessories in this beach bag from slogan specialists Alphabet Bags.
Red ribbon trilby hat
kangol.com; £78
The trilby has become the headwear of choice since being worn by the likes of Kate Moss. This Kangol is a classic, with its white, black and red colour combination.
Teal sunglasses
adamsimmonds.co.uk; 020 7813 1234; £223
Eyewear brand Oliver Peoples has been supplying vintagestyle sunglasses to those in the know for almost 20 years. This retro, rounded frame will flatter almost every face shape.
Visor hat
farfetch.com; £263
Finding a stylish beach hat doesn’t mean you just have to stick with traditional straw versions, so try a more modern approach to headwear with this luxe visor from Lanvin.
Basket-weave bag
toast.co.uk; £36
Traditionalists won’t find a better bag for beach essentials than this one from Toast. A versatile style, the straps can be altered so you can use it as a shoulder bag and a rucksack.
Red flip-flops
sainsburys.com; £3.50
These particular flip-flops are a pocket-friendly style from Sainsbury’s clothing line Tu. At a mere £3.50, if you lose them in the sea it won’t ruin your holiday.
Canvas tote bag
mrporter.com; £120
While you may not think this Want Les Essentiels De La Vie tote is a necessity, the fact that it can double up as both a travel hold-all and a beach bag, means it’s still a good buy.
Towels:
Navy striped beach towel
bhs.co.uk; £9
This BHS towel in classic Breton stripes is a beachside accessory that won’t look out of place spread across a sunbed in either Sardinia or on the beach in Scarborough.
Patterned purple towel
thecorner.com; £218
It may seem absurd to shell out a three-figure sum on bathroom linen but this beach towel was designed by rising star Christopher Kane. It will prove the perfect accessory for style mavens on tour.
Grand Bain beach towel
couverture.com; 020 7229 2178; £35
If you are heading across the channel for your holidays, this beach towel from Couverture and the Garbstore is the one for you. It says ‘Grand Bain’ – that’s French for deep end.
Ice-cream motif towel
debenhams.com; £12.60
Never be left wandering around the beach in search of your stuff again with this eye-catching ice-cream patterned beach towel from Ben De Lisi, one of the Designers at Debenhams.
Striped towel
isme.com; £19
This rainbow patterned style from online retailer ISME is well up to the job of reserving any sunbed. The multi-hued stripes are also a good idea to hide those inevitable sun cream and sangria spills.
Games:
Croquet set
argos.co.uk; £9.99
It’s an age-old English pastime and what could be more civilised then a game of beach croquet? The sand makes a fun surface for this game; just make sure to smooth it down.
Outdoor 3 in 1 set
houseoffraser.co.uk; £59.95
If you’re taking children to the beach, you’ll need something to occupy them. This set from Buitenspeel includes a net, two tennis/badminton rackets, shuttles and balls.
Egg and spoon race set
marksandspencer.com; £8
Take the egg and spoon to the beach for all the fun of the race, but without the mess of the real thing. Includes spoons and two eggs, both poached and fried versions.
Assorted sports set
johnlewis.com; £18
Packed into a handy rucksack, this assorted sports set, from John Lewis, is a value-for money option that includes a frisbee, bat and ball, boomerang and a soft football.
Skittles game
prezzybox.com; £27.99
Try a new sport this summer with Molkky, a traditional outdoor skittles game from Finland. Each player simply has to hit 12 wooden pins and reach 50 points.
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