How do you look effortlessly beautiful by the pool?

[MozzchopsThirty]

I'm going on a 'naice' holiday with boyfriend.
I always look like shit! Sweaty, straggly hair, some ill fitting throw over thing.

Please help! I want to look lovely.
What can I do with my hair? Even in a ponytail it's awful, it's thin & shoulder length
I've purchased 2 lovely bikinis so just gotta get the rest to work

Those saying a hat will a straw cowboy hat do?
I think cowboy hats look passe now, but h&m do good and cheap hats.
m2.hm.com/m/en_gb/productpage.0348924002.genericdevice.html

Diana

Do you mind me asking where you got that beachwear? It's beautiful!

I was once by the pool and saw a lady in her 30s arrive with her children. Beautiful all over tan, flattering bikini and an elegant top-knot bun.

I thought I was in the presence of a style goddess until she got out a hotel shower cap, covered her hair and lowered herself gingerly into the pool for a lap of heads-up breast-stroke....:)

Oooh, unstylish old gimmer here but I really don't like the chambray shirt idea.
Bikini/Swimsuit + kaftan (in bright colour) cover up for me.
Chambray shirt looks very "I packed light and this is doubling up"

I'd have:
eyelashes/eyebrows dyed
nails painted
exfoliate well to keep skin smooth and glowing
wax legs/armpits/bikini

no gimmicky swimsuits - no cutouts or gems or gold loops
no bandeau tops unless just larding by the pool (and not for me, I need industrial scaffolding). I can get away with H&M kaftans but my swimwear needs to up the ante.

hair slicked back with heat protector by day

70, i agree, the most stylish i have seen and been have never worn the shirt dress look. In smart hotels its all about quality matching swimwear with gimmics.

I do second Vix for quality swimwear.

Hi UrbanTurban
I got the purple bikini and tunic here:

airymary.com/collections/swimwear-d-to-hh-cup/products/fuller-bust-tropical-print-bikini-to-g-cup

airymary.com/products/pour-moi-kaftan

I have a few nice coverups which also double as tops with harem trousers or as beach dresses . - This is one I have bought for this year ( Yes I realise its quite expensive , but was lucky and I got it on 30% discount plus quidco and using my reward extra points ..

Monsoon do regular offers so you may be lucky also ) Hopefully its a classic I can wear year after year .

I'm going to Lake Garda in August, having lost 3 stone 3lbs......my plan is the following:

Have eyebrows and eyelashes tinted.
Spray tan
Manicure and pedicure
Properly fitting bikini and cover up
Capsule wardrobe for clothes
Think I will do some research about what to put on my hair and will probably put it up....

I love Lake Garda

I love lake Garda too, where are you going?
We're off to Rome & cortona

I've ordered the new look shirt
Mani & pedi every 3 weeks anyway
Bought some stuff from lush for hair
Had proper fitted bikinis from Boux avenue which I love as my 30Fs won't fit in anything else

I also love Lake Garda.. We stayed in Sirmione.. Was FABULOUS

And I definitely don't think chambray shitprt looks like 'you've packed light and this is doubling up'! So much classier than garish prints and colours..

But then I don't go places where people 'pack light'

mozz I just back from Italy a few days ago.. We tour round Italy every year., this year it was Pisa, Rome, Positano and Sorrento.. We'd been to everywhere except Sorrento before.. Enjoy Rome, it's fabulous!

Pedicure and eyelash and eyebrow tint.
But most of all relax! The best looking people on holiday are the ones who look happy to be there and aren't contorting themselves to cover up/ keep their hair dry/ keep out of the sun or get too much sun.
Have a lovely time 😎

Going to Dezensano near Sirmione. DH proposed to me in Sirmione. Gorgeous place.

Swimwear that you really like and feel confident in is the best for making you look good IMO, because you feel good.

I like a floaty loose dress to throw over - I prefer longer ones. I have one from Mango <a class="break-all" href="https://dynamic.zacdn.com/unsafe/fit-in/346x500/filters:quality(90):fill(ffffff)/static.sg.zalora.net/p/mango-4689-601652-1.jpg" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here from last year which was great on holiday in Italy, on and off over swimsuit as necessary. You can add a belt/necklace and it becomes eveningy.

Flat but pretty sandals
Bright painted toenails that pick out a colour from your swimwear
And I agree with PPS that fabulous shades are the ultimate beach/pool/holiday outfit maker. Great statement shades take centre stage and make any face/hair look better.

Happygirl - have you been to cortona??
Have stayed in Peschiera and malcesine on Garda, both were beautiful

No, not been to Cortona mozz must check it out..

Hmm I worked for many years in beach resort locations and have never worn or owned a kaftan. For me the classiest looking ladies wore natural fibres - either cotton dresses or fisherman's trousers to and from the beach. Generally in simple colour schemes - white, blue, navy.

People who wore high heels near the beach or pool were generally a health hazard as they invariably fell over on wet surfaces. That or they were Russian mistresses.

high heels by the pool - the definition of fashion victim.

Haha I would definitely not be wearing heels by the pool

High heels by the pool is a bit Joan and Jackie Collins I fear.

Am currently in lake Garda :), it s sunny and beautiful here (though intermittently cloudy)

I would suggest

Pick 2-3 well fitting bikinis interchangeable tops/ bottoms give lots of options, there s a lot of lovely swimsuits around this year too.

Get at least 2 cover ups of your choosing.
I prefer block colours - have a cobalt blue, black and white options.

Personally I don't think the shirt option looks as good and chambray is a bit heavy and sticky in the heat (I know it s cotton but save it for when you get home to show off your tan).

Tie hair to loose bun at nape of neck - or French plait is easy too. I use spray on conditioner on hair when in sun (you can get some with SPF)

Neutral hands but coral/ red/ blue on feet (bring varnish to top up) (I prefer to do my own so they look fresh but get the shape and polish done before we go)

I m using mascara, bronzer (nars) and Bobbi brown shimmer brick (eyes and highlighter) for evenings and going out, and have coral lil gloss evenings (MAC)

Flip flops / sliders for pool side.

Sandals plus sundresses or skirt and top for evening, one of the loveliest looks I ve seen is loose wide legged trousers, off shoulder top, tan wedges,
I brought a navy white stripe skirt from oasis before we left - have worn it several times with coral/ red/ white/ tops and tan wedges for evening looks and I think it looks lovely !

Don't wear pool dresses or cover ups to restaurants.

Oh and I forgot - I have 2 pairs of light shorts (black/ Ivory) from new look from last year, they be been so easy for during the day too - thrown on with a t shirt or white shirt or with bikini tops