What do you use as a beach bag and other terribly important questions........

[janeite]

So - what DO you use as a beach bag?

And - now I've managed to buy a couple of bikinis (thatks for all of your help on the other thread) what can I wear with/over them for walking down to the beach/going for a drink or lunch?

And - is there a product that I can put on in the morning to stop my hair going all dary and frizzy whilst on the beach?

Thank you!

Thanks all. Am strangely drawn to the idea of straw bags.

Hi Kid.

I think I will probably go down the free mag bag route again - it looks like Red are doing an okay-looking one next month.

Bikini-wise, I have last year's black and white flowery one with yellow trim and this year's new one, which is blue with big 50s-look pants (dp was quite interested in it when I showed him!!).

I still need a hat and one or two beach dresses or some-such. Links much appreciated - pref high street.

Am bumping this - have bought this to wear over bikini to and from the beach. Do you think it's okay? It's longer on me than on the model.

Can anybody advise me on hats please? What style is acceptable? Dp said this one and this one suited me but I have no idea at all and I don't want to look like a muppet!

Love that dress, but it looks scarily short. How long is it really? Would you mind measuring yours for me? Nape of neck to hem I mean? (I'm 5ft 8in and think it may be more of a shirt than a dress.

Now, hats... you need one that squashes flat without being ruined - for in the suitcase. I got a lovely one in debenhams last year - very soft straw with a few natural coloured beads sewn in.

Thanks. I'm only 5'2 - I think it would be VERY short on you!

what sort of shape was the straw one?

Trilby style hat very cool. Other one.....hmm....not so much.

Dress is lovely but it does look short. Having said that, the kaftan I sometimes wear is probably the same length so I think its fine.

Do you have a link to your 50's bikini? Sounds gorgeous.

If you like straw bags, TK Maxx have a range of straw bags that are similar to this in a range of colours for around £12. My beach bag is similar to this (but bought from french supermarket for 6 euros )

Found a stack of beach dresses in Next for you. I don't buy a lot from there but their beach dresses are usually pretty good. I bought 3 from there last year and wore them loads. (even worn them over skinny jeans at home layered with cardi on cooler days ). They are still in good enough condition to wear this summer.

Beach dress from Next

possibly quite chic

like this for myself!

yellow

kaftan

pretty

another one I may well buy for myself!

chic no 2

turquoise

ok ive looked at this year's debenhams stuff and my hat is very much like this but with shells rather than beads.

Thanks both. The M&S dress comes about three inches above the knee on me.

Love that purple cheesecloth dress Mrs JS.

Thanks for the hat link too, Moon. I suspect it would be too big for me though.

Nice beach dresses in Accessorize

V pretty but don't really want to pay that muh for something I will wear once a year. Have got two beach dresses and two pairs of shorts: how much stuff am I likely to need for day wear for a fortnight, bearing in mind that most days will be spent on the beach?

I sent for this last week. It has arrived and is ok but not worth the money TBH. It is short, ie; hem comes to my fingertips.

I would say you have enough.

I take 2 beach dresses, 1 kaftan, 2 pairs shorts, 1 denim skirt and a couple of vest tops for day wear.

If we are pootling around shops/towns with DCs during the day, I will usually wear one of my more modest (ie just above knee) beach dresses or perhaps a maxi dress with flip flops.

I also take 7 outfits for evening (wearing each one twice over the two weeks).

I always think its better to have a few extra things with you just in case things get marked and you are unable to get them clean. That's just a personal thing......I cannot bear feeling grubby . And having two boys who are prone to launching themselves at me with icecream in hand means I am a little over-cautious!

Thank you. See, I have two daugthers, teen and twelve, so the likelihood of them launching themselves at me is low!

I've got a knee length linen skirt and a knee length silk dress that I guess I could use as daywear if we go on a day trip. I think I would look like a mushroom in a maxi-dress.

at mushroom comment!

The skirt and dress sound perfect for day trips.

And yes, launch factor definitely reduces with age. DS1 is less likely to launch at 9 than DS2 who is just 5. You know how it is for them........they are suddenly overcome with happiness/love/deep and unyielding sadness and therefore feel it necessary to smother you!

So where are you off to and when?

How about accessories/shoes etc?

Kefalos in Kos - August.

Shoes - have flat sandals for walky days and flip flops for the beach. I may get a pair of pretty flat sandals for evenings.

Accessories - erm: no idea!

Where are you Mrs JS, to help with accessories? WHAT accessories? I have a silver chain with a couple of pendants that I interchange and that's it! Oh and one charm bracelet and some Indian bangles.

I have a gorgeous bright pink towelling oversized shoulder bag, with a plastic lining and inside pocket, for a beach bag. It is very glam and cost only 40 euros - I snapped it up but I have no idea where I could buy one again.

You need beach dresses as cover ups for your bikinis - they are brightly coloured or white thin, slightly transparent, shortish dresses.

Have got beach dresses now, thanks Anna. 40 euros is far too much for a beach bag chez Janeite!

I use a canvas or straw bag and fine cotton kaftans or Accessorize have some lovely white broderie anglaise strapless dresses that would be perfect!

Yum to broderie anglaise - reminds me of being 13 and reading 1970s Vogues and emulating the fashions, thinking I was totally cool! Will have a look in Accessorise (any excuse!).

But who is going to talk to me about accessories?

You need one of those big necklaces for the beach - huge synthetic loops on a chain. And some flat sandals that have a bit of jewellery on them. And something to tie your hair up in - a coloured scarf, perhaps.

Am liking the sound of scarf and pretty sandals. Why on earth would I want a necklace on the beach?

You wear the necklace over your bikini and beach dress to go the beach shack to eat grilled fish and Greek salad

Really? This is why I need help with accessories - it would never enter my head to put a necklace on for lunch when I've been on the beach all morning and intend to go back to the beach all afternoon.

If you wear a great big necklace over your slightly transparent beach dress and bikini, people will see the necklace, not the bikini IYSWIM.

I suspect in my case they would just notice the sand in the necklace!

Am not going anywhere that requires major dressing up but I would like to look nice in the evenings - and also get some more hat help!