Filling Your Beach Bag

Sartorially speaking, to properly prepare for a day at the beach it all begins with the bag, and to that end there’s no better place to start than Twenty Seven East. Named after the famed Hampton highway, the brand’s latest offerings include the Southampton Shopper ($680 for calfskin at www.taigan.com), and the East Hampton Town Tote ($1,795 for Nile crocodile and canvas at www.taigan.com), both of which are understated and timelessly classic in design. For a more of-the-moment choice, Proenza Schouler’s summer line includes a neoprene backpack available in two colorways. Not only does the style fall in line with the scuba-inspired trend we’ve been seeing these past few weeks at the 2012 resort shows (think Donna Karan), but it also looks effortlessly chic with its drawstring closure, mesh outer pockets, and multiple interior pockets to separate wet and dry clothes ($485 at www.proenzaschouler.com).

Once you’ve settled on a bag, turn to Vilebrequin for a variety of towel options ($170-$200 at Vilebrequin, 42 Job’s Lane, Southampton) and Eugenia Kim for a chic hat (at Intermix, 64 Main Street, Southampton and 87 Main Street, East Hampton). Warby Parker, a brand that follows the TOMS Shoes model and donates a pair of glasses to someone in need for every pair sold, has an endless array of options when it comes to sunglasses and at $95, they’re nearly impossible to resist (www.warbyparker.com). [expand]

Any shoe woes can be soothed by Stuart Weitzman. It’s all about the wedge, rope sole espadrille this season and the designer offers an endless assortment (at Stuart Weitzman, 53 The Circle, East Hampton). If flats are more your style, the “it” flip flop of the season comes courtesy of Missoni. The brand has teamed up with Havaianas for a limited edition collection that includes two womens and one unisex flip flop style ($60-$70 at www.havaianas.com).

A celebrity favorite (think Cameron Diaz, Kelly Osborne, and Marisa Miller), L*Space has a variety of one-piece and two-piece swimwear options (at www.singer22.com), all of which layer beautifully with a tunic or caftan from Calypso St. Barth (see www.calypsostbarth.com for a list of their Hampton boutiques). If, however, you need a little confidence boost before slipping into a bikini, don’t forget to pack Rodial’s Skinny Beach SPF 15 ($64 at www.rodial.co.uk). The multi-duty cream firms, lifts, tones, and hydrates and can further be combined with the Organic Pharmacy’s Cellular Protection Sun Cream SPF 30 ($59.95 at www.theorganicpharmacy.com) to protect skin from premature aging and sun damage.

Round out your bag by tossing in a bottle of Visine’s new Summer Spectrum Relief to relieve summertime eye irritation and redness ($3.99 at local drugstores), Jurlique’s Chamomile Soothing Mist to keep skin cooled ($31 at www.jurlique.com), Philip Kingsley Swimcap to protect hair from discoloration and damage caused by the sun, chlorine, salt, water, and wind ($35 at www.philipkingsley.com), and, of course, some sweet treats from Dylan’s Candy Bar (at 52 Main Street, East Hampton). [/expand]