No Rules

When it comes to packing, always start with swimwear. This is (ideally) what you’ll live in on vacation, yet our beachwear so often becomes an afterthought and isn’t always seen as the star of the show. Flip this thinking and give it the same consideration you’d give to any event look, and you will radiate with carefree confidence on the beach.

Look to Lido for the kind of ultra-luxe beachwear you’ll want to wear to brunch, too. The Italian brand’s minimalist bikinis and one-pieces will slip seamlessly under pareos, shorts and sheer dresses. Better still, they are made from a lightweight material that dries super-fast, making them as convenient as they are chic. “If you have an active lifestyle on the beach, you don’t want to have to wait to be dry,” says founder Daria Stankiewicz. “I like the idea of being able to live in a bathing suit and forget you’re wearing one.” Stankiewicz is also scrupulous about cut and will personally wear the pieces as much as possible, meticulously adjusting each one before they go into production. When it came to designing her ‘Due’ style, she wanted to “elegantly elongate and frame the neckline” with a square silhouette. And for the ‘Cinquantasei’ bikini, she included an underwire to lift, support and enhance the décolletage.

Rio-based Haight is another brand that is leading the charge for beachwear as ready-to-wear. Founder Marcella Franklin says the key qualities of a great swimsuit are “comfort, freedom of movement and design that flatters the body” – to take you from relaxing on a sun lounger to playing sport or sightseeing with ease. The brand’s ‘Bethania’ swimsuit comes with a chic, scooped back and pin-thin straps, which “reinforce the concept of taking the beach to the city” and make it the perfect piece to go out dancing in, too – simply layer it under wide-leg pants and add a kitten heel. Elevated silhouettes by Gucci and Missoni make equally seamless transitions from beach to bar. Pair Missoni’s scintillating metallic style with short-shorts or layer a swishy maxi skirt over Gucci’s sleek one-shouldered, chain-detailed style to dance beneath the stars.

Summer means color, print and breezy silhouettes, and Pucci’s turquoise top scores a sartorial hat-trick. Featuring a vibrant blown-up version of an archival print, it instantly calls stunning seascapes to mind. Here, it’s been loosely knotted to reveal the midriff and styled with Agolde’s ’90s jeans, which have been lightly distressed – “it’s the perfect summer pale with just enough wear,” says the LA-based brand’s creative director, Karen Phelps. Phelps has seen a resurgence in straight-leg jeans, so these are a style you’ll want to wear through fall and winter, too. She recommends styling them with “a classic tank – like our ‘Bailey’ rib – with the jean styled rolled-over at the waist and paired with a mesh flat”. To elevate, add a sharp blazer, leather belt and silver earrings.

Vacations call for pieces that will take you from sunrise to sunset, making Liberowe’s pretty, satin halterneck a no-brainer. With a dainty floral print inspired by Provençal archives and embroidesred Indian saris, it is infused with a sense of wanderlust. “Our ‘Dahlia’ top blends these two very different worlds, combining Eastern and Western influences that continually merge and meld at Liberowe,” says founder and creative director Talia Loubaton. Simply slip it on over a bikini for pool parties, or follow Loubaton’s lead and pair it with floaty pants and flip flops.

Days spent exploring beyond the beach call for the kind of bohemian whimsy that Isabel Marant’s red ‘Irina’ jeans deliver. Designed for a high-rise, straight-leg fit, they are decorated with pretty broderie-anglaise cut-outs. Here, Whyte styled them with Le Kasha’s airy black linen-gauze top. “This top embraces the body… allowing the wearer to feel naked and free while covered at the same time,” says the brand’s creative director Mali Marciano, whose designs aspire for women to “feel comfortable and feminine without trying too hard”. It’s a philosophy that perfectly embodies how we want to look and feel on vacation. On summer evenings, style it with Victoria Beckham’s leather shorts, which are cut from a smooth leather to a boxy fit and will look divine with barely-there, kitten-heel sandals.

Lastly, every suitcase needs a ‘wow’ dress – and few are as befitting of this honor as Christopher Esber’s gauzy green dress. The Australian designer has become the go-to for second-skin eveningwear in daring designs. Essentially, if you want to look and feel phenomenal, you turn to Christopher Esber. “The ‘Cowl Hip’ slip dress perfectly blends structure and sensuality, creating a sense of escapism and fantasy through the layering of silk georgette and a lightness of varying opacities in this seasonal, bright-green hue,” says Esber. “I love this idea of relaxed glamour – in the way our pieces are styled or worn, creating this sensation of something that is effortless and carefree.” Go as sheer as you dare with this dress, and add one standout piece of gold jewelry, such as a statement cuff or chunky gold earrings. “I hope our pieces make our customer feel confident and strong, but also that she can individualize her look to really encompass who she is.” Remember: she who dares…

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