How to be stylish at the beach

I don't know which ones you are.

Are you one of those who are like those desert lizards, drunk on the sun, who deploy self-regulation techniques of body heat just to stay exposed to the sun longer? They cover themselves with oil and hold on until their skin is nice and brown, well beaten and only leave the beach when the solar star is knackered from having shone too much for too long.

Or are you one of those who buy a crappy parasol, made very, very far away, at the beach souvenir shop to erect it as a rickety rampart between you and the sun and who cling to it when the wind threatens for fear of finding yourself at the mercy of the ultraviolet?

In both cases, and even if you belong to another category that my Manichean introduction will not have described, I will tell you: you have the right to elegance even at the beach.

Why be stylish at the beach?

Showing up in a shapeless faded t-shirt, long surfer shorts and Havaianas flip-flops is something anyone can do. Everyone can do it instinctively, and besides, few people are offended by it, so why do it any other way? After all, you're going to sweat on a towel, so why bother dressing up?

Only if you have seen films like And God Created Woman, Full Sun or its American adaptation The Talented Mr Ripley, The Swimming Pool, or even films with Marcello Mastroianni himself, maybe you have been able to see what is charming and pleasant about being elegant at the beach.

Rest assured, I am not talking about a tie, a jacket or closed shoes. It is not a question of spending the same holidays as Mr. Hulot but I encourage you to make the effort to be presentable in a context where everything pushes us not to be .

Because it's in situations like these that you see the truly elegant. Yes, elegance is played out even in the short distance between the car and the beach.

By the way, you will forgive me for the digression but at Pitti Uomo, this famous men's fashion fair in Florence, you can quickly distinguish the true elegant from the false. There is an implacable truth, which cannot be imitated, which emanates from the true elegant, those who are even elegant to go to the beach and I am not talking about buying expensive clothes, I am talking about choosing your clothes with care even in the most informal moments.

This is what gives this truth that we then carry around with us everywhere and which does not deceive.

Good beach attire means:

• A short sleeve top
• A pair of swimming shorts
• Sunglasses
• A head covering
• Open shoes
• A bag

The swimming shorts

Of course, you have the right to wear swimming trunks . Especially if you are over fifty, your skin is already dark as summer has barely begun, there is a touch of irreverence in you and confidence in every atom of your body.

Maybe you even have a small dog that you gave a human name to and that you pick up because it has trouble moving in the sand.

You are a regular at the beach, the municipal employees greet you. You know every grain of sand and always put your towel in the same place at the same time every day.

You are in Cannes, or along the Amalfi Coast, the Costa Brava or anywhere else as long as the water lapping your beach is called the Mediterranean.

But for everyone else, I recommend swim shorts . I am fiercely attached to the idea that there is no elegance without a little modesty and that any clothing that does not tarnish the dignity of its wearer is always preferable.

Or else, you have to know how to distil a small dose of shamelessness in a dignified outfit: for example, the shirt that you opened a little too much, in a context of strong heat, or the little bling watch on tanned skin.

To put it now, the swim shorts should reach above the knee and their length should be harmonious with your height.

A guide to swim shorts has been published, but I can give you this advice here:

• if you are tall, don't take it too short
• if you are short, not too long
• If you are average height, I would say mid-thigh shorts are best.

By the way, short shorts allow for more freedom of movement . Which can be useful when your kid runs off to cuddle a giant beached jellyfish and you have to dive in to stop the inflated balloon from making its way to a sleeping granny's nasal septum, Martin Parr style.

Here is a small selection:

A nice seersucker at La Paz.

Plant print for Atalaye .

Madder print for this Rubinacci . Maybe my favorite...

The most stylish board shorts ever. Birdwell Beach Britches , at Jinji.

Frescobol Carioca , sky blue is always nice for swim shorts, for any skin tone.

Hartford plain water green swim shorts. Effective, comfortable to wear.

If you're leaning towards a print, choose a micro-pattern instead. Or at least something that's not too heavy, too busy. We're at the beach, we have the right to be fanciful, but it's not doing ourselves any favors to dress up either.

The top

I like wearing shirts to the beach for several reasons.

1. Not many people wear them so it stands out.
2. Because I need room and I prefer a loose shirt to a loose t-shirt. I find the shape of the former lends itself better to this.
3. It is easier to find linen shirts alone or linen and cotton than a t-shirt.
4. I can have fun with the shape of the collar
5. I can choose to open it a little too much, roll up the sleeves as I wish

And surely there are other reasons that escape me now, but for the beach, I recommend a short-sleeved shirt or not.

I must also say that I have a weakness for the polo shirt which, with its collar, has a little more character than the t-shirt and besides, for the latter, you don't need me to choose it well. The same rules apply as always .

I think of polo because when I think of the beach, I think of the French Riviera and that's part of the outfit.

Here is my little selection:

Ripa Ripa linen shirt , inspired by Marcello Mastroianni. Made in Italy. Plus, you can recreate Steve McQueen's look in The Thomas Crown Affair.

Ripa Ripa has other shirts in more conventional colors that I invite you to discover. Beautiful brand.

G.Kero is really my holiday wardrobe and I could wear this shirt on the beach as well as in the evening with an old 501 and espadrilles. And then, as a David Bowie fan, I wouldn't say no.

Hartford linen chambray shirt.

Terry cloth polo shirt, bath towel style, Orlebar Brown .

Piqué shirt, like a polo shirt. The kind of top that's nice to wear, that you don't care about creasing, that's supple and has a rustic side that lends itself well to the beach context. Ecoalf, at Bien Bien Habillés.

NN07 shirt in lyocell and linen.

Lightweight You Must Create shirt with a retro style that is particularly well suited to the seaside atmosphere.

Not for everyone, but these pastel colors are stunning. Wear, as on the model, with whites, creams, beiges. President's

The headgear

For obvious reasons, protecting your head from the sun seems like a good idea. And while I love a cap in general, when it's too hot, I prefer a drier material that won't stick to my shiny forehead.

Everyone has their own dislikes.

This is why I prefer straw hats to caps and bucket hats at the beach . However, if the weather is not scorching hot, I can easily give in to one of these three options. Even if I have never yet found the bucket hat that will make me happy.

And I know that in a live broadcast some time ago I said that in my opinion Panama hats should be reserved only for gentlemen over fifty, but I don't see a satisfactory alternative when you're on the burning sand.

So here are some options:

Superb Courtois hat . Go see the others, it is really great art and it is in very good taste. In addition, the products are neat.

One of these three Sublime hats , Japanese brand. They can be rolled up and stuffed in a bag or you could even fall asleep on them without damaging them. Useful and beautiful.

Lock and Co. beige linen cap .

La Paz . The beach hat. Not to be worn on all heads...

Sunglasses

Well, it seems obvious that you shouldn't go to the beach without a pair of protective glasses. Eyes are important, after all, that's how you see. There you go. Now that I've hit a nice, wide-open door in the shoulder, I'll show you what I've selected.

Knowing that Benoît recently filmed a Let’s Talk Clothes on the subject .

For my part, I am in favor of striking glasses. I am a little tired of always seeing the same shape, neither too round nor too square. And, I believe that at the beach, we can let loose a little. Besides, glasses are a real way to give someone charisma. If you wear simple clothes and your pair of glasses is assertive, your whole image will be changed (for the better, if the pair is well chosen).

So, here are some glasses with character, I warn you:

Max Pittion , to dream a little. French brand from Oyonnax taken over by the Japanese. Here, it is the Politician shape, a classic full of audacity of the brand. To give you quality of finishes: all the rivets are in 10k gold.

The Edie from Sun Buddies , more accessible. I like the rather thick, confident frame.

And still a fan of Moscot, whose pairs of glasses constantly refer to the cinema, I find.

And it is impossible to think about "character glasses" without mentioning Jacques Marie Image , whom I invite you to discover if you don't know him. I also think of Kirk Originals and Native Sons .

The shoes

How many times have I seen myself walking on the beach with closed shoes and socks. And how many times have I found holiday sand in my Parisian living room? So it can be charming, warming the heart during the first days back at work. "Aaaaah, it was really good." But still, we will notice that the sensation of grains of sand under bare feet is pleasant only when these grains are innumerable. When we can count them, it is less pleasant.

So!, at the beach it is better to opt for open shoes, which can be easily taken off and put on. So, you have the flip-flop, of course, but for those who want to take the debate a little further, here is what I propose:

Open shoe selection:

Steve Mono . Rare sandals that I find elegant. What about you?

Good old Birkenstocks , faithful to their post. Often criticized, but still there!

Quite elegant sandals at La Botte Gardiane.

Ancient Greek Sandals , made in Greece. Not sure if you don't need to glue the sole back on after a summer, but I find it rather elegant. Wear it without socks.

The bag

It's true that it would be a shame to ruin all your efforts to be elegant with a bad bag, right? For me, a good bag is discreet. The beach bag par excellence is the tote bag and I must say that I am not against it. It is practical, you can put all sorts of things in it that stick out (here again, I am thinking of all the stuff you drag around for your children).

And then, once again, when there is sand in the bottom of the bag, you turn it over, tap the bottom and that's it. No need to develop treasures of imagination to go and dislodge the grain of sand that has gotten into an inaccessible bulge in the bag.

Also, I don't recommend a backpack shape because it will make your back sweat. You already have to take care of your armpits, let your back breathe.

So here is a small selection of shopping bags:

Onia cotton canvas bag . Simple and beautiful like the smile of a loved one.

Waterproof Teflon canvas tote bag. Not stupid. Léon Flam x Paraboot

Norse Projects tote bag.

Amiacalva bag in cotton canvas.

Some outfit inspiration to finish