The beach rarely fails to be perfect. There is the soothing sand and lull of the waves, the pretty pink shells and call of the gulls, the brilliant sun and rosy cheeks. And then there are those of us who go to the beach and are rarely, if ever, perfect. That would be the woman with the tangled, matted hair wearing the sandy, sagging cover-up and holding various bags of damp stuff. If you're one of us, and you want to clean up your beach act, you're in luck. iVillage stylist Boni Joi says there are only five items required for a successful beach look: a classic big-enough tote, a chic hat, the right bathing suit, a stylish cover-up and pretty sandals.

Canvas Travel Tote

by Olivia Neko

You need one spacious bag that is large enough to hold all your beach essentials. We love this sturdy J. Crew tote because it's a roomy 17 inches high and 22 inches wide. The look is always classic and clean on the outside, even when it's a mess on the inside. This tote also features inside zippered pockets for your wallet and sunglasses.
Price: $78
Available: JCrew.com


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