A trip to the beach should be carefree — that said, how you dress and pack for it can make or break the day. Here, recommendations on both fronts from five seasoned beachgoers: Brooke Williams, 60, is a creative adviser, editor, artist and activist who divides her beach time between the East End of Long Island and Maine’s Penobscot Bay. Sophia Moreno-Bunge, 39, a florist and the founder of Isa Isa Floral Studio, lives in Santa Monica, Calif. Matthew Williamson, 54, a Mallorca-based interior designer, spends most weekends at Cala Deià, a cove in the island’s northwest. Marie-Louise Sciò, 49, is the chief executive and creative director of Pellicano Hotels, whose three current properties are set along the Italian coastline. And Sheldon Simeon, 44, a Hawaii-based chef, can often be found at Maui’s Ulua Beach.
Swimsuits
Sciò’s go-to is Lido Swimwear’s Trentasei high-cut one-piece. Handmade in Northern Italy using technical fabrics, it “has the perfect balance of elegance and ease,” she says. Williams loves Nu Swim’s Disco Suit: Its drawstrings allow for a flexible fit and, she says, “give it flair.” Moreno-Bunge prefers the brand’s Drip Top with this string-bikini bottom. “I’ve worn them for a year and they still look brand-new,” she says.
If it’s trunks you’re after, Williamson recommends the Swedish label OAS. “I practically live in their printed shirts and swim shorts throughout the summer,” he says. Simeon likes the surf-inspired brand Salvage Public Honolulu, which offers sporty nylon options crafted in Japan.
Sandals, Sunglasses and More
Over a swimsuit, Moreno-Bunge typically wears the lifestyle brand Na Nin’s linen-cotton shorts or waffled cotton wrap skirt. On top, she’ll layer on a button-down; her favorite is Ozma’s.
When it comes to sandals, Moreno-Bunge swears by Havaianas flip-flops: “They last forever and are super comfortable.” Williams favors the waterproof plastic version of Birkenstock’s classic Arizona sandal because of its bright colorways and supportive foot bed. They’re helpful for navigating Penobscot Bay, where sea urchins cling to the rocks at low tide. For a dressier option, Williamson suggests Bulibasha’s water-friendly loafers: They’re handwoven in Bali from sun-dried leaf fibers and “lightweight and easy to slip on between the beach and lunch,” he says.
Simeon wears Maui Jim’s Red Sands sunglasses. “Their polarization is superior,” he says. Williams appreciates the playfulness of these Caddis frames (hers are fuchsia-colored), which double as reading glasses. To shield your face, Sciò recommends the Italian luxury brand Borsalino’s hand-crocheted Koko bucket hat.
Toiletries
Moreno-Bunge uses Noto’s Safe Sun sunscreen, which goes on clear and includes vitamin C, niacinamide and ceramides. Williamson applies this sunscreen spray from Le Rub. He’ll also swipe on Aesop’s Protective Lip Balm; it has an SPF of 30 and, he says, “a lovely citrus, floral scent.”
Before she heads out into the sun, Williams has lately been spritzing Goldie’s Beach Bleach Lightening Spray onto her hair for some natural brightening. “I’ve decided that this is the summer of highlights,” she says, “but instead of heading to a salon, I’m going old-school.” She also relies on Red Flower’s Gamma Vapor Mist to rehydrate her skin during hot days. Moreno-Bunge packs CAP Beauty’s Serotoner face mist with aloe — it feels “like you sprayed on a serum,” she says. Williamson pats on Mount Sapo’s All-Over Oil.
Gear and Snacks
Williamson’s beach bag, from Maegen, is “big enough to fit snacks, a book and a towel,” he says. Sciò likes Rue de Verneuil’s Traversée tote, which can be carried by hand or over the shoulder. Simeon, whose beach-day priorities are fittingly food-focused, packs Yeti’s Roadie Wheeled Cooler with the poke bowls his family enjoys eating by the water. He also loads up on One-Ton Chips from the Hawaii-based Maebo Noodle Factory. Moreno-Bunge, for her part, loves Bjorn Qorn’s sweet and salty flavored popcorn.
Moreno-Bunge’s brings a large organic-cotton towel from House No. 23. Williams prefers Turkish towels, as they are flat-woven, lightweight and quick to dry; she opts for the classic patterns and hand-knotted fringe of Coyuchi’s version.
Extras
“I’m not a big playing-loud-music-on-the-beach kind of person, but as a family we do listen to a lot of audiobooks,” says Williams. So, she brings along House of Marley’s portable Bluetooth speaker, which has a solar panel to extend its 14-hour battery life. This summer’s listening: N.K. Jemisin’s “Broken Earth” trilogy. Moreno-Bunge’s most recent read was Andrea Lawlor’s queer fantasy novel “Paul Takes the Form of a Mortal Girl” (2017). “The playfulness feels right for the beach,” she says. Sciò’s pick this season is the actress Gina Gershon’s memoir “AlphaPussy” (2026), which Sciò calls “entertaining, funny, thoughtful and full of character.”
Simeon recommends the game Portuguese (or “Podagee” in Hawaiian) Horseshoes: Each player tosses metal washers at two wooden target boxes placed about 15 feet apart, aiming for a central hole or backboard. “It gets pretty competitive here in Hawaii,” he says. Williamson’s favorite waterside pastime is to make use of his Fuumuui Watercolor Travel Sketchbook Set — ideal, he says, for “capturing an idea before it disappears.”