St. Tropez Styling

UPDATE: Step into my closet! I’m selling all kinds of goodies from my closet…check ’em out!

Yesterday brought some promising spring weather, and a long afternoon run in the sunshine left me positively itching for warm — or better yet, HOT — weather. I instantly began to daydream about a getaway to St. Tropez, Brigitte Bardot style — meaning lots of gingham, stripes, and polka dots, and a healthy dose of straw accessories.

Let’s begin with the perfect polka dot bikini (Eberjey, $75 for top, $75 for bottom, Calypso):

Throw on a white kaftan with some fun embroidery ($175, Melissa Odabash), a straw panama hat ($58, J. Crew), and some vintage cat-eyes (DVF, $128, Boutique1):

Finish with some black t-straps (Sam Edelman, $60, Heels):

Stuff a straw tote ($225, Calypso) with all of your beach essentials — Clarins sunscreen ($37, Clarins), Nars body oil ($59, Nars), and a beach blanket ($65, Chance):

For daywear, I like the idea of a navy halter ($171, Thistle and Clover) with white skinnies and some kitschy gingham shades ($10, Swell):

If you’ve read my blog for awhile, you’ll know I’m a huge fan of Anya Hindmarch’s cheeky and affordable canvas totes ($135, Saks) — and even though I’ve never been huge on these in the past, I’ve lately seen some serious chic peas rocking these flat MyMu espadrilles, and am contemplating making the plunge ($138, MyMu):

Transition into a navy print bikini ($180, Net-A-Porter) for beachtime —

Isn’t the print to.die? This cashmere wrap sweater ($348, Seaton Surf) and a pair of broken-in-looking nantucket red chino shorts ($42, J. Crew) would be easy to slip into after an afternoon on the beach:

A pair of chic Ray-Ban aviators ($139, Ray-Ban) and a pair of easy-on rubber flip-flops ($38, Vix) finish the look:

Alternately, pair a crisp nautical Breton stripe top ($152, Seaton Surf) with some white twill shorts ($115, Seaton Surf) and some glam sunnies (House of Harlow, $125, ShopTheTrendBoutique):

I’d finish with some classic wedge espadrilles (on sale for $116, Endless), a cute daytime clutch ($195, Elaine Turner):

Perfect atop a lipstick red bikini (the one shown below is Milly — $95 for top, $85 for bottom, Net-A-Porter — but I ordered mine for the honeymoon from Palma NYC, and I absolutely LOVE the nautical rope accent!):

Or maybe a slip-on dress is more your style — and I’m obsessed with this slouchy little number ($75, Aubin and Wills — but P.S. this $49 striped maxi and this $78 strappy stripped slip dress also caught my eye), especially with an uber-glam beach hat ($90, HatAttack):

I’d finish it with some retro-chic cateyes ($48, AllSaints), simple Tkees flips ($46, MadisonLA), and an oversized beach tote ($78, HatAttack):

If you’re really going Bardot-chic, pair a white tee ($29, Madewell) with some red gingham check shorts ($175, ShopZoe):

Finish with white wayfarers, a cute little tote (these SeaBags styles are made of reclaimed sails! — $120-$140, SeaBags), and some classic Dr. Scholls (I used to wear these all.the.time. when I was little — $49, Dr. Scholls):