Life's a beach: Style For Guys' Grand Summer Special

A day of leisure in the summer is a day you should be spending at the beach. Sinking your feet into the fiery sand and getting your friends together with drinks during the dog days is a taste of life as it should be. There's not a care in the world when you're floating on one of those skimpy air mattresses. But sometimes these joyous moments are putrefied by corpulent men in tight Speedos and carrot-tinted old ladies in monokinis. However bright it may be, the sun will never be able to conceal bad beach style. That's where I come in! If you're at a loss for an answer to what to wear to the seaside, you've come to the right place. In the Style For Guys' Grand Summer Special everything you need to have to look French Riviera chic is discussed, from footwear to fragrance.

Let's start with:
Swimming Trunks
My favourite 'trunk style' are regular board shorts, but the shorter variety can also be nice, when worn with some muscular legs. Leave the Speedos to Michael Phelps and the D&G models.
Vilebrequin is a brand mostly known for their crazy swimming trunks, with hamburgers,raspberries or psychedelic floral patterns on it. However, they have more demure models to offer too, like this pastel plaid specimen (200$).




Ralph Lauren and Ralph Lauren Rugby bring preppy to sea with a red and blue striped one (75$) and a stunning seersucker pair with little black skulls on it (59.5$).




If you like it a bit shorter and brighter how about this one by Diesel (€35)?



Shorts

After a winter of long trousers, putting on your shorts for the first time is a wonderful feeling. These two shorts are highly beach-proof and offer your legs the exposure they deserve.
I like this Tommy Hilfiger pair (€100) in navy with little white lobsters on it and these cream-coloured chinos by DSquared²(177$) with amazing details such as a tiny Canadian flag on the front slash and navy stripes at the cuffed hems.





Suncare
I'm pretty sure I don't have to warn anyone about the dangers of unprotected exposure to the sun, so I'll skip that part. Unless you're avid for melanoma I suggest you check out the Lancaster suncare line for men, with a cooling after-sun, an anti sunburn spray and gel.


Shiseido Men has something in store for those with a pasty complexion, a moisturizing self-tanner and a hydrating lotion to soothe your skin after a long day in the sun.



Fragrance
As I've discussed before, looking good is just as important as smelling good, so when you're about to hit la playa why not spray on a bit of Kenzo's new men's eau de toilette L'Eau Par Kenzo Indigo Pour Homme (quite a mouthful)? Inspired by "the seductive dance of color and scent as dusk sets on water", it's sure to be a hit with the ladies.


Tops
If the wind begins to pipe up or nightfall approaches you can stylishly cover up your torso with this zesty Ralph Lauren polo (68£). Keep it casual with this Acne navy tee(48£). When it gets even chillier this burgundy Abercrombie & Fitch hoodie (p.n.d.) comes in handy.






Shades
There's no getting away from it, cool sunglasses are absolutely imperative for a sunny day out. For a classy James Bond vibe opt for these black Persols (230$).
These blue and white checkered shades by Mosley Tribes (180$) are positively too cool for school, and a nice alternative for the ever-stylish Wayfarers.
The vintage feel continues with these Dior Homme tortoise shell sunglasses (€150).


Shoes
Obviously you don't really need shoes to sit in the sand, but when you draw the shortest straw and have to go get another case of Corona's or some ice cream, these canvas sneakers will make the trip all the more pleasant.
Ralph Lauren brings us these grey ones (55$) and Paul Smith delivers a splash of colour, as usual, with these grey and Maya blue plimsolls (75£).



Beach totes
Now you still need a nice bag to put your MP3 player, portable speakers, lunch, camera, magazines, flip flops and other random stuff in. I selected this classic navy and white tote by Ralph Lauren (135$) with the large logo and the übercool Mister Marc tote by Marc by Marc Jacobs (p.n.d.).



Accessories
And don't forget these indispensable accessories: this Marc by Marc Jacobs panama hat, made out of 100% paja toquilla, and cyan beach towel (p.n.d.).






And finally, maybe the most important essential of all: a good playlist.
These are some of the songs that I can't go without and give me that happy summer feeling.

• 'The general specific' by Band Of Horses


• 'My night with the prostitute from Marseilles' by Beirut


• 'Good girls go bad' by Cobra Starship ft. Leighton Meester


• 'I feel it all' by Feist


• 'Lucky' by Jason Mraz ft. Colbie Caillat


• 'Notion' and 'Manhattan' by Kings of Leon


• 'Eh Eh (Nothing else I can say)' by Lady GaGa


• 'My only offer' by Mates of State


• 'Electric Feel' and 'Kids' by MGMT


• 'Sleepyhead' by Passion Pit


• 'Penelope' by Pinback


• 'A-Punk', 'Walcott', 'Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa' and 'M79' by Vampire Weekend
  

I hope you enjoyed my Grand Summer Special and stay tuned, as there's much more where that came from!

(images: www.barneys.com, www.polo.com, www.rugby.com, www.diesel.com, www.tommyhilfiger.com, www.saksfifthavenue.com, www.lancaster-beauty.com, www.matchesfashion.com, www.diorhomme.com, www.shiseido.com, www.marcjacobs.com, www.abercrombie.com, www.nstperfume.com)