Hello and welcome back to “So You Want To…”the column where I give you lewks and suggestions for events, vibes, and sometimes even fictional romance characters! Usually I have some sort of bug in my bonnet, some event or style I think it would be fun to shop for, but this month, I am bringing you a selection of items ripped from the headlines of my very own life! I have been on… a lot of vacations this month, mostly the kinds that involve a beach house with a prominently placed hose to rinse your feet of sand. A brag, I know, but consider that I was laid off in May, I get to be a beach going dilettante for a bit!

One thing I have gotten down over these last few weeks is the ideal packing list for trips such as these. You know, the ones where you aren’t really doing anything, just reading a ton of romance novels between dips in the ocean and playing board games while drinking wine at night. It’s the kind of trip that I used to have trouble packing for, because I usually ended up forgetting the stuff I actually wanted. So I am bringing my hard earned knowledge to you! This will mark the first time this column is mostly comprised of things I truly own, not just me wistfully online shopping. Let’s get to it!

Travel Outfits

A collage left to right: plus size light blue jeans that cropped at the angle, a denim button down shirt on a white woman with blonde hair and bangs, a black woman in an afro in a black and white leaf printed jumpsuit, and a close up of dark brown legs in white canvas sneakers
1. Old Navy: High-Waisted O.G. Loose Light-Wash Jeans for Women ($45) // 2. Old Navy: Long-Sleeve Cropped Jean Boyfriend Shirt ($30) // 3. Target: Neutral Botanical Print Tie-Front Jumpsuit ($40) // 4. Keds: Women’s Champion Originals ($55)

Due to my proximity to the glamorous New Jersey shore, my travel outfits have been pretty low key these last few weeks. But as I pack for my… second to last journey of the summer, one that will involve airport travel, I am leaning into my favorite travel outfit: the jumpsuit. It’s one single piece of clothing, so it requires almost no thinking, and I can toss a chambray in my bag for when I undoubtedly get cold on the plane. White Keds (with socks! I cannot abide being barefoot as I head through security!) are the prefect easy on easy off shoe. And if separates are more your thing, the incredibly classic light wash jeans and a black t-shirt is still the perfect casual but pulled together look for say, a quick weekend trip to New York to see Into The Woods.

Hang Time Outfits

A collage from L to R: A black woman with curly hair in a black tank top, a plus sized white woman in a white crop top with a brightly colored graphic, a close up of black bicycle shorts with a side pocket, and a black woman in an orange shift dress and afro
1. Old Navy: Fitted Ultra-Cropped Rib-Knit Tank Top ($8) // 2. Old Navy: Pop Culture Graphic Cropped T-Shirt ($20) // 3. Aerie: OFFLINE Goals Pocket 7″ Bike Short ($26) // 4: Target: Navy, Muscle Tank Dress ($12)

So you’ve made it to the beach, you are coming back from a day of sun and sand, you take a shower (is there any better shower than the post beach shower?) and now it’s time to have dinner, drink some wine and maybe playing a rousing board game. I have been living in these Old Navy cropped tank tops and bike shorts from Aerie. The shorts have a POCKET that fits a phone! Extremely helpful! There is no better time than now for a whimsical pop culture t shirt, and I always have a super basic tank dress for the days when I am too sun drunk (and, let’s be honest, drunk drunk) to put on two pieces of clothing.

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Beach Shoes

A collage from left to right of sandals: a pink and white sandal with a white ankle strap and pink strap across the toes, bright blue crocs, Addidas slides with a paisley pattern between the white stripes, and yellow Birkenstock slides
1. Teva: Original Universal Metallic Sandal ($55) // 2. Crocs: Classic Clog ($50) // 3. Adidas: Rich Mnisi Adilette Slides ($60) // 4. Birkenstock: Arizona Essentials ($50)

Since I covered swimsuits in a previous edition of this column, let’s talk shoes for the beach! Yes, you could commit to the bit and wander down the dunes in your various Docs and Converse, I have seen many a beach queer do just that this summer. But come on, who wants to get the sand out of a sneaker, and who wants to put on a Doc after a day in the sand?

My best friend swears by her Tevas, she’s got some janky former gynmast ankles and finds the sand hard to navigate without some serious support. I know Crocs are THEE shoe for many beach goers, though I tend to find them a little annoying and clunky? I was intrigued to see Addias has updated their classic slides with some fun colors! I have a bit of former swimmer truama when it comes to Adidas pool slides, I feel like I am back a meet and stressed about cutting time. For me, it’s the Birkenstock Arizona, they’re some kind of plastic, waterproof, and come in a ton of fun colors. The ideal beach shoe imo!

Essentials to Remember

A collage, L to R: a plus size pair of legs in black loose cloth pants, a pink baseball cap on a white woman with long brown hair and an off-white windbreakers, a woman in a blue and light green leaf printed wrap dress with long sleeves, and a black woman with an afro and a navy blue short romper
1. Old Navy: High-Waisted Sunday Sleep Ultra-Soft Jogger Pajama Pants ($25) // 2. Old Navy: Long-Sleeve Vintage Cropped Hoodie ($30) // 3: Target: Floral Print Long Satin Robe ($30) // 4. Target: Satin Short Robe ($25)

Maybe I am just an airhead, but I have gone to beach so many times and just… forgotten? That it gets cold sometimes? And look, I am a huge proponent of buying a location themed sweatshirt, but sometimes I just wish I had pair of sweats and a hoodie in my bag. I corrected this oversight this year with these loose and breezy joggers and a cropped zip up hoodie from Old Navy, they are both perfect and I love them. The other thing I always wish I had? A ding dang robe! Not only is a robe helpful transitional wear from the shower, but they make pretty decent cover ups!

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A Nice Dinner? Why Not!

A collage, left to right: A light skin black woman with wavy black hair and a blue and white stripped button down top, a pair of turquoise cut-off wide legged cloth pants with a wide strap waist, a black woman in a black turtleneck and wide leg black pants, a black woman in a black tank dress with a large slit up the right leg
1. Old Navy: Short-Sleeve Striped Shirt ($30) // 2. Athleta: Playa Linen Wide Crop Pant ($89) // 3. Universal Standard: Carrie High Rise Wide Leg Jeans ($128) // 4. ASOS: Linen Scoop Neck Maxi Sundress with Split in Black ($40)

There is always one night where no one feels like cooking, and it’s the perfect night to catch the sunset over the bay and chow down on a burger. The beach bar is a funny place, one where you don’t really need to get dressed up per se, but you want to feel slightly more put together. I have not bought this striped button up… yet, but it feels rather likely it will come with me to my final beach trip come August. I do have these Atheta linen pants in not one but two colors, and they are the perfect pants for a slightly dressy restaurant trip. And you are simply never going to go wrong with a black jean or a black maxi dress — you can dress them up or down, they are staples for a reason!