Fashion Victim: You, too, can make waves on the beach

Jul 3 2008 by Emma Johnson, Liverpool Daily Post

YOU, too, can look beach body beautiful. Without meaning to diss our own fabulous beach body guide, looking hot on the beach in the figurative, rather than the sweaty sense, is a tall order for anyone not named Gisele Bundchen.

I spoke at length in this very column, just a couple of weeks ago, about my own apparent inability to look beautiful beach or poolside.

As I stated then, despite all my best efforts – not to mention an awful lot of money – one dip in the sea and I go from beach babe to beach bag in a matter of minutes. That said, it is something for me just to get on the beach. As a child, I hated the feel of sand between my toes and, despite various relatives dragging me into the briny as a baby, it was not until my twenties that I overcame a phobia of fish.

Even now, I will only swim in clear waters without a patch of seaweed.

Despite all of these things, though, I do believe there are few things more fun or relaxing than splashing around in the sea and sitting on the beach with a book (under a parasol, of course – don’t want to risk skin cancer) on your hols.

So here I give you my own personal tips for looking good on the beach.

1. Choose a bikini/swimsuit that you feel fabulous in, not one that is fashionable. H&M is the ideal place for bikini buying because you can pick and mix tops and bottoms, and they are so cheap you can afford to buy one for every day of your holiday. If you want to splash a bit more cash, try Designers at Debenhams, pictured left.

2. Invest in a quality sparkly kaftan and a big leather belt. Stick them in your hand luggage along with one bikini and, should your suitcase get lost in transit, believe me these three items will save your life.

3. That you should apply sunblock is a no-brainer. Applying a sunblock that also tones/firms/makes your skin sparkle is the real secret.

4. If you must wear make-up on the beach (personally, I can’t) make sure it is waterproof!

5. A hat is vital for covering up skanky sea hair from when you go swimming – Oh, and for keeping your face shaded. Stetsons a la Cheryl Cole look cool and funky while a big floppy- brimmed black straw hat will give you an air of mystique . . . and cover your panda eyes from where you forgot to apply waterproof mascara.

6. Always take two books to the beach. A cool one by a hip author to leave on the table next to the San Miguel while you splash around in the sea, and a rubbishy chick lit one that you will actually read.

7. And finally. Never, ever plonk your sun lounger down next to the blonde and bronzed Amazonian goddess with the surfer girl locks and endless limbs. If she should happen to position herself next to you uninvited, simply whack on the sunnies and order yourself a big old jug of sangria.