Summertime in New York means one thing……THE HAMPTONS!! Where else can you drive within 90 minutes of the city and find sprawling estates that rival Beverly Hills, gorgeous sandy beaches, and some of the best shopping on the right coast?! The Hamptons is everything that is country club chic. Think Palm Beach and Nantucket with a twist of Palm Springs. Think lots of seer-sucker, popped collars, and stripes.
Come Memorial Day, everyone in Manhattan is packing their weekend bags and off to the Hamptons. With all of the glamorous events that take place around the Hamptons from Mercedes Benz Polo to hobnobbing at Pink Elephant, you will want to be prepared. Basically there are 2 main styles in the Hamptons. There is the glamorama for those who treat the Hamptons as the City on the Beach. And then there is the more laidback approach, the beachy/surfer style, for those who are looking to kick back at the Talkhouse, one of Amagansett’s most fun bars.
Depending on which style you choose, I recommend packing the following items. For the glamorama, by day it's all about fabulous sundresses, wide brimmed floppy hats, and espadrilles (preferably Louboutins). For the men, a great polo and some seer-suckered pants is a perfect look. For the beach or pool, sophisticated one pieces, jeweled tunics, and big glamorous sunglasses go a long way. For the men, if you pack stripes and some navy swimming trunks, you're all set. For nighttime, there are so many fabulous lounges to hit, you will want to look your best. For women, you’ll want to pack your hottest mini dress, preferably in a bright summer color like hot pink or yellow, a great clutch, and, of course, some fabulous stilettos. For men, linen shirts, jeans, and a pair of Converse are great. Now on to the beachy/surfer look. By day it's all about your bikini, think an eye-catching 2 piece, flip flops, and a great pair of cut-off jean shorts to move from the beach to happy hour. For men, board shorts, a printed graphic tee, and Ray Bans are ideal. For nighttime, you want to relax and enjoy the peace away from the city. For women, throw on a long, beachy dress over your bikini making you ready to go in less than 5 minutes. For men, jeans, a tee, and tennis sneakers will do.
Now, are you wondering where you can go to get the perfect summer wardrobe? If so, the Hamptons has some of the best shopping on the East Coast. Each town has their own little enclave filled with fabulous boutiques. In South Hampton, there is Intermix, perfect for all the latest trends in dresses and handbags. You will also find Theory for all your basics and Calypso for beachwear. In East Hampton, it’s like another Rodeo Drive from Gucci, to Tory Burch, to Louis Vuitton. For fun and unique designers, there is Scoop. For country club chic, there is Lilly Pulitzer and Ralph Lauren. If you’re looking for some bargain shopping, you can make a pit stop at the Tanger Outlets about 20 minutes away from the Hamptons. There you can find great steals at Neimans, Off Fifth, Theory, and Juicy Couture.
