If there’s one good thing that came out of the last couple of years, it might just be the new-found appreciation for the Great British seaside. Although Cornwall has been a firm favourite for holidaymakers for years, the pandemic saw new life breathed into smaller seaside destinations, kickstarting their revival to the glory days of decades past. 

With the ongoing chaos at the airports, staycations have become a solid option for all your holidaying needs – and thanks to the climate crisis, gone are the days of shivering on a shingle beach. Instead you can now burn in dizzying temperatures and not even have to worry about currency exchange, or car hire. Every cloud. With this in mind, we’ve curated a list of the essentials to sort you out on your staycation – from clothes to stunt down the pier in, to bath bits that remind you of distant isles, and the essentials for that all-important hike back up to a supermarket. 

Dry off in style with a beach towel from Kenzo – easy to spot, easy to love. Made from 100% organic cotton, this is a great option to make your staycation that little bit more boujee – just don’t forget it on the beach.

What’s better than a summer scent? A travel-sized summer scent. HORACE’s one (&HORACE) does something different though – blending with your skin to create a unique scent for you. Coming in a mini size, it’s also perfect for those last minute weekends away. Win win.

HI-TEC HTS74 SNEAKERS – £150 / US $182

British beaches are great – but they’re often at the end of a windy country trail or treacherous cliff edge. For the inevitable trip back up to a shop, food truck or back to the car, the new Hi-Tec Sports sneakers should sort you out. The HTS74’s are the comeback collection from the brand’s new team of young talent, establishing a premium sneaker line which still  acknowledgs Hi-Tec’s legacy as a British sportswear brand.

AHLUWALIA SHIRT – £325 / US $394

Holidays are all about getting your best clothes on, soaking up the sun and taking a break from whatever usually occupies your days. We can’t think of a better shirt to do that in than this one, tbh, thanks to its tailored-fit, renewable viscose and co-responsible production process. It also looks great of course, as part of Ahluwalia and Paul Smith’s iconic capsule collection.

Picture the scenes: sunset on a beach, Cornish pasty in hand, reclining on a (very comfortable) chair and not having to worry about getting sand all over you. The only corona in your peripheral is the beer, also in hand. Bliss. Make this vision a reality with Helinox and Carhartt’s second collab chair – coming in camo and a perfect portable option to bring down to the beach.

LOEWE PAULA’S IBIZA BODY SCRUB – £61 / US $74

Just because you’re not in Ibiza, doesn’t mean you can’t pamper yourself like you are. Loewe’s Paula’s Ibiza line has always been a holiday favourite, but their new body scrub seems like the perfect option to bring with you to the seaside, to wash away all that salt. It features natural ingredients with skin-nourishing and exfoliating properties – like Ibizan salt crystals and ground olive stones, which perfume the body with floral, woody and gourmand scents. Ideal.

Everyone needs a beach bag, and if you’re saving the extra coin on flights, why not splash on a designer one? Known for its masterful command over textures, this range from Issey Miyake is a solid bet. Designed from a single piece of monochronic material, the bag can create infinite shapes, and is fully flexible without compromising functionality. Catch it exclusively available online or in Selfridges.

This year has been the year of Balenciaga sunglasses. Tapping cycling chic and pushing new silhouettes into the mainstream isn’t a new thing for the brand, but a year of being spotted on the holy trisector of Kim, North and Kanye is. These injected polyamide shades are a Great option for a Great British seaside holiday – bright, bold and enduring.

Simplicity always wins, and these swim shorts do it well. Featuring an elastic waist with interior drawcord, they also house an understated, screenprinted logo on the left leg and 100% mesh lining. Although, you may not see them under a wetsuit.

Shoes that can transition from streets to rock pools will always be a win – so these Sponge Craters engineered by ACW* would be a great option to pack in your bag for a staycation in style. Just ask Samuel Ross – who took us through this collaboration when we sat down with him last month, here.

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