Stripes and Denim for Sun Protection

Elena-Meehan-8937On the beach, I like to be worriless. Worriless about absolutely everything, and mindful only of the waves kissing the shoreline and my toes in the sand. For somebody who likes to cover up and protect herself from the sun, that might be a little hard to imagine—but it’s definitely possible to dress up for sun protection and enjoy the beach at the same time.

A case in point is this outfit that I wore to the beach: a striped shirt and denim jeans. Stripes and denim are timeless for a reason, but they need a little vamping up once in a while. The striped shirt that I wore came from a brand that I absolutely love, Mott 50. The brand is dedicated to weaving together stylish wardrobe must-haves that also double as sun protective clothing—all clothes have UPF 50. Mott 50 identifies itself as not just a fashion brand, but a “lifestyle brand”, catering to people who are conscious of the damaging UV rays but do not want to compromise style. It’s literally skincare that you can wear.

This striped shirt is very light and nice on the skin, and with such a classic design and sun protection function, it made beach dressing quite effortless on my part. I paired it with these pastel pink denim jeans. Denim is a material that provides excellent sun protection, and is as much a spring staple as stripes. Pastels are always trendy in spring, too, and the soft pink hue is a nod the Pantone Colors of the Year.

As always, accessories are a (vogue) necessity, and I put on a white fedora hat and black sunnies for coverage for my face. I also wore a couple of statement rings, and brought my Louis Vuitton Saint Barth bag. The total outfit sans the accessories gives much freedom in movement, which is perfect for bonding and playing with my boys.

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Striped Maxidress

It’s no secret that the French have got it down when it comes to timeless fashion. Back in 1917, Chanel took inspiration from seafarers and introduced the Breton stripes to the rest of the world. Flash forward to 2016, the craze for stripes still hasn’t died down, and it has even flourished into so many new styles for the Spring/Summer 2016 collections.

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Dolce and Gabbana, for one, rolled out striped dresses in a spectrum of playful, candy colors. Jonathan Saunders smashed together stripes of different shapes and orientations for an interesting, bold look. Prada made a statement by showing off a combination stripes in different sizes and contrasting hues on coats and suits, resulting in outfits that are funky and sleek at the same time.

Why stripes are an effortless print that has rocked the runways over and over is no wonder. The pattern exists on that level of versatility where you can wear it from casual errands under the sunny weather to dressier, cruise holidays during the summer. It’s always fresh and crisp. So for a spring outfit, I wore a classic striped maxi dress from J. Crew. The combination of cotton and jersey fabrics made the dress soft and lent it just the right flow so that it created a flattering silhouette. I especially loved the back split of the dress: it made it easier to walk and move around in.

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I wore this dress with T-strap shoes from Chanel. Usually, T-strap shoes give off a vintage appeal, but I love how it made my ensemble look so much more chic and put-together. These shoes are actually an old pair; I’ve had it for around 5 years now, but it still works with so many outfits. I’m honestly in love with the way Chanel imbues that quintessential charm in their pieces.

Right off of Chanel’s Spring/Summer 2016 collection is the tweed tote backpack I carried with me. The burgundy and navy colors are a royal pairing, and it really stood out against the navy-and-white stripes of my dress. The crest and pin embellishments gave the bag that robust character, too. The best part? It’s not just about the bag being stylish. True to the traveler theme of the collection, this bag can pack all the necessities. I can fit in more things than I initially thought I could—everything from cardigans, to umbrellas, to my sons’ snacks. It’s practical and fashionable at the same time!

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