Beach Bag Essentials

Now that the first day of summer has officially come and gone, we can start getting truly serious about all of our warm weather activities - namely, planning vacations and buying new clothes and accessories for said vacations. There are few things better than packing a beach bag full of stylish new essentials, but it's often easy to overlook one or two key items in all the excitement. Fret not: This quick list will make it easy for you to keep track of all you need on hand to make the most of your stay by the shore.

If you don't already own a functional beach bag, get your hands on this Old Navy two-tone canvas tote ($16.50). Besides just being cute, it's exceptionally sturdy, so it will hold all of your gear with ease. The interior compartment will keep more fragile items safe.

Don't discount the usefulness of a pair of chic flip flops. Leave the $2 styles at the souvenir shop on the boardwalk and step into something a bit more luxurious, like L.L. Bean's Piper sandals ($19.99). The gleaming metallic hue goes with everything and glams up even the most plain swimsuits.

We can't resist an adorable beach towel, like Tommy Bahama's Pineapple Girl ($35.99). The beautiful print is a retro-meets-glamorous celebration of shore-side beauty, and those bright, feminine colors are irresistible!

It may be a touch unexpected, but a wide-brimmed hat lends such a dramatic feel to your beach ensemble. This Chico's straw hat ($39) is adorned with wide coral stripes for a look that's very old-world, glam-movie-star. More importantly, though, it protects your skin from those harmful UV rays.

Of course, that doesn't mean you can skimp on sunscreen. You can't go wrong with Clinique's Super City Block ($47.80 for 3) for the face; it's packed with SPF 40 and applies sheerly with its lightweight formula. For the rest of your body, try Doctor T's Supergoop! Sunscreen Swipes ($34). Offering potent SPF 30 protection, these wipes come 40 to a package and are perfect for sensitive skin (and kids, too!).

Keeping humidity at bay with a hydrating sea-algae extract, Frederic Fekkai's Summer Hair Zero Humidity Frizz Control spray ($23) is especially helpful if your hair tends to fuzz up at the first sign of summer. Spritz it on for protection that lasts the day, seals in moisture and even prevents fading due to chlorine exposure.