Bamboula Ltd. market tote is one of our must-haves; purchases benefit Kenyan artists.

Beach Essentials

Naturally, there are a few mandatory items to ensure (fashionable) survival amid the sand and surf. Here are our style experts' must-haves, and our local suggestions for your travel wish list.

For Her

Our pro: Kassie Rempel, entrepreneur and owner of Simply Soles (simplysoles.com)

Bamboula Ltd. Market Tote (above); Madewell (1237 Wisconsin Ave., NW; madewell.com); $58. Rempel needs a bag big enough to hold her towel. This purchase directly benefits the Kenyan artists who make the woven totes.

Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protection Lotion SPF 60; Sephora (3065 M St., NW; Sephora.com); $39.“Being a redhead, I’m very fair skinned,” Rempel says. “I look for ways to combine my daily routine with sunscreen.” Her pick (and ours) is lightweight, and smells delicious.

Tracey Watts Fedora; M29 Lifestyle (2800 Pennsylvania Ave., NW; m29lifestyle.com); $205. “I’m not a hat person, but it’s an absolute must when at the beach!” Rempel says. This foldable hat from M29 protects from the harsh sun, and stows nicely in your purse away
from the sand.

Her Pick: Dopo in Crème by Nara; (exclusive to Simply Soles, locations in Georgetown and National Harbor; simplysoles.com); $168. Why? “They’re fresh, feminine and really versatile.”

For Him

Our pros: David Neville and Marcus Wainwright, designers of rag & bone (rag-bone.com)

Mizuno Classic Maple Bat, $75; Nike Backyard Gem Baseball, $5; both available at City Sports (1111 19th St., NW; citysports.com. Neville’s favorite beach activity? “Playing bat and ball, drinking beer and having fun,” he says. We agree—opt for a colorful baseball, like this one, so you can keep tabs on it in case the beach gets a little blurry. The maple bat is one that even the pros use.

iPod nano with Multi-Touch Display and Built in Clip; Apple Store (1229 Wisconsin Ave., NW; apple.com); $149. One of Neville’s must-have travel accessories, no matter where he is, is an iPod. We like the latest nano from Apple, which lets you mix a playlist to your liking using the “Genius” feature plus a built-in FM radio in case all your favorite tunes don’t fit.

Castaway Nobadeer Bathing Suit (various patterns available); Sherman Pickey (1647 Wisconsin Ave., NW; shermanpickey.com.); $58. “You need something sand-proof, lightweight and relatively cool looking,” Neville says. Though the rag & bone guys are more skater than prep, we love these casual-cool seersucker trunks for the hot months.

David’s Pick: Lambretta Sunglasses by rag & bone (3067 M St., NW; rag-bone.com); $345. Why? These “work well under extreme beach conditions.”