Now that it’s officially summer and swimsuit season, it’s also officially beach cover-up season.
Because women in the South are always prepared, our newest arrivals included two new cover-ups, the Carolina Beach Dress and the Marina Stripe Cover-Up.
The best thing about these beach essentials is you can wear them almost anywhere. But for this installment in our “Style School” series, we headed to the beach with blogger Hoang-Kim Cung.
Hoang-Kim, the voice and style behind the blog Color & Chic, styled the Carolina Beach Dress, which proved to be just perfect for a day of sun, surf, and sand.
A self-proclaimed “passionate and fun-loving gal,” Hoang-Kim loves “food and trying new recipes, traveling, and [her] soft spot is green tea ice cream.” Based in Coastal Virginia, this TV journalist is certainly a woman after our own heart.
Keep reading to see how Hoang-Kim styled her cover-up and learn more about her beachy lifestyle on the Virginia coast.
Describe your perfect day at the beach.
I live in a completely different state from my family, so my perfect day at the beach would include all five of them, plus my boyfriend, Johnny.
We would have yummy Vietnamese small eats made by my mom (her spring rolls are the best!), fresh coconut, and just enjoy each other’s company. My entire family has yet to be at the beach together at the same time, so hopefully we can check this off our list soon!
How did you choose to style your beach cover-up?
Living in Coastal Virginia means you have to nail your beach look almost all the time. The print on this cover-up is so darling, so I wanted to let it shine.
I threw it over a white one-piece swimsuit because those are making a huge comeback! Since this cover-up is blue and white, I wanted to keep the color palette simple. I went with nude sandals to complete the look, which was perfect for running errands once I was done at the beach.
What’s your go-to beach or summer look?
I prefer my beach looks to be fuss free, which is why I love when cover-ups double as dresses. If I am wearing a one-piece swimsuit, I throw on shorts for that effortless, casual style.
Do you have a favorite beach you go to?
Carmel-by-the-Sea is my favorite beach I have ever been to! However, living in Coastal Virginia, I would have to say either Sandbridge or the North End of the oceanfront area are my favorites.
Plus, I consider myself lucky since I have always been able to find parking here, which is a rarity! These two are where the locals go, since we prefer to steer clear of the resort/touristy areas.
What will you always bring in your beach bag?
Sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen. I also pack a huge water bottle with lemon and cucumber slices and fill it halfway with ice cubes to stay hydrated. My last must-have is a pair of headphones, since I love listening to audio-books at the beach!
What’s the simplest way to look put together at the beach?
No matter what swimsuit you wear, having the right cover-up will make you look chic. What I love about my new Draper James cover-up is it really covers everything, so you can throw it over any swimsuit or bikini and look chic.
