As the temperature in the concrete jungle continues to rise, many New Yorkers (and travelers) escape the heat by heading out East to The Hamptons. For me, The Hamptons is the ultimate summer escape filled with that perfect summer breeze, delicious restaurants, popups and great shopping. Unless you are familiar with “heading out east” it can often be a struggle to figure out how to dress and where to go. There are so many destinations within The Hamptons so I’m going to give you my personal favorite spots in order for you to experience the perfect Hamptons getaway.
There are seven main “towns” within The Hamptons: Southampton, Bridgehampton, Sag Harbor, Shelter Island, Amagansett, Montauk and my personal favorite, East Hampton. Although each town is beautiful, I feel as if East Hampton has it all, filled with stunning beaches, fabulous shops, delicious restaurants and great nightlife. I’m going to break down a typical day in East Hampton and how to dress for each occasion.
I love to start my day off by visiting the beautiful Main Beach that is filled with the softest white sand. Some days I go there early in the morning to exercise, other days I enjoy a day by the water with my kids. The ideal outfit to wear to the beach is a caftan or chic cover-up! I find caftans to be super elegant and they can easily be worn throughout the day. The key is to wear something that is comfortable yet chic enough to wear to town to meet a friend for lunch or coffee. I personally love caftans because they are glamorous yet simple. It is one style that honestly looks wonderful on anyone, no matter your age or body type. The caftan is one of very few styles that is comfortable and modest yet extremely alluring. After a morning walk along the ocean, it’s time to head to town for some fabulous shopping and a delicious lunch.
Dressing in the Hamptons can be a bit tricky…when someone says dress “beach chic” what does that really mean? A safe bet is to wear white! There is something so clean and luxurious about wearing white on white, especially during the summer in The Hamptons. A white linen shirt and white shorts are two summer staples I always keep in my closet. Pair white on white with a nice handbag and a pair of leather flip-flops and you are officially ready for a day of shopping in East Hampton. I highly suggest lunch at either Babette’s or Serafina. Both restaurants are delicious and within walking distance from the town.Where to shop? Reformation Beach House and Kirna Zabête. Both are open for the summer and have incredible trunk shows with labels such as Chloe and Dolce and Gabbana. Add in some Trina Turk and the beach pop up of Jcrew and intermix.
What next? A visit to Wolffer Estate Vineyard is an absolute must. This is one of my favorite places to go while in the Hamptons. Wolffer is 175-acres of pure beauty: 55-acres of vineyards, 39 paddocks, an indoor jumping ring and a Grand Prix Field. It is really the most beautiful American winery filled with European character and tradition. The ambiance is ideal for a summer day and Wolffer is the ideal place to sip on a delicious glass of “summer in a bottle” rose while catching up with the girls. What to wear? A summer dress! Nothing says summer chic like a linen dress.
The ideal way to end your day in East Hampton is by having dinner at Bay Kitchen Bar. It is one of the most delicious restaurants with an incredible view of the ocean/sunset. I highly recommend sitting outside if it’s a breezy summer night. Nighttime is a bit dressier so definitely save your nicest outfit for dinner. Summer is the ideal time to wear bold colors, so don’t be shy! Rock those bright colors and save that little black dress for a dinner in the city.
