What's in My Day Bag? Vineyard Tours, Dinner and Cocktails in the Hamptons

Essentials for a whole day out!

Summer is time for beach weddings, long vacations but also shorter day trips and 24 hour tours. Day trips can be more of a challenge as you don't want to bring too much to carry, but since you'll be away for nearly 24 hours, you'll want to have all the essentials.

Right now I am packing for a day in the Hamptons. I grew up vacationing in the South Fork villages of Sag Harbor, South Hampton and Montauk Point, Long Island. We had an A-Frame beach house right on the shore and I can remember the soothing sound of the loons and ocean waves. So restful! We shopped in the little hamlet of Sag Harbor which was originally a whaling village and mentioned in Moby Dick. This summer I've been invited to a VIP event hosted by Women's Health Magazine. We leave early from NYC and will be gone all day into the night. There is a luncheon, fitness activities, pool time, dinner and a cocktail party all planned for the day/evening. American Tourister Luggage has dubbed me "A Stylish, Savvy Packer" so this is what I plan to bring along.

 

Outfit, bag and accessories for pool time and a luncheon.

Hamptons Beach Time, Poolside Parties and Luncheons
If you have to transition from the beach or pool to a luncheon, you could wear this lovely long organic cotton tank dress from Indigenous. Add a pair of metallic strappy sandals and you are ready for lunch. 

My Courtney Allegra designer bikini.

Bring your swimsuit, flip flops and sunblock packed in this FitMark Sport Tote. It has a separate "wet bag" to keep your swimsuit apart from the rest of the contents. Has lots of lined, dedicated pockets to organize your electronics, sunglasses, makeup, shoes, swimsuit, an extra dress and other items. Lightweight and comes with a detachable shoulder strap too. Check them out at FitMarkBags.com

A Sport Tote carries everything you'll need for a day trip.

Day Trip Packing List
So a day at the Beach which may have a Vineyard Tour and then Lunch would include the following items in your Day Bag:

1 Pair Dressy Yet Comfy Sandals
1 Pair of Walking Shoes
Swimsuit
LBD for Dinner/Cocktails if you wish
Jewelry 
Sunglasses 
Sunblock (Obagi Medical Sun Shield SPF 50)
Sunhat (straw Fedoras are popular)
Cardigan or Cover Up
Makeup Bag with Rake Comb, Travel Hair Brush, Clips
Insect Repellent (The Hamptons are known for their horrible biting flies)
Minimergency Kit with 22 travel essentials in a tiny case.

Lump Crab Salad - from the beach to lunch

Going from Lunch to Dinner
There are a lot of "White Parties" in the summertime in the Hamptons so the design of the Indigenous tank dress here would be perfect because the length gives it a bit more formality and elegance. If you are attending a White Party, add a pair of white strapped sandals, a white hat and bag with jewelry that's white with accents of gold or silver. 

Otherwise, I would recommend dressing it up with a statement necklace or pearls if your day trip will include dinner and you don't want to bring another dress to change into.

I've simply accessorized this same white dress with a pop of color from the evening clutch and high heeled sandals in coral-pink tones. Your watch is also a fashion accessory. I like the pink accents of this lovely RAPP Black Lady Angry Dragon Timepiece in rose gold with an interchangeable pink patent finish strap. It has a chic chronograph or seconds sub-dial with Japanese quartz movement.

You can also play it "white" with a satchel in bone a la Phillip Lim for lunch but a clutch will work better for dinner and cocktails.

Dinner Table Tips: Speaking of dinner and clutch bags, after being seated, place your bag behind you in your seat. Never place your bag on the table (or floor) as it is considered bad manners. After that, take your napkin from your place setting and fold it in half, laying it in your lap. Below is a diagram of how to silently signal the wait-staff of where you are in the dinner service. 

Cocktail Parties
If you are invited to a cocktail party or a country club, a more formal LBD (little black dress or a little navy blue dress for ocean resorts) are both great choices. I like NYC Designer, Nora Gardner's dresses which pack well and I've worn to a formal charity dinner given by Crowned Prince and Princess HRH Alexander and HRH Katherine of Serbia & Yugoslavia.

Evening clutch and sandals for a beach party

Since it is summer, brighten it up with white pearls or shells, gold, diamonds and a bit of sparkle. Here I am wearing a Mother of Pearl shell necklace from Maui, Philip Stein White Leather Bracelet with Rose Gold emblem and the RAPP Black Lady Angry Dragon watch. My sandals are by Fergie (Fergalicious) and have little gold-silver beads sewn on. You may want to bring a pair of sandals with a heel but take note if the cocktail party is being held outdoors on an uneven lawn or on the beach. Otherwise a cocktail dress with little metallic accents would also work towards looking fabulous. So know your itinerary and pack these travel essentials for an enjoyable summer day trip that includes some evening fun!

Hamptons Chic: Nora Gardner "Alyssa" Dress in Navy at the annual "Party Under The Stars" - Bridgehampton Tennis + Surf Club

Timepiece c/o RAPP Black, Los Angeles
Eyewear c/o Jack Eyes, NYC
Tote c/o FitMark Bags