Standard Culture

Stan D’arde’s Summer Essentials

The Pool at The Standard, Miami

For me, weekends are the greatest days of the week.  Actually, my entire week is really like a seven day weekend, but I like to focus on Saturday and Sunday because that’s when my friends don’t have to go a thing they call a “job” (what is that????), and they have time to hang out with me.  

Now that I find myself spending a lot of time in NYC during the summer, the friends and I usually run out to my beach house for the weekend or we fly down to The Standard, Miami for endless spa services or we go to LA to hang out with celebs and all the fabulous people I know at The Standard, Hollywood or The Standard, Downtown LA.  

But no matter where I go, there are certain things I always need to take with me, and I’m here today to share them with you because I know your weekends would fall apart without them…

1. Burberry Washed Leather Holdall

Before you go anywhere for the weekend, you have to pack your stuff.  I tend not to take much with me when I go away because I’m either wearing next to nothing all weekend or I know I can just buy what I need when I get there.  For these moments, I prefer my washed leather Burberry Holdall.  It has just enough space to fit all my essentials leaving me with just enough for room anything else I want to throw in there.

2. La Roche Posay Sunscreen

If you’re going anywhere in the summer, you always need protection…from the sun that is.  Although there are more expensive options out there, I prefer La Roche Posay Anthelios XL SPF 15.  My skin is a GORGEOUS shade of olive, so I don’t need that much spf, but there are other levels from which to choose from…and at $31.95 for 3.4 ounces, it’s a steal!  Lather up, People!

3. DITA Aviator Sunglasses

Being that I spend so much time in the sun, a really great pair of sunglasses, fitting both fashion and function, are key.  For me, these glasses are by Los Angeles based company, DITA, founded by Jeff Solorio and John Juniper.  I prefer the aviators myself because they are classic, but there is an array of styles to choose from.  And the best part is that they are available at the The Shop at The Standard, NY!

4. Kitsuné Espadrilles 

When you’re on vacation or just relaxing, the last thing you want to do is to bind your feet in some painfully crazy shoes.  For specifically this reason, the French geniuses over at Kitsuné have brought us these incredible espadrilles in an array of fun colors for Summer.  With rubber soles, canvas bodies and the chicest top stitching you ever did see, this European essential is now trés Americain!

5. Quiksilver x Standard 2011 Boardshorts

Okay, so I don’t mean to torture you with this sneak peak of our new boardshort collaboration with Quiksilver for 2011, but I just had to!  I already have mine, and I can’t even stand being separated from them for just one minute.  You obviously remember the party we threw at The Standard, Downtown LA in celebration of the last collaboration, right?  Well, we have a whole lot more in store for you over the next week or so with the new set of shorts and bikinis, so keep checking in back in this week.  In the meantime, you can get the current shorts at The Shop!

6. Aquatic Cases by Christopher Tennant

Pink sea fan, red crab, shark jaw, assorted rocks and shells, sand, acrylic paint, plate glass, Churchill cigar box

A lot of the time when one goes away for the weekend, one is an invited guest at a friend’s beach house.  (Remind me to invite you over sometime.)  And as you know, it would be incredibly rude of you to show up empty handed when someone has invited you to stay with them.  That’s why I love giving my hosts Aquatic Cases by Christopher Tennant from Haus Interior.  These exquisite pieces are each hand made in various sized vintage cigar (and larger) boxes, while using real aquatic and marine life to create enthralling scenes that one would normally need a submarine to see!  

7. Beach Towel By Works On Whatever

Yoshitomo Nara Towel for WOW

Ever since these beach towels commissioned from famous artists by Art Production Fund, I have been ADDICTED!  Through Works On Whatever, these towels by artists like Jasper Johns, Elizabeth Peyton, Ed Ruscha and Peter Doig are the chicest the thing to happen to the beach since I donned a speedo in St. Tropez in the late 80s!  Trust me on that one.  The towels are 100% cotton and they measure 60x70 inches affording you and a loved one (or two) more than enough space to sun your buns.

That’s it for my summer weekend essentials.  Quick and easy, just like me.  Tweet me your essentials so I can share with all my Stan D’elovelies.  I’m sure they’re dying to know what you think is important on your weekends away.

xoxo
Stan