Old Money Beach Weekend: Your Essential Guide
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The coveted beach house invitation: it’s going to be one of those weekends that anchor your whole summer in bliss – once you sort out what you’re bringing. Let’s decode those unspoken touches that separate a lovely guest from one who everyone can’t wait to invite back. Let's just say I have experience being both types of guest.
The Perfect Host Gift: Champagne
A bottle of sparkling wine is always a welcome gift, but choose wisely to show gratitude without overdoing it or choosing something too common.
Recommended:
- Billecart-Salmon
- Taittinger
- Bollinger
- Ruinart
Avoid:
- Moët & Chandon
- Veuve Clicquot
Non-Alcoholic Alternatives
These thoughtful options show the same level of consideration and joy:
Artisanal & Local:
- Malibu Honey - supports local beekeepers as LA rebuilds after the fires, and the packaging is beautiful enough for any coffee table
- High-end olive oil (California Estate or Italian single-estate)
- Specialty coffee or tea (Mariage Frères or Fortnum & Mason, Steven Smith Teamaker - for example)
Home Fragrance:
- Caswell-Massey bath products or candles - America's first fragrance house (founded 1752) with genuinely gorgeous packaging that feels both historic and fresh
- Diptyque, Byredo, Trudon, or Aerin candles for classic taste, and for the indie-leaning, consider Le Labo, P.F. Candle Co. or Boy Smells
Curated Excellence:
- Anything from Geary's Beverly Hills - their buyers select special pieces from heritage home decor brands, ensuring your gift feels truly thought out
Tote Bags: Understated Classics
You'll need a versatile tote for beach trips and town jaunts. Consider these versatile options that get better the longer you use them:
- Longchamp Le Pliage: Lightweight, durable, and folds to the size of a paperback book - perfect for bringing home any mementos, too.
- L.L.Bean Boat and Tote: The quintessential old money beach bag
- Bookish Tote: Grab a tote from a lit-heavy publication the The New Yorker or Los Angeles Review of Books, a library, a book foundation, or an independent bookstore. Bonus if said institution has closed.
Kate Middleton with a Longchamp, Carolyn Bessette Kennedy with a Boat and Tote on an actual boat, The New Yorker tote
Towel Etiquette: Bring Your Own
Never use your host's bath towels at the beach or pool. They're designated as indoor towels unless you're told otherwise. Pack one of these instead:
- Turkish Towel: Absorbent, sand-resistant, compact, and doubles as a sarong
- L.L.Bean Turkish Beach Towel: If you prefer terry cloth, this is a high-quality option
