What Trends Women Should Wear to the Beach This Summer

Let's face it, summer style and beach fashion fit together like swimsuits and SPF. So what should women wear to the beach this summer? Which items should we spend or splurge on? Check out this season's eye-popping-must-haves from bold beach bags to fashion's cover-ups and swimwear. Get a head start on your summer style with this season's beach fashion trends.

1) Beach Fashion Bags in Bright Colors

A great summer beach bag is a one-size-fit-all fashion option for petite coquettes and full-figured fashionistas everywhere. With bags large enough to lug all your summer essentials, stick to inexpensive cotton and straw carry-alls for optimum beach style.

Beach Fashion and Summer Style Verdict: Remember summer won't last forever. Purchase your beach bags at Old Navy, Target and other inexpensive fashion retailers to save money. Intricate embroidery, flower patterns and jeweled embellishments will give you that special designer flavor without the big price tag.

2) Summer Style Sarong, Tunics and Cover-ups

Versatile and chic sarongs hug the waist and disguise many figure flaws. A large cotton scarf can also double as a made-to-fit sarong or impromptu beach cover-up. A summer tunic in linen or cotton can be transformed from beachwear into stylish daywear. Whatever option you chose for the beach it should complement your swimsuit's color and style.

Beach Fashion and Summer Style Verdict: Splurge on the tunic and save on the sarong. Off price retailers like TJ Maxx, Ross and Marshalls sell discounted designer cover-ups each summer. I'd invest in Tory Birch's line of signature retro-inspired tunics for a moderately-priced yet upscale, ready-to-wear beach style option.

3) Sizzling Shoes and Sunglasses for Summer

I can't imagine summer fashion without flip flops and sunglasses. Classic espadrilles and peep-toe wedges are chic options for the beach fashion and summer style. Sequined sandals and slides in neon colors are like jewelry for the feet.

Summer shades must block the sun from our pretty eyes, but smart shoppers can save on ultra trendy sunglasses. From wire framed aviators to trendy round discs of summer to-die-for-style, beat the heat with oversize fashion glasses for the pool and shore.

Beach Fashion and Summer Style Verdict: Who wants to lose their designer specs in the sand? Many stores have fashionable copies of famous designer frames ranging from five to twenty five dollars. Summer shoppers should also splurge on designer leather slides and save on plastic beach flip flops.

4) Sexy Summer Swimwear Style

An essential part of a summer wardrobe, a swimsuit should be both stylish and functional. Here are my top swimsuit tips for the fearless few with bikini bodies and my fabulous full-figured-sexy-summer girls.

- Find a style that flatters your body to accentuate your best features.
- Pay close attention to stretchy fabrics used to suck in the stomach and whittle the waist. Many collections use design features like pleats and skirts to cover problem areas.
- Unless you are a perfect size zero, light colored suits should be avoided.
- Thank goodness a return to color is in style. Women sized 2-22 can select gorgeous swimsuits in electrifying hues to show of their curves beautifully.

Beach Fashion and Summer Style Verdict: Splurge on a swimsuit that makes you feel and look beautiful. Leave the cheap swimwear to toddlers, children and college students.

Who needs boring shorts and a t-shirts when summers' latest trends provide a plethora of perfectly pretty prints and sun kissed solids for all shapes and sizes? Whether you chose to save or splurge, you'll rule the sand this season with fantastic summer style fashion for the beach.