Just The Essentials: Your Guide To Beach Tote Perfection

For Chicagoans, it is mandatory to spend your Saturdays in the summer at Oak Street beach. We head over early for morning mimosas, lounge in the sun all day, and grab dinner around the corner in River North. A bag that can handle an entire day's itinerary is imperative, like this striped tote from T.J.Maxx. I always pack the daytime essentials: a good book, a striped beach towel, Supergoop! Sunscreen, and big sunnies.

For the evening, I can always count on a good maxi dress, embellished sandals, and a statement necklace to ensure that I don’t look like a hot mess from a day of drinking in the heat. On my way out of the house, I throw in my Bumble & bumble Surf Spray to tame my wet mane later so that I'll be ready to hop around my favorite rooftop bars.