New Tendency. What to wear this summer

The beach rarely fails to be perfect. There is the soothing sand and lull of the waves, the pretty pink shells and call of the gulls, the brilliant sun and rosy cheeks. And then there are those of us who go to the beach and are rarely, if ever, perfect. That would be the woman with the tangled, matted hair wearing the sandy, sagging cover-up and holding various bags of damp stuff. If you're one of us, and you want to clean up your beach act, you're in luck. iVillage stylist Boni Joi says there are only five items required for a successful beach look: a classic big-enough tote, a chic hat, the right bathing suit, a stylish cover-up and pretty sandals.