Art & Fashion
Clare Coulson

Breeze on to the beach

There has never been a better choice of holiday wear - so throw away that old bikini and sarong, says Clare Coulson

If your idea of packing for a summer holiday is to retrieve two old bikinis and a sarong from the depths of your wardrobe, you probably need to rethink your approach.

These days, all department stores boast areas dedicated to the beach. At Harvey Nichols, gorgeous swimwear by established designers, including Pucci and Missoni, sits alongside designs by a host of up-and-coming names such as Melissa Odabash and Allegra Hicks. There is an assortment of sarongs, silver leather Moroccan sandals, jewel-encrusted tunics and beaded crocheted bikinis.

Printed cotton top with drawstring neck, Blue stretch crochet shorts

Meanwhile, at Fenwick, the ground floor has been converted into a breezy area full of holiday wear, from printed tunics by Antik Batik to summer basics from Calypso, an American label based in the Hamptons.

Elsewhere, Musa has been transformed into a beach boutique with endless bikinis, tops, gold jewelry from India and sequined Moroccan slippers and sandals.

Pale green top, Turquoise printed bikini bottoms

Perhaps the biggest endorsement of the new popularity of chic beach gear, however, is Heidi Klein's holiday shop, which sells tempting bikinis, sarongs, kaftans and other beach basics all year round, and also offers pre-holiday spa treatments.

"Holidays have changed so much. We travel so frequently that it makes sense to buy clothes specifically for your holiday," explains Penny Klein, the shop's founder. A second branch of the store, whose fans include Kate Moss and Claudia Schiffer, has just opened in St Tropez, and this month, Heidi Klein launches its first own-label collection, which includes sleek bikinis, tunic tops and shirt dresses.

The good news, for those on a tighter budget, is that the high street has taken inspiration from the endless designer beach labels. Monsoon has just introduced Beach Boutique at larger branches. The shop-within-a-shop stocks colorful silk kaftans and peasant tops that are just as desirable as the expensive designer versions; there are also cotton tunics, bikinis and matching sarongs.

Turquoise gipsy top, Pink and white floral print bikini bottoms

Marks & Spencer's Indian Summer collection has cool kaftans and pretty silk separates that are perfect for evenings on the beach. Topshop, which has also picked up on the huge demand for holiday-wear, is packed with brightly colored sandals and wedges, sun hats and quirky beach towels.

Pulling off a chic holiday look, however, requires some thought. Klein advises packing crushables, such as Melissa Odabash's cheesecloth tunics and trousers.

"But I think trying too hard is the worst thing you can do," she says. "If you are wearing something loose, you feel more comfortable, so you look better."

• Pictures by Paul White
• Hair and make-up by Brigitte Petit
• Model: Hannah Colthorpe at Premier
• Stylist: Clare Coulson