Summer Fun in Westchester County: Beauty and Style

 Be Beachy Keen

Warm-weather fun means heading to the beach. What one summer essential do local shop owners recommend you don’t leave home without?

	“A pair of really great colorful Bermuda shorts. They are easy to wear, comfortable, and flattering on most body shapes because they are longer. It’s just a really cute look.” —Lynn Puro, Owner of March Boutique in Briarcliff Manor
	“An amazing Saisei beach tote to carry all your beach attire. Handmade in Italy from recycled military tents, they’re strong, can get wet, and the weave is so tight that sand can’t get inside. They’re really cool looking and come in all different kinds of colors.” —Lori Land, Co-owner of Churchills of Mount Kisco
	“A sheer caftan over any kind of bathing suit helps to glam up a bathing suit and dress up traditional beach wear.”  —Louisa McTurner, Owner of Weezie D. in Bronxville and Rye
	“A great little cover-up by susana monaco. They don’t wrinkle, are machine washable, have built-in bras, and come in terrific bright turquoises, pinks, oranges, and greens.” —Robin White, Owner of New York Dolls in Mount Kisco
	“An insulated picnic basket. It’s lightweight, easy to carry, and can keep your food either hot or cold. It comes in two versions—the traditional picnic basket and over-the-shoulder version—and when you’re not using it, it collapses flat.”  —Denise MacDonald, Owner of Wish in Rye
	OUR PICK:  We absolutely love these fun beach towels from Lacoste. They’re available in an array of boldly colored checked, striped, and dotted designs, so you’ll never forget where you’re sitting after you come in from a dunk in the water. $42 at Macy’s in White Plains or macys.com.

---

 Guys, Learn H​ow to Dress Cool!

Let’s face it, guys: Most of the time, we have it easier than women when it comes to getting dressed. Our cuts stay in style longer; our accessories don’t extend far beyond a tie, belt, and watch; and our shoes are made to be comfortable. But, during the dog days of summer, it’s hard to imagine a more fiery torture than wearing a heavy, dark blazer with a tie wrapped around our sweating necks.

That’s why we asked Ken Giddon, owner of Rothmans in Scarsdale and Manhattan, how to stay cool and, more importantly, look cool in the summer months.

The material: In the past, men usually went for seersucker or linen when the temperature began to climb. These days, though, that look is falling out of favor with your typical, not-so-fashion-forward guy. “It looks a little out of place on Metro-North,” Giddon cautions. “Linen is not the best option, either, unless you stand on the train or don’t sit down at work. It just wrinkles all the time.” Fortunately, Giddon says, not all wool fibers will make you feel like you’re wearing a sweater. “These are natural fibers. They breathe, and they can be really lightweight. I find a lightweight wool suit feels lighter to me than cotton, and, psychologically, if you put those suits on in a light color, you feel cool.”

The color: The old way was cream and tan. Within the last year or two, though, light grays and blues have become the preferred hues. “They’re the hot colors right now in men’s suits,” Giddon points out. “We even see guys get married in them.”

The accessories: Can you forego that tie? Giddon thinks you usually can. “Most offices are happy if you wear a suit with no tie. In the summer, you’re going to see most of the guys rocking a suit with no tie, with the caveat being that the collar on your shirt better stand up and be presentable. That collar squashed down with no tie looks like you’re not prepared.”

To keep in mind: “Another nice look for the summer is a pair of lightweight dress trousers and a great custom shirt,” no blazer necessary, says Giddon. “If the shirt fits really well, it looks dressy.”

 Practice an Ounce of Prevention

Eight skincare and beauty pros have you covered head-to-toe for a safe—and beautiful—summer look.

	Scott Newman, MD, FACS, of The Aesthetic Laser Group in White Plains “I believe in a three-step approach to take care of your skin in the sun: Start with a good penetrating cream or serum with antioxidants, such as SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic. The second step is to moisturize with products that contain hyaluronic-acid (HLA) moisturizers to keep the skin ultra-hydrated. The third step is to apply a good sunscreen that protects against both UVA and UVB rays. I recommend Environ Titanium Dioxide sunscreen available in different SPFs. More important than SPFs is proper usage. You need about a tablespoon [of sunscreen] to properly cover the face and neck (rubbing it in too much will reduce its effectiveness), and about an ounce (the size of a shot glass) to protect your whole body.”
	Makeup Artist Jay Alvear of Larchmont “Tarte BB Tinted Treatment 12-Hour Primer Broad Spectrum SPF 30 is the newest must-have makeup product and it works as a moisturizer, primer, light foundation, anti-aging treatment, and sunscreen—all in one tube. For a foundation with more coverage, I love smashbox Studio Skin 15 Hour Wear Foundation SPF 10; wearing a primer like MAC Prep + Prime Face Protect SPF 50 underneath it will enhance its protection. Don’t forget your lips! Look gorgeous and stay protected with Bobbi Brown’s fabulous Rich Lip Color SPF 12. Reapply every two hours for full benefits.”
	Hair Colorist Kathleen Troy of Paulo’s in Bedford Hills “Your hair needs sun protection too: L’ANZA makes an entire line of swim and sun shampoos and conditioners, and I use their Trauma Treatment as a leave-in conditioner. It has the best UV and anti-frizz protection, and does not weigh hair—even fine hair—down. You just need a small amount and only from the mid-shaft down.”
	Christie Lavigne, skincare director at Oasis Day Spa Westchester “Using a tinted sunscreen is a real time-saver: It gives you a hint of color along with the sun protection. Cover Tint SPF 20 from dermalogica comes in three shades; G.M. Collin’s tinting Mineral Sun Veil SPF 15 blends with all skin types and leaves a matte finish; MAC Studio Moisture Tint SPF 15 offers a hint of luminescence.”
	Neil Goldberg, MD, of Neil S. Goldberg Dermatology in Bronxville and White Plains “In the summer, I use Neutrogena SPF 100 because I believe you only get one third of the SPF that’s on the label. I always recommend a higher SPF to my clients.”
	Makeup Artist Susan Giordano of Giordano Beauty in Hastings-on-Hudson “My new Creamy Foundation Stick SPF 18 contains a natural sunscreen in the form of titanium dioxide. Wear alone or over your usual sunscreen for an extra layer of protection—and a beautiful, even skin tone to boot!”
	William Greenberg, MD, of Skin Thera P Medical & Cosmetic Spa in Scarsdale “Colorescience’s Sunforgettable mineral powder SPF 50 [left] is approved by The Skin Cancer Association and blocks both UVA and UVB rays. It comes with a self-dispensing brush so it is easy to keep with you for touch-ups during the day. A lot of men use it on the golf course. It comes in light tints as well as bronze. EltaMD’s UV Aero SPF 45 [right] contains transparent zinc and is water resistant up to 80 minutes.”
	Micheline Giovani, MD, of Advaned Laser & Medical Spa of Rye: “The most important step, rain or shine, is to never leave the house without an SPF sunscreen of 50 or more all over the face and decollete. I like Neutrogena or Obagi for normal skin and EltaMD SPF 45 for oily skin.”

â–º For more from the June issue, click here.
â–º For more Summer Fun, click here.