It got really, genuinely warm in NYC for the first time this year over the weekend, and naturally, that got my yearning for a trip to a body of water. I grew up in the land of plentiful neighborhood pools, and now that I live somewhere they’re few and far between, I miss being able to throw a towel, a book and a bottle of sunscreen in a tote and get to one quickly. I’ll find a beach or pool deck before long, though; mark my words.
Getting some sun, even if you’re doing it in a local park, does require that aforementioned tote, though. Summer bags need to be roomy and lightweight, fun to look at but impervious to wear, stylish but not outrageously expensive. They need to dry quickly and hold a lot. We scoured the Internet and came up with more than two dozen solid options, from the very affordable to the decidedly designer. No matter which beach you’re headed to, you’ll find a chic, functional companion for your trip below.