Best of Beach

With the UK summer seemingly shorter than your average holiday abroad, there is no time for bikini faux pas and beach conundrums. You want to look good from the first moment your SPF 30 envelops your skin.

On a recent trip to a Barcelona beach, I realised I had been going about it all wrong. My first faux pas was bringing a giant towel to lie on, which I'd unashamedly borrowed from the hotel. Towels are made of heavy cotton, whose nature it is to absorb, but also generate warmth. So much so that anyone accustomed to warmer climates lies on a pareo or what I call coloured beach sheet. They are much more comfortable in 30 degree weather and don't cause unpleasant hot flashes. Plus they look good wrapped as a sarong when you are ordering Sangria on a shaded terrace.

My second faux pas were my Burberry check swimming trunks. These, according to industry friends, should have been left at home. Unless you are part of the six-pack brigade and enjoy a natural bronzage, a longer short is preferable. Dolce & Gabbana have a great selection for men, including white strip tennis shorts from GBP 69, available at Selfridges.

Women, of course, can be much bolder and have a wider range of choices when it comes to beachwear. If less is best, try Sonia Rykiel's pink and black stripe bikini. It's tiny, sexy, and will go great with those leg warmers for evening (Rykiel, from a selection, 020 7493 5255). For sophistication try Alberta Ferretti and Burberry. Ferretti colours are a melange of plum, orange and gold (swimwear from GBP 105, at Liberty) while Burberry has opted for a softer palette in marine blue and white stripes (GBP 95, at Selfridges). For ultra chic, try Missoni Mare, if the stores haven't sold out already. Their bathing suits and bikini's will be the rigueur from the Cote d'Azur to South Beach (for stockists, please call 020 7352 2400).

Whilst spending in excess of 100 pounds on a bikini may seem rather frivolous, lest not forget that with typical pale-white British skintone we are going to be spotted by even the remotest of deep-sea divers. Taking that in regard, you might as well stand out in style.