Beach Bag Babylon

Beach season is here. And while none of us attempted to brave the Memorial Day weekend crowds in Santa Monica and Venice (a B&T disaster in the making, and you're bound to get stuck on the 10 waiting for the CHP to clear multiple fender-benders), we're now ready to hit the sand. Here's what we're toting:

Emili's bag

I'm not much of a sun worshiper (pale and, um, curvy does not a beach bunny make). And because I never wear day-glo brights, I appreciate cool, understated beach gear — beach bags, cover-ups and sandals that would look just as at-home on the streets of Downtown as they would on the cliffs of Malibu.

Missoni Kasper Beach towel, $195 at Ron Robinson.

Big enough to get you dry; minimalist enough to match your crimson Esther Williams-esque one-piece.

See by Chloe forest-green jellies, $79 at Barneys New York.

A cute, relatively cheap designer jelly sandal that deflects sand and lends a little lift.

Robert Gellar cotton shoulder bag, $179 at Confederacy.

Roomy and lightweight, Gellar's cotton, multi-pocketed tote is big enough to hold everything — including a small boombox and an unsanctioned six-pack.

Lauren by Ralph Lauren cover-up tunic, $61 at Macys.

This shortie cover-up could easily double as a day dress.

Kiehl's Super Fluid UV Defense SPF 50, $32 at Kiehl's.

Because when it comes to protecting my skin from aging/cancer-causing rays, I do not play.