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or a day trip to the seaside can be a logistical feat, as you can be applying suncream one minute and taking cover from heavy downpours the next.
Russo-Bah has worked in the fashion industry for over 18 years and also founded a luxury online resortwear brand, meaning there is no-one in the industry more qualified than her in beach dressing. Her style philosophy is all about dressing up and she has the same approach for days at the beach, whether she’s in Riviera mode in a vibrant bikini in Italy or is in a grown-up denim midi-dress for a drive to the British coast.
Lily Russo-Bah, Marie Claire’s Fashion Director, knows a thing or two about packing, and so as part of our ‘What’s In My Boot’ series she shows us what she packed into her Land Rover Discovery for a day exploring the Kent coast.
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What a Fashion Director Packs for the Beach
TIMELESS APPEAL
By Stella McCartney
FASHION: Dress and shoes, both Marc Jacobs
A
What's In My Boot:
s an Italian, Lily Russo-Bah has grown up spending summers in Puglia and so is an expert at packing for the beach, however a day in Kent requires another level of preparation. Thanks to the changeable British weather, planning for a
Talent: Lily Russo-Bah Managing Director: Hannah Almassi Associate Creative Director: Jamie Carson Senior Producers: Daniel Gould & Esther Thorn Gent Senior Project Management: Hayley Jackson
Design Director: Oliver Bourne Designer/creative: Hannah Taylor
words: EMMA SPEDDING Film Production: Studio Soeur Stills: Studio Soeur & Kasia Bobula Styling: Fiona De Lys
Model shown is Land Rover Discovery Tempest 27MY in Carpathian Grey premium metallic finish
She knows that the secret to a successful beach outfit is all about a few carefully chosen accessories. For discovering beaches in the UK she recommends a pair of jelly shoes to keep your feet protected from traversing pebbles and navigating rocky paths. Fortunately, there are lots of fashionable twists on classic jellies, with elegant ballet flat silhouettes and playful bright colours. A basket bag is also a summer essential; however, she advises you opt for a structured shape that won’t fall over when you place it down, as no one wants a handbag (and then a car boot) filled with sand.
This is Kent after all, so a cashmere blanket scarf is more essential than a bikini: “I’m terrible company when I’m cold,” she jokes. Even when it’s overcast and windy, you don’t want to overlook the SPF, so Lily always packs multiple suncreams for her and her daughter, plus a stylish wide-brim hat to help protect her face from the sun.
Russo-Bah describes herself as an “over-preparer,” and so she filled the Land Rover Discovery boot with lots of items to help create a comfortable beach set up—no one wants to be sat on pebbles or soggy grass for hours. In her boot is a pop-up deck chair, beach towels, cushions and a thermal flask, because you can’t simply beat a cup of tea on a brisk day. Thankfully, the ample boot space is ideal for an overpreparer like Lily, and means there’s no worry about squeezing it all in.
For day trips with young children, snacks are essential, and so she always has a cool bag on hand in the boot. As for activities, her family likes to keep things simple and nostalgic—a family knock around with a bat and ball will keep her daughter entertained for hours, regardless of the weather.
Discover more at landrover.co.uk/discovery and @landroverdiscovery and get ready to explore.
FASHION: Pink dress, belt, pants, bralette and bag by Miu Miu