For seasons, the staples of Hamptons daywear have remained tried and true: whites, seersucker and tunics in sherbert shades. But a recent British invasion is shaking up the beachparty ensemble.
“It’s nice to be able to create something that’s in season. In England, it never gets like the Hamptons,” says Alice Temperley, whose “eclectic English” pop-up boutique, Temperley London, features a tightly edited collection of lightweight daywear and some select pieces from the designer’s eveningwear and highly sought wedding collections. “It’s slightly younger and simpler, but you still get elements of the main line—laces, cut-through cottons, printed brushed cottons, denim—and it’s very, very easy to look after,” she says. “Anything we think is perfectly suited for the Hamptons, we move down there.”
While ikat and beachy tie-dye are the patterns du jour, Temperley is going against the tide with bold graphics. One standout is the tiger-print jumpsuit; it’s “great for running around the Hamptons with flats,” says the designer, who will be visiting the East End for two weeks this month. “And the cotton cut caftans and Mini Tia dresses in stripes are really good for the beach.”
That’s not to say Temperley is immune to the local nightlife. In fact, her Hamptons memories are quite the opposite: “Very chic, a lot of fun and always a lot of impressive parties.” 53 The Circle, East Hampton, 329-6505; temperleylondon.com
