I attended college in a small Vermont town where winter lasts from September to May and that first warm spring day is like a religious rebirth听with more debauchery. It鈥檚 barbecue, midriff-baring, flip-flop-wearing, beer-drinking season鈥攍ike a pop country song with more Patagonia.听
One year, that first spring day coincided with a friend鈥檚 22nd birthday. While the Adirondacks turned purple in the fading evening light, we drank cheap beer out of red Solo cups and stood around a bonfire until most of the boys had consumed enough PBR to decide that hurdling over the flames was obviously the next best idea. Not wanting to be shown up (and听hoping to impress a boy), I prepared to follow suit. I unzipped my hoody and backed up to the grass to take a running leap over the fire, which is precisely the moment I remembered I was wearing a clunky pair of cowboy boots, quite possibly the most ill-conceived fire-jumping shoes. By the time I got them off, the crowd had migrated inside听and I had missed my听chance.
Which just goes to show that barbecue听season commands a very particular style鈥攐ne that should allow you听to jump into whatever shenanigans pop up at a moment鈥檚 notice.
For听this summer鈥檚 weekend barbecues, here are a few things to keep in mind:听Make it casual, keep it simple, aim for cute, but prepare for all contingencies. You never know when you might have to jump over a fire. These six items will keep you versatile this summer.
Sunski Dipsea Sunglasses ($55)听
Even though the retro styling of听these lightweight glasses makes them look like expensive designer shades, the听听runs a reasonable $55. This means you can show up looking stylish without having to spend any of your wiffle ball game stressing that you鈥檒l total your pricey sunnies. They also have excellent polarized lenses for the price point,听keeping your eyes comfortable and relaxed in the sun.
Outdoor Research Flyway Dress ($69)
The looks elegant and was built to move,听thanks to its stretchy, lightweight听cotton-polyester blend and built-in shelf bra鈥攎eaning you won鈥檛 have to back out of a spirited game of volleyball because you decided to dress up for the barbecue. The 15 percent cotton in this dress feels great next to your听skin, and听the 85 percent polyester wicks away moisture so you won鈥檛 find your dress soaked if you start to sweat or put it on right after a swim.
Ahnu Hanaa Sandal ($65)
The footbed on Ahnu鈥檚 听features a hearty yet comfortable four millimeters of rubber, making these shoes听perfect for hammering during a game of Frisbee and comfortable if you stand around all day during a less mobile barbecue. The smooth leather two-strap uppers are just dressy enough to not look like sport sandals, while the lowers won鈥檛 stop you from playing.
Dakine Alana Trucker Hat ($15)听
While woven sun hats are beautiful and can cast shade over your face, neck, and potentially shoulders,听nothing is more versatile than a trucker hat. Stuff it into a daypack before riding to your barbecue, and it will arrive at the party offering the same utility as it did before you transported it there. You can swim worry-free听in a trucker听hat, and most are synthetic, so they will dry quickly. We love the floral design of Dakine鈥檚 听and the fact that it鈥檚 made from 100 percent recycled materials.
Super.Natural Hooded Cover Up 140 ($90)
Even midday barbecues have a tendency to run into the evening. Don鈥檛 limit yourself to the sun鈥檚 movement: Bring something to cover up with, like this . On top of looking sharp with its oversized hood and ruching on the arms,听this听midweight hoodie听is made from cozy blend of 50 percent merino wool and听50 percent polyester that will keep you warm without causing you to overheat on warm summer nights.
Hydro Flask 16-Ounce True Pint ($22)
Show up at听your next barbecue prepared for a keg, wine, or any drink you want to keep cold with the ,听an ideal summer barbecue vessel. The double-walled insulated interior and powder-coated exterior keep听cold drinks cold for hours and make听the True Pint really tough to break if you drop it.