I Get Around
Although Blake Lively made it big as a symbol of the uptown Manhattan milieu, the athletic young actress was born into a show-business family in L.A. (and is in New Orleans these days, filming). Here she wears a Versace white-leather dress that gives the body-con trend a cleaner-looking reboot.
Bodacious
Filming the aerial stunts for her role in Martin Campbell's Green Lantern has left Lively with a fiercely toned body (a prerequisite for tiny-white-string-bikini-wearing). "I'm 40 feet in the air, spiraling around. That's the best workout you can do because it's all core," she says. "You do that for ten minutes and you should see your body the next day!" Eres swimsuit.
Well Suited
Blake Lively compares the arduous routine of getting into a wet suit to "the process it takes to get into couture!" Michael Kors swimsuit. Omega watch. O'Neill wet suit. Channel Islands surfboard.
Point Blake
Plenty of skin is inevitably on show—but ocean days also require a measure of practical thinking (especially if you're going in the water). A tee keeps the sun off her back. Michael Kors merino-wool T-shirt and bikini bottoms. Channel Islands surfboard.
Hang Loose
Surf legend Rob Machado (left) tutors Lively in the finer points of wave-catching and breeze-shooting on Moonlight Beach. "My goal was to keep her hair dry!" he joked. "I failed, but she never actually fell. We rode every wave to the end." Her dress has a, well, totally shredded appeal. Hervé Léger by Max Azria bandage slit dress.
Shorts Story
Board shorts were developed for a practical reason (think: chafing). Boy shorts? They're just seductive as all get-out. Burberry Prorsum superfine wool top. Eres bikini top. Nicole Miller Swim boy shorts. Chanel watch. Shot on location at Swami's Cafe in Encinitas, CA.
Blue Crush
"I haven't lived in California for so long," Lively says, "but my New York guise is gone. Ostrich flats don't really work on the beach!" Gucci ribbed shrunken jacket and shorts.
A Simple Plan
All that pure, minimalist white on recent runways has a lot to do with the 1990s revival that's just breaking. But fashion analysis aside, white just plain looks cool on the hot sand. Gucci stretch-canvas scuba dress with net insert.
Barefoot Contessa
On the streets of Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California, Machado's stardom rivals Lively's: Passing cars toot their horns, kids high-five him. Her attention-getting minidress gives him a run for the money. Calvin Klein Collection silk-knit long-sleeved dress. On Machado, Hurley shirt and jeans.
