Beach huts are found more often in Archie Comics beach scenes than on real-life beaches, but even though they take a bit more setup than the average beach umbrella, you have to admit that they are both retro-chic and far more appealing for changing in the public or semi-public beach bathroom. This Striped Beach Hut travels easily, as it is made with a steel frame that folds flat when you need to store it. The Dolan fabric is UV and weather resistant, with a practical finish that "inhibits mould formation and decay," allowing it to stand up to the sea air. The rainbow stripes are random, so no two will be alike, although they're sure to stand out on the beach no matter what. Price: $1120.

On Cyprus, different beaches appeal to different people, but they all have one thing in common: no dogs are allowed on them. The rule is in place to make sure the beaches stay clean for bathers. Perhaps tired of enforcing the policy, or simply tired of hearing complaints from dog-lovers, the authorities on the holiday island are considering changing the rules to give dogs (and presumably their owners) their own beach. No location has been picked out yet, but a dog-only beach is sure to be a big draw with pet owners.

The Evolution Surf Travel Set includes three different skin treatments that are supposed to help combat the damage that sun exposure does to the skin. Their "intense healing" is intended to benefit even skin that has been overexposed to sun, sea and sand - as it is for many surfers, hence the name. The set includes: Exfoliating Bamboo Microdermabrasion Scrub (1.7 oz.), Smoothing Glycolic Coconut Crème (1.7 oz.) and Healing Day & Night Nourishing Crème (1.7 oz.). We're sure that they don't recommend trying to damage your skin in the sun while using the products, but if they really work, it's a good excuse to go to the beach a bit more often. Price: $440.

This Beach Tote by Ananas is the perfect bag for - what else - the beach. Unlike the vast majority of other beach-bound totes, this one is large enough to hold all your summer gear while still looking funky and fashionable. The straps of the tote, which measures 19" by 15," are extra-wide to make carrying it comfortable. The bag is handwoven from a natural fiber called abaca, has a satin-lining and comes in three colors, including saffron (pictured), fuchsia and grass. As an added bonus, the tote includes a  7" by 12" clutch for times when you really need a smaller bag, like hitting the cabana bar after sunbathing. Price: $88.

Cheap plastic beach chairs don't look that good, are rarely comfortable and don't last. A much better summer chair option is the classic looking Adirondack. It conveys a quiet sense of luxury because it's the kind of chair that people expect to see on a porch in the Hamptons. The Wall Street Journal's Catalogue Critic rated foldable Adirondacks this week. Their intention was to find a chair that could be stored for the winter, but why not store it in your trunk and take it down to the shore instead? Their winner in both comfort and ease of assembly was the Orvis Folding Adirondack. The delightful chair is made of hardwood, finished with weather-resistant acrylic in one of 3 colors. The chairs are $189 each.

The first two words that spring to mind when looking at this bag are, in no particular order, "yacht" and "beach." The Southerly Winds Tote from Anthropologie is made of a medium linen, festively colored with nautical-looking red and white stripes. The patches on the sides of the bag are made of cotton canvas, but the trim at the opening is made of supple leather, which holds the woven rope which serves as a handle. Inside pockets keep your cell phone and iPod from falling to the bottom of the tote(14"x 19.5"x 8") and getting lost beneath a bathing suit, sandals and a book of light summer reading. Price: $278.

Even clothing designers like to take a break from draping fabrics over models and sketching like crazy, and in summer, their thoughts turn toward the beach just like everybody else's. Pucci's plush beach towel has a bright, retro abstract print in vibrant orange, pink and lime green. Unlike your standard towel, each Pucci design is completely unique, so the pattern will vary from towel to towel. Made of 100% cotton, it is absorbent and fluffy, which means that it's equally suited to sunbathing or drying off after a swim. It's not quite in the same price range as the Hermes beach towels to begin with, but they are on sale for $190 right now - what a deal!

Hermes can even make a sandy beach luxurious with their plush, terrycloth beach towels, though it doesn't hurt if that beach is on a remote tropical island, either.  Featuring rich colors and bold prints, the towels maintain a sense of the fun, carefree look that a beach towel should have. Designs include schools of fish, an ocean liner and swimming sea turtles. It's hard to say which design is the most attractive, so it's probably best to get them all. Use the ship print while on deck during a cruise and save the animal prints for sunbathing. You'll definitely catch the eyes of everyone on the cruise ship! The towels measure 36x60-inches and are priced at $450 each.