What celebrity stylist Dolla Baruah is packing for the beach

“Nothing on my list is hot-girl basic, but they’re slightly strange in the best way possible,” exclaims Mumbai-based fashion stylist Dolla Baruah. As beach days arrive in full swing, there’s no one happier than her. With her Sun in Pisces and Moon in Cancer, she’s obviously a certified water baby. “All of my happiest memories exist somewhere near the ocean,” says the 32-year-old creative, who is preparing for a move to Goa after spending years in Mumbai. Ask her for her travel recommendations and the names roll of her tongue as easily as the waves slip off the sand: the Mediterranean waters of Milos in Greece, the palm-lined shores of Thailand’s Koh Tao, and Bali’s dramatic cliffside shores.

These are the destinations that Baruah hits when she’s not styling. Her roster of clients includes a bevy of internet glam girls: Tania Shroff, Masoom Minawala, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, and Tamannaah Bhatia, to name a few. Each of them comes to Baruah for her ability to convey an easy, almost nonchalant sensuality, one that’s influenced by her love for life by the sea. Ahead, she sits down with The Nod to share her golden rules of building a collection of ocean wardrobe staples, along with the what, how, and why of what she’s packing for a beach vacation.

For swimwear, less is more

“I’m really drawn to swimwear that is handmade and feels object-like,” says Baruah. The best swimwear becomes part of the outfit later—pieces you can swim and sunbathe in, add to and subtract from, to build a new look without requiring a complete outfit change. For swimwear that’s artisanal and sexy, she recommends a silver woven bikini from Isa Boulder for its tasteful skimpiness. “I also love nautical stripes at the beach,” adds Baruah, fawning over the Cala de la Cruz striped bikini made in Colombia. For something with a bit more coverage, she recommends Lisa Marie Fernandez’s balconette high-waist seersucker bikini in raspberry.

Dresses that take you from beach to bar

For Baruah, beach-to-bar dressing relies on two cardinal rules: it should feel undone and still feel like the beach. “Instead of changing into a separate evening look, I like to throw on something over my swimwear and let that outfit evolve naturally from the day into the night,” she explains. To achieve this transition, she recommends Goa-based Studio Tia’s Amara bloomers, which borrow their colour palette from the beach, or this draped olive dress from Fara Boutique—another Goa-based label—that feels “goddessy yet nomadic”. For an outfit that doesn’t look like you tried too hard, there’s the super-versatile cotton tunics from Tory Burch.

Cocktails by the beach

For sunset dressing, Baruah is primarily drawn to movement. “I love dresses that react beautifully to the body, to motion, wind, and light. I want it to be cinematic,” she shares, listing two South American resort-wear brands that have her heart. The first is Brazilian label Andrea Almeida, who makes a wonderful, deconstructed white crochet dress, and the second is Puerto Rican label Ecliptica Atelier, from whom she suggests a beaded tulle gown embroidered with multicoloured crystals. This fluid pure silk bandana scarf dress from Christopher Esber is also a strong contender.

Even your flip-flops can be interesting

“Comfort should be your top priority at the beach. Your entire mood is ruined the moment you start fighting your shoes,” says Baruah. Her favourite new slippers come from the hottest new collab: Isabel Marant x Havaianas. For something a bit more upmarket, look to these chic invisible leather thong sandals from Alaïa that almost disappear on the feet. And if standard beach footwear feels a bit too exposed, Baruah recommends these handcrafted Beklina crochet ballet flats made in Peru with 100 per cent Peruvian cotton.

Beach bags that fit your entire life

The ideal beach bag is roomy, oversized even, and ideally has a bit of texture. The Chanel maxi tote in raffia and calfskin from Matthieu Blazy’s Chanel Coco Beach 2026 collection is her top pick, but this silk and wicker Pucci picnic bag is a close second. For something a bit more minimal, Alaïa’s versatile white and black leather-trimmed bucket bag can travel anywhere from the beach to a sundowner or dinner.

Don’t forget your beach towel

“No one cares about their beach towels, but they actually have the power to become part of the whole visual world of a beach, especially in photos,” argues Baruah, who loves a playfully loud and dramatic beach throw. “Your beach towel is so personal; it’s literally your territory for the day,” she reasons, picking this signature Paul Smith striped towel and this burgundy Persian-rug inspired towel from Slow Tide. Her favourite, though, comes from a homegrown brand, the Luv 2 Luv Ya chattai from NorBlack NorWhite, which rolls up into a bag. “The moment you lay this out on the beach, people will come and ask where you got it from,” she adds