Okay, so listen. I saw those pictures of Hailee Steinfeld killin’ it in that bikini on the beach. Crazy good style, right? Made me wanna try something similar, capture that vibe. Here’s exactly how I pulled it off.
The Prep Work
First things first, I raided my swimwear drawer. Diggin’ through, found this turquoise string bikini top I almost forgot about. Bottom was trickier – tried three pairs till I landed on these high-waisted navy shorts. Not exactly a matchy-match set, but Hailee’s look had that mix-and-match energy. Felt right.
Accessories Are Key
Hailee always nails the extras, man. Grabbed:
- This floppy straw hat I bought years back, kinda sun-bleached – perfect.
- Oversized silver hoop earrings, cheap ones from that stall downtown.
- Big black sunglasses hiding half my face.
Draped a sheer white button-up over my shoulders like she does. Messed around tying it different ways til it sat loose and breezy.
Location & Setup
Went down to South Beach around 4 PM. Sun’s lower, less crowded, gives that golden glow. Set up near the water where the sand’s packed wet. Used my old tripod for phone pics. Propped it low, aiming slightly upward – makes legs look longer. Made sure waves were crashing in the background for that action shot feel.
Posing Practice
Took me a solid 10 minutes just walking back and forth testing poses. Felt awkward as heck at first! Remembered Hailee’s relaxed confidence. Started walking straight toward the camera, one hand on the hat, hips swaying. Looked over my shoulder mid-stride. Tried sitting cross-legged in the sand, leaning back on my hands, head tipped back laughing (forced the laugh first, real one came after). Key thing? Constant tiny tweaks:
- Adjusted hat angle
- Pulled shirt tighter over shoulders
- Flipped hair over one side
Getting That Shot
Timing the waves was tricky. Got soaked twice trying to nail the “casual stroll near water” shot. Set burst mode on the phone camera. Just kept walking while it snapped away – natural movement looks way better than standing stiff. Finally got one with water swirling around my ankles, fabric blowing, hair messy but in a “good messy” way.
Final Thoughts
Honestly? Surprised how close I got to the inspo without buying anything new. Whole thing cost me a sandy towel and iced coffee. Biggest lesson? Confidence ain’t about the outfit price tag. It’s about wearing it like you mean it, even if you’re faking it til the camera clicks. That vibe Hailee has? Pure attitude. Beach days just got way more stylish.
