Ibiza’s beaches (for me at least) were once places you headed after dancing the night away at a sweaty club to jump in the water, lie in the sun, sleep off your hangover then have a late lunch before going home to change and do it all again. It was all very relaxed and casual and there was certainly no dress code.
But in the past few years something has changed. The bar bas been raised. There are proper restaurants at the beach now, the décor is swanky, the food gourmet, the champagne vintage, and the people dress to match it. In 2011 you wouldn’t dream of going to Es Cavallet without a designer swimsuit (that won’t see a drop of water), gold jewellery, pre-bronzed limbs, freshly blow-dried hair… and that’s just the men.
For the girls it’s not too different – just add bejewelled sandals and silk kaftans. Kaftans are funny things. I remember when they were for obese people who didn’t have any other clothing options – now they are a recognised fashion category! When Michiko Koshino did a fashion show of hand painted, couture kaftans at Atzaro we all oohed and ahhed and agreed how perfect they were for Ibiza. Today, we even have handmade bespoke kaftans in Ibiza for those who want to make a fashion statement… How times have changed!
In the old days you wouldn’t have gone near a beach in anything so delicate, but now you hit the shore to look beautiful, and surreptitiously people-watch all the other similarly gorgeous people. It just so happens that there is some sand and lovely blue water in the background.
The standard at the ‘New Ibiza Beach’ is so high that I have it on good authority that one visiting Vogue beauty ed had FOUR outfit changes at Blue Marlin last week. With access to an amazing wardrobe, even she was so concerned about whether her choice would be good enough!
Fortunately for those of us who don’t bring changes of clothes around with us, most of the beach restaurants have their own stores too. There were always makeshift shacks out in the car park selling sarongs, straw hats and beaded bracelets, but the restaurants all have boutiques now – some of it with designer collections of the same level as the restaurant. If you haven’t yet checked out reVOLVER’s Sunglasses Bar at El Chiringuito, in collaboration with Linda Farrow, it’s enough to make you forget your shades on purpose!=
Of course there are still some places where you can go and lie anonymously in a post-Pacha coma – some even with a bar where a caña costs less than 5€. With my fashion reputation at stake though, I’m sorry I can’t tell you where they are…
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