Doing the Beach with Tommy & Jim
- Karen Bartlett
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
(Tommy Bahama and Maui Jim, that is)
It was a lucky day for my non-fashionista self when I strolled through the open door of RELAX by Tommy Bahama on Third Street South to encounter General Manager Devin Williams mixing up their sister company's signature orchid-topped Mai Tai cocktails and mocktails. The occasion was, in part, the unveiling of the latest high tech Maui Jim sunglasses.
One might be surprised to learn that the original Maui Jim wasn't a Jim at all. He was a young beach vendor named Charley, who was allowed to sell his sunglasses at hotel kiosks on Maui's Ka'anapali Beach in exchange for beach and pool services. He later obtained a patent for his polarized, coated lenses before selling his business to the company that now makes some of the best sun-enhancing polarized sunglasses in the world.
Left: General Manager Devin Williams served up classic Marlin Bar Mai Tais at the swimwear and Maui Jim sunglasses reveal.
Photo by Karen T. Bartlett
Middle: Author's pick: the Ho'okipa Ultra R with intensely polarized Blue Hawaii lens (bottom) | Photo by Karen T. Bartlett
Right: The latest Island Cays tie-front swimsuit in Paradiso Blu. Shot on location in Hawaii. | Photo: Tommy Bahama.com
Among the 18 new frames unveiled, I fell in love with the super-lightweight Ho'okipa UltraR with its wrap frame and positively electric Blue Hawaii lens. The company's patented PolarizedPlus2 lens technology rocks the intense color resolution of a perfect tropical island day while also protecting the eyes.
Cayo Espanto, Belize | Grote Knip Beach, Curacao | Islamorada, FL Keys
It’s an unwritten rule here in Naples that one simply cannot walk the world's finest beaches in brand new state-of-the-art Maui Jims wearing last year's swimsuit. Fortunately, RELAX has just unveiled its spring collection of swimsuits, coverups and other must-haves. So yes, I did the thing. Now my challenge, as a professional seeker of exotic island destinations and photo-perfect beaches, is to decide where to test out my new fashion bling. The Seychelles? Sri Lanka? Ka'anapali Beach, with its three miles of white sand and snorkeling at Black Rock? Or one of my all-time faves: The private island of Cayo Espanto in Belize; Grote Knip, with its dramatic cliffs on Curacao's west coast; or Moorings Village, a fashion photographer's dream resort in the Florida Keys.
Meanwhile, I'll just saunter back across Third Street South in my new Maui Jims to peruse the menu at Tommy Bahama Restaurant & Bar. All that shopping has made me hungry.
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