Welcome to the Hamptons sign in Long Island, New York

After years of admiring the Hamptons from afar, with its charming homes, trendy boutiques, and sandy dunes, we were finally heading east to experience this summer mecca for ourselves. It had been over a decade since our last visit, and this time, we were lucky enough to be invited to stay at our friends’ lovely summer home in Southampton.

Summer pop-up with Nars and Wolffer Estate.

We packed light, tossed in our sneakers, bathing suits, and tennis rackets, picked up a few bottles of the local Hamptons rosé (Wölffer Estate’s Summer in a Bottle, to be specific) along the way, and made our escape from the city. Naturally, the L.I.E. and then Montauk Highway traffic lived up to its reputation, and we soon found ourselves immersed in the “Hamptons crawl”—a slow-moving stream of classic luxury cars and beach-cruising SUVs making their way to any of a number of picturesque towns in the area. But it only added to the excitement.

Entering Southampton.

As we rolled into Southampton, we were greeted by everything we had imagined: white picket fences framing grand shingled architecture, American flags waving proudly outside homes and stores, perfectly manicured hedges, lush hydrangeas in every shade of blue and blush, and green grassy lawns that stretched as far as the eye could see. It felt like we were driving through the pages of Ricky Lauren’s book The Hamptons.

The new hotspot in East Hampton, The Hedges Inn byAndrew and Sarah Wetenhall, owners of Palm Beach’s Colony Hotel.

Fresh fruit from farm stand in the Hamptons.

Dining waterside at popular Sag Harbor restaurant, Le Bilboquet.

In the Hamptons, food is more than sustenance—it’s a social currency. Where you eat, sip, and shop defines your summer vibe. Whether it’s crab cakes at the new Swifty’s in East Hampton, rosé and oysters at Le Bilboquet in Sag Harbor, lobster rolls in Montauk, or French cuisine at the new Southampton hotspot La Goulue Sur Mer—each bite is a scene. We started mornings with bagels from Goldberg’s, fruit from Citarella, and iced coffee from Carissa’s on the porch. Ice cream can be found on virtually every corner, but we took home flying saucer ice cream sandwiches from my childhood favorite Carvel and a pint from Sag Harbor’s Big Olaf.

Moules à l’espagnole at La Goulue Sur Mer in Southampton.

And Round Swamp Farm? Let’s just say we were not prepared for the cult-level obsession over this food market. The chicken salad alone had us considering a cooler-full for the drive home—but toss in the salads, cinnamon rolls, muffins, cookies, meatballs, and crispy tenders, and you’ve got the makings of a full-blown feast. Even the trendy fashion brand Madhappy did a collab with this ultra-chic market, stamping its name on their coveted sweatshirts.

Round Swamp Farm’s famous chicken salad.

One afternoon, we wandered into Jennifer Miller Jewelry in Southampton and had a total Hamptons moment—Jennifer herself helping us pick out the perfect gift. “With boutiques in Southampton and East Hampton, the Hamptons have become a cornerstone of our brand,” she told us, glowing with the kind of insider warmth that makes you feel like you belong.

Jennifer Miller at her store in Southampton.

And then there’s Ralph Lauren—arguably the Hamptons’ unofficial fashion ambassador. His wife Ricky wrote an entire book about their East End life, and his Polo Bar menu still whispers coastal charm in every dish. He once said, “The Hamptons is more than a place. It’s a natural world of endless blue skies, the ocean, green fields, and white fences—rusticity and elegance with a quality of light that drew artists here decades ago. It has been home, my refuge, and always an inspiration.” For Spring 2025, Ralph doubled down on the Hamptons muse. His latest collection, available at his numerous area stores, fully embraces breezy whites, sandy neutrals, and ocean blues—a reflection of the Hamptons color palette he so vividly describes.

Ralph Lauren’s latest Spring 2025 ad uses the Hamptons as its backdrop and inspiration.

And he’s not alone. This summer, designers and brands are popping up all across the East End, turning storefronts into fashion destinations and creating immersive retail experiences.

August 2025 Hamptons Pop-Up Guide

Madhappy × Round Swamp Farm Pop-Up (62 Park Place, East Hampton)

Madhappy x Round Swamp Farms collaboration.

Open through August, this bright and breezy pop-up brings together the feel-good streetwear brand Madhappy and Round Swamp Farm’s local charm. Expect pastel sweatshirts, tees celebrating the farm’s famous baked goods, and a limited-edition capsule merging lifestyle and design. It’s one of the season’s sweetest collisions of style and community spirit.

Gucci Lido at Newtown Lane (17 Newtown Lane, East Hampton)

Gucci storefront in East Hampton.

Still running through August, Gucci brings summer elegance to the village with crochet ensembles, raffia accessories, and chic tennis-ready looks. It’s their Riviera-infused edit presented in curated East End fashion styling.

Orlebar Brown × La DoubleJ Collaboration (Orlebar Brown, Newtown Lane)

The perfect collab: La DoubleJ’s Italian prints with the sophisticated British tailoring of Orlebar Brown.

This color-heavy collaboration remains open in August with tailored resortwear decked in La DoubleJ’s joyful prints. Think bold polos, swim-ready shorts, and mood-lifting patterns perfect for a breezy East End day.

RH Outdoor Gallery (69 Main Street, East Hampton)

RH Gallery Pop Up in East Hampton.

On display through the season, RH’s gallery is a showcase of alfresco living—teak furniture, fire tables, coastal textiles—plus on-site styling assistance to help you create your own luxe backyard oasis.

Vespa by the Pool at EHP Resort & Marina (295 Three Mile Harbor Hog Creek Rd)

Open into September, the Vespa poolside experience is in full swing in August. It includes Marina couture collections, pastel scooters for styling shots, and pool parties at Sí Sí complete with DJs and fashion-forward moments.

Rebecca Minkoff at Solé East (90 Second House Road) (Aug 1–10)

The Rebecca Minkoff Pop-Up at Sole East Resort in Montauk runs August 1–10, showcasing her latest summer collection of handbags, ready-to-wear, and accessories. Set against the laid-back luxury of Montauk, the boutique offers a chic shopping experience with ocean breezes and curated style. Rebecca herself is expected to make appearances, offering personal styling tips and an exclusive touch to this limited-time Hamptons event.

Dolce & Gabbana Beach Club at Gurney’s (290 Old Montauk Hwy) (Through Aug 31)

Lemon trees, tile prints, luxury resortwear—and a beach transformed into a D&G coastal fantasy. Dolce & Gabbana has reimagined Gurney’s Beach Club as a sun-drenched Sicilian escape, wrapping its loungers, umbrellas, and cabanas in the brand’s signature Blu Mediterraneo motif—think ceramic-tile blues, crisp whites, and a breeze that smells faintly of limoncello. An exclusive pop-up boutique on site offers a curated edit of D&G resortwear, letting guests shop poolside like they’ve just stepped off the coast of Capri.

Cadillac Experience at Gurney’s (290 Old Montauk Hwy) (Weekends)

The new Escalade EV.

This summer, the Cadillac Experience at Gurney’s Montauk is turning heads and elevating beachside luxury to new heights. Guests of the resort can arrive in style with chauffeured rides in Cadillac’s sleek new Lyriq EVs and Escalade SUVs, gliding up to Gurney’s oceanfront scene like runway royalty. The vehicles, staged against a backdrop of private beach views, DJ decks, and Dolce & Gabbana–branded cabanas, create a picture-perfect moment. Guests can also test-drive the cars poolside while listening to Sound Waves DJs.

Goop MRKT (4 Bay Street) (Through Sept 3)

GOOP MRKT Pop Up at Sag Harbor.

Live like Gwyneth Paltrow in her favorite summer spot with the Goop MRKT pop up. A curated cottage of clean beauty, East End fashion, stylish jewelry, and artisan bread by Eli Zabar is delivered daily.

Missoni Home at Love, Binetti — (17 Washington Street)

Missoni pop-up at Love, Binetti in Sag Harbor.

The Missoni Home pop-up at Love, Binetti in Sag Harbor was like stepping into a sun-drenched slice of the Amalfi Coast—bold zigzags, soft linens, and colors that instantly lifted your mood. Tucked into a breezy garden cabana just off Main Street, it was the kind of spot that made you want to redecorate your summer house on the spot. Equal parts chic and playful, it is bringing Missoni’s signature Italian charm to the heart of the Hamptons through August.

Giorgio Armani Mare (Sunset Beach Hotel) (Through Aug 3)

Giorgio Armani at Sunset Beach.

Giorgio Armani takes over Sunset Beach from July 24th through August 3rd showing their quiet, minimalist, luxe: linen separates, sand-toned swimwear, and an island setting made for zen with their Giorgio Armani Mare collection.

Elyse Walker Southampton Pop‑Up (Now through Labor Day) 57 Main Street, Southampton

Elyse Walker blends West coast style to with East coast chic.

One of my favorite stores from Los Angeles has now made its way to the Hamptons with their first East Coast boutique, open now through Labor Day, blending California polish with coastal ease. With designer edits and stylish accessories in a light-filled space, it’s a Hamptons favorite you can still visit in August.

TWP by Trish Wescoat Pound (Open All Summer) 2 Main Street, Southampton

TWP store in Southampton.

This American sportswear label continues to offer refined tailoring and breezy classics all through summer—including August. Their TWP Southampton location is open Monday through Saturday (10 AM – 6 PM) and Sunday (10 AM – 5 PM).

Carbon38 Pop‑Up Studio (Summer Season) 44B Main Street, Southampton

One of my favorite online clothing brands, Carbon38, is open for the summer season with sleek athleisure collections tailored for beach-to-studio style. Open through the month of August.

The Chanel Pop Up at the Hedges Inn ended it’s summer salon at the end of July.

After a whirlwind of a weekend with great friends, food, and fun, I was lucky enough to catch Chanel’s Pink Paradise Summer Salon at The Hedges Inn just before it completed its summer run. Each room of the historic guest house was transformed into a different Chanel mood—bouclé textures, blush tones, camellia accents, and soft jazz floating through the air. As you walk in, a single limited-edition Chanel surfboard stood like a sculptural centerpiece—equal parts beachy and couture. The pop-up beautifully showcased pieces from the Chanel Coco Beach 2025 capsule and highlights from the Spring-Summer 2025 Ready-to-Wear collection, all reimagined through a Hamptons lens. It was the perfect last stop before we headed back to reality.

A limited edition Chanel surfboard at their pop-up in East Hampton.