Newport, Rhode Island
Destination Style · Summer 2026
Newport is the kind of American city that rewards the visitor who pays attention. On the surface, it is a sailing town — the harbour full of white sails, the water that particular shade of New England blue-grey, the air carrying salt and the scent of something polished and old. But underneath, Newport is one of the great monuments to American ambition and beauty: the Gilded Age mansions along Bellevue Avenue, the Cliff Walk that traces the edge of the Atlantic past the Vanderbilts and Astors, and a town that has quietly maintained a standard of elegance across more than three centuries.
It is also, for the right kind of dresser, an extraordinary place to wear something beautiful.
Wear the Print
Four pieces, one print family. Made for where the sea meets elegance:
The Brie Dress in Fontana Aqua
The Brie Dress is a breezy new take on the classic shirtdress — a relaxed fit with a drop waist and an easy midi length that flatters without trying. Button-front, with the kind of unfussy elegance that comes from a great silhouette in a great fabric. In the Fontana Aqua print, it becomes something specific: a dress that belongs in Newport the way seersucker belongs on a summer porch.
The Fontana Aqua is a blue-and-white baroque print — the sort of pattern that references centuries of Italian decorative tradition while remaining entirely modern. Against Newport's harbour, against the white facades of the mansions, against the grey-blue Atlantic: it is exactly right.
"Newport is baroque in its bones — the architecture, the history, the aspirations of the people who built it. The Fontana Aqua print speaks that language fluently."
The Print, Up Close
Every Beyond by Vera print begins as an original illustration — drawn from scratch by Vera Fritsch and her team of print designers. The Fontana prints (both Aqua and Blush) share the same origin: a study of the baroque fountains of Rome and Naples, the ornate, overflowing waterworks that seem like their own civilisation. From that starting point, two prints emerged: Fontana Aqua in a clear blue-and-white that suits coastal settings and New England light; and Fontana Blush, the same pattern family in a warm blush-and-ivory that reads more romantic, more southern, better suited to evening and events.
No borrowed motifs, no digital shortcuts — both prints were drawn from scratch and are produced in small, limited runs. Once a Fontana piece sells out, it is not restocked.
Newport: A Guide to Getting It Right
Start at the Cliff Walk — the 3.5-mile public footpath that runs along the Atlantic coastline, with the mansions of Bellevue Avenue on one side and the ocean on the other. It is one of the great walks in America, and the right dress will make it better. The Brie in Fontana Aqua, with the sea breeze moving through the fabric: perfect.
Spend time at The Breakers, the Vanderbilt family's extraordinary Italianate palazzo on Ochre Point. It is a monument to a kind of American ambition that no longer exists, and it is staggering. The reference to Italian baroque architecture — the same tradition that inspired the Fontana Aqua print — is unmistakable. That same Italian design lineage runs through the Sicilian Standard →.
The Cliff Walk, Newport — the 3.5-mile public path along the Atlantic on a clear summer day.
Bowen's Wharf and Bannister's Wharf are where you eat — lobster, chowder, and everything the Atlantic provides. In the evenings, Thames Street has restaurants and bars that manage to be both local and excellent. Several operators offer harbour sails in summer — Newport in a boat, looking back at the town from the water, is one of those experiences that stays with you.
"Newport rewards the visitor who dresses for it. Come wearing something beautiful, and the city will meet you at that level."
The Fontana Collection, Worn Anywhere
Newport is a portal to a whole register of Northeast coastal summer. The Brie and Juliet in Fontana Aqua and the Rory and Perry in Fontana Blush translate across the full length of the coastal corridor: Nantucket in July, the Vineyard in August, Block Island for a long weekend, Greenwich for a garden party, the Hamptons for a Saturday afternoon. The baroque print registers differently against each backdrop — brighter in full sun, more intimate against candlelight — and all four pieces move between registers without requiring you to change anything but your shoes.
The summer season in Newport runs from Memorial Day to Labour Day. Book early, bring layers for the evenings (New England coastal air has opinions after dark), and choose your print according to your occasion. The Fontana Aqua for the breezy, outdoor, daytime Newport. The Fontana Blush for the evening, the event, the dinner where you want to arrive looking exactly right.
In Stores: Harringtons Boutique
The Fontana collection has found its way to one of the South's most beautiful boutiques. Harringtons in Greenville, South Carolina carries a curated selection of Beyond by Vera — a beautifully appointed boutique where the collection is styled and presented as it deserves.
As Seen in the Wild
Part of the Lisi Lerch team
Pearl · Fontana Aqua
Vera Fritsch · designer
Pearl · Fontana Aqua
✦ How to Wear It — Day & NightDay: the Brie in Fontana Aqua with pearl studs, a wicker or canvas tote, and white loafers for the Cliff Walk, the Breakers, or brunch on Bowen's Wharf. Evening: swap for heeled mules and a small silk clutch, add a gold bangle, and the same dress carries you through dinner on Thames Street or cocktails on a harbour terrace without missing a beat.
What Our Community Says
★★★★★
"I wore the Brie to a sailing event in Newport in July. I loved how it took me effortlessly from day to night — I kept wearing it for a dinner party that same evening and only had to switch my boat shoes for heels. It turned out to be the perfect choice for both."
— Caroline T., Greenwich, CT
★★★★★
"I wore the Rory to a dinner party. It felt so elegant yet without any fuss. The fabric is beautiful and so comfortable to wear."
— Diana M., Boston, MA
Customer voices are representative of the Beyond by Vera community.
About the Fontana Prints
What to wear in Newport, Rhode Island in summer?
Newport in summer has a very specific dress code: polished but not precious, American but not casual. The right pieces for Newport are ones that work for afternoon at the Cliff Walk, sailing on the bay, and dinner at one of the mansion-adjacent restaurants without requiring a full wardrobe change. The Fontana prints — Aqua and Blush — were designed for exactly this kind of day: classic enough for the setting, contemporary enough to feel current.
What is the difference between Fontana Aqua and Fontana Blush?
Same print, two entirely different moods. Fontana Aqua — clear blue-and-white — is cooler, coastal, and perfect in daylight and outdoor settings. Fontana Blush — warm blush-and-ivory — is softer, more romantic, and works beautifully at evening events and destination occasions. Together, they cover every occasion a summer wardrobe needs.
Are these pieces limited edition?
Yes. All Beyond by Vera garments are produced in small, limited runs. Once a style or print sells out, it is not restocked. The Brie and Juliet in Fontana Aqua and the Rory and Perry in Fontana Blush are all available only while stock lasts.
What is a good dress for a sailing event, summer regatta, or yacht club occasion?
A classic floral print in a nautical-adjacent palette — pale aqua, soft blush, clean white grounds — works well for the kind of occasions that happen on or near water in summer: sailing events, regatta weekends, yacht club dinners, harbour-side parties. The Fontana Aqua Brie dress and Juliet dress both have the right quality for this: effortlessly composed, the kind of classic that photographs well whether you're on a dock or at a table overlooking the water.
Also in the Journal
Roman Holiday → · City Life Meets the Sea → · Best Dressed, Italy Edition →
Each Beyond by Vera print is hand-drawn by Vera Fritsch and her team of print designers, and made in limited numbers. Explore the full collection →