Nina Dunaway, Empire Sky Co.
Head to East Beach in a 1954 Ford Mainline and get a little whirly with a hula girl on the dash. Grab a guitar to serenade a sweet summer at the beach. Get ready to rock-n-roll before fall with some old-school style.
Certain things are timeless on the island. In our hearts, St. Simons is a beach town—and this is the spot where the soul meets the sand.
Here’s the breakdown: The Place, The Look, The Guitar, The Car
THE PLACE
GOULD'S INLET. Beloved by islanders, birders, fishermen, kayakers, dog-walkers, and beachcombers from near and far, Gould’s Inlet is more than just a pretty face. This tidal inlet is an ecological wonder, connecting Postell Creek with the Atlantic.
Experience Gould’s at sunrise. Watch boarders of every age head out for morning meditation, surfer style. Marvel at shorebirds—swooping pelicans, black skimmers, royal terns. Giggle at the antics of laughing gulls, willets, and American oystercatchers. Admire the great undulations of spring and fall migrations. Catch a pod of Atlantic bottlenose dolphins frolicking in the rich waters on a feed of mullet and other baitfish. Go to the inlet to find a certain sort of peace.
Nina Dunaway, Empire Sky Co.
THE LOOK
A natural beauty of the Hollywood type, islander Alexandra Wykes plays the perfect Natalie Wood in our summer serenade. She trades flip flops for raffia loafers and puts away the bikini for jeans and a silky poplin shirt with a tie front waist.
Style Highlights: eye-catching accessories. Go bold with a men’s watch and yellow gold and black onyx drop earrings. Turn some heads in vintage Versace shades and a bright scarf with a 1950s knot at the nape. For fun (or an iconic photo shoot) add black leather gloves to turn up the hot rod heat.
The Final Touch: baby pink nails and coral kissed lips to feel both sun-warmed, tropical, and totally August before the browns and reds of fall.
Style Credits:
Finley Rocky Silky Poplin Shirt; Gabor Raffia Loafer; Bayeas Jeans; Silk Scarf. Planters Exchange, 26 Market Street, Suite 110, St. Simons Island, 912.638.9888. PlantersExchange.com. @planters_exchange.
14K yellow gold Bujukan black onyx huggie drop earrings; 10 ATM watch with stainless steel case, stainless steel bracelet, Diver security lock buckle, sapphire crystal, case diameter: 41 mm. Joseph Jewelers, 600 Sea Island Road #16, St. Simons Island, 912.634.9060, josephjewelers.com. @josephjewelersssi.
THE GUITAR
A 2023 Recording King Dirty 30s Resonator—the sound that built American blues and bluegrass—vintage soul, modern craftsmanship, and one of today’s best values in resonator guitars. Some things just belong at Gould’s.
The 2023 Recording King Dirty 30s Resonator courtesy of the late Danny Dunaway.
Nina Dunaway, Empire Sky Co.
THE CAR
No frills and built for smooth cruising, the 1954 Mainline was Ford’s car for families and everyday Americans—the kind of people who might have taken a drive down to Gould’s in the ’50s.
An avid car collector since high school, John Bennett bought his first car, a 1967 Mustang, when he was 16. Bennett found this beauty in classic Cocoa Beach, Florida and fell in love with the lines and detailing. The car has drum brakes and a brass knuckle shifter, a nod to the era’s “kustom kulture” scene. The Mexican blankets on the seats, Hula girl, and Elvis iconography were in the car when Bennett bought it. We consider this a bonus.
The 1954 Mainline Ford courtesy of John Bennett.
Nina Dunaway, Empire Sky Co.
Photography by Nina Dunaway, Empire Sky Co.
Production Assistants Anna Bryce Nalley and EL Bennett
