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Sirène Collection Brings Swimwear Boutique Online

Filed under: Apparel

With summer finally upon us, Sirène brings the swimwear boutique into the 21st-century with its online collection.

Created by Nell Love, a willowy blond with a plethora of seaside lounging experience herself, Sirène presents a curated swimwear inventory from up-and-coming as well as coveted designers, such as Camilla & Marc, Salt Swimwear and Ondademar. The result is a diverse collection, both in terms of designs and materials, that should satisfy any woman who balks at the annual ritual of finding a new suit. From Mara Hoffman's bold, Rio-ready bikinis to Lisa Marie Fernandez's neoprene 80s homages, Sirène offers a look for your bathing ambitions, whatever they may be. There's also a line of handmade, Moroccan beach bags and kaftans by Camilla, true statement pieces with their psychedelic prints.

Nell, who had previously revamped Steven Alan's e-commerce presence, adds a welcome bit of her own personality to the site with a certain element of tough sizing love. Each piece comes with a custom blurb on its fit, which could include a warning about side coverage, a notice of low-slung bottoms or a heads-up to order a size down. Essential information when ordering online.

And for those last-minute island jaunts, Sirène will deliver straight to your destination, so your swimwear is there before you are.

Sex on the Beach: Crystal Jin Swimwear

Filed under: Apparel


If you're lucky enough to be planning a trip to the beach in this dismal stretch of weather it's well worth checking out Brooklyn-based designer Crystal Jin Eley's recently launched line of luxurious, sexy swimwear. The minimal and chic Crystal Jin collection includes bikinis like this itsy bitsy number, bandeau tops with matching bottoms, and monokinis including a plunging v-neck held snugly to the body with a thin center strap, all finished in a handful of tasteful prints and a subdued, well-edited palette. Of course you need to be in pretty great shape to pull these off but it's well worth it. Looks feature precise hand finishing and hardware from Barcelona as well as special pieces created exclusively for the brand by metal artisans based Los Angeles. The fit and cut of each piece is painstakingly fashioned to ensure that each suit wears like a second skin and structural elements have been incorporated to showcase the elegance of the collection. Eley is a former accessories designer for J.Crew who also worked for Proenza Schouler, Catherine Malandrino and Lela Rose before starting her own label.

Victoria's Secret Girls Invade Necker Island

Filed under: Apparel


When the new Victoria's Secret swim catalog shows up in your mailbox you may recognize the exotic locale - it was shot at Virgin mogul Richard Branson's Necker Island luxury retreat in the British Virgin Islands. Then again if you're not actually in the market for a bikini you may be transfixed by the bathing beauties, especially cover model Lindsay Ellingson (far left). Of the experience, the quintessential California girl avowed, "It's the most beautiful place I've ever been. We shot the cover in the evening during sunset. It was really a magical setting." Of course you can book your own stay at Necker Island, part of Virgin's Limited Edition collection of luxurious escapes, but don't expect a gaggle of half-naked supermodels to be permanently in residence.

Glamour Back in Fashion at Miami Swimsuit Shows

Filed under: Apparel


At Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in Miami designers just showed the latest looks in swimwear for Spring 2010. "Old glamour is back in a big way" declared the Miami Herald of the numerous collections on display at the chic Raleigh Hotel in South Beach. Check out the video above for some highlights - you'll enjoy it even if you can't wear any of the suits yourself. Other trends of note to emerge from the round of eye-popping events, according to the Herald: hot pink is in, ditto transparent material; as for shape it was "all about the bandeau and the monokini (attached bikini) or cutout one-pieces," while high-waisted and ruffled looks made a splash as well. Many of the suits were "sexy in a feminine way - not overtly flashing a lot of skin." Oh well.

Agent Provocateur's New Swimwear Line

Filed under: Apparel


Luxe British lingerie brand Agent Provocateur, known for their ultra-sexy ad campaigns, has just come out with a new swimwear collection featuring a wide range of eye-catching styles. Described as "the perfect beach wear for all seductive sirens," the collection is heavy on cleavage and cutaway sides, naturally. Looks include classic polka dots, a Daisy Duke-style red-and-white gingham and denim bikini, a trio of 60's-inspired one-piece swimsuits (above) with oversized silver buttons, and some decidedly more '80s-inspired pieces in black wet-look fabric with fishnet panels.

Missoni Bikini

Filed under: Apparel

I needed an excuse to buy this $455 Missoni bikini so I came up with two : You never know when an inpromptu weekend getaway will have you wishing you had a hot new bikini....plus summer is just around the corner! I was browsing Ron Herman and came across this gem. Missoni bikinis are tailored to fit a womans body in the most flattering way possible. They feel expensive and look exotic, like you are already on vacation, in Bora Bora. This suit has adjustable side tie bottoms, an adjutable halter tie neck top, and a single clasp closure at the back of the top. I have a similarly cut top from Missoni and it withstood a day at the waterslides without any horrifying moments, the closure is very secure! Like all things Missoni this suit was made in Italy. It's fully lined and made of 80% Nylon and 20% Elastane. The best part is that Missoni prints never go out of style!

No Swimming in this $82,000 Golden Swimsuit

Filed under: Apparel


It's hard to find the perfect suit, but this gold weave suit out of Japan is apparently "better than feeling a million diamonds" and "like swimming in gold." Well it's more than "like" swimming in gold -- if you get in the water while wearing this baby you actually are swimming in gold -- the precious metal is woven right into the fabric. Valued at $82,000 the suit goes through a month-long weaving process where gold fibers about the size of a human hair are incorporated into the material. And also available in the same sparkling golden fabric is an even more expensive long dress valued at $243,900.

I wonder if they're scratchy or silky? And an important note from the designers on the swimsuit: it's not meant to go in the water.

What?! ...whatever.

Vintage Swimwear As Art

Filed under: Apparel, Decor

Some vintage styles are simply too gorgeous to be forgotten. While many of the most famous pieces, icons done by specific designers or favorites of celebrities, end up in museums or special exhibits, there are an equally fantastic number of designs that can be displayed in your own home. Bergdorf Goodman has several styles, but my favorite is this Red Swimsuit. It was made in the USA in the 1920s and has navy trim and button detailing. It comes framed. Price: $2,325.

Betty One Piece Swimsuit

Filed under: Apparel

Can't wait to see the Notorious Bettie Paige? You can definitely capture the look of the 1950's pin-up with this fantastic Betty One Piece bathing suit from Bondi Bathers. It's retro and sexy, with a low-cut neckline and full-coverage boy-cut legs. The cut of the swimsuit is very flattering due not only to its slimming black color, but to princess panels that create a very streamlined appearance. One trip to the beach in this and you might end up with more fans than Bettie herself. Price: $131.

Vilebrequin Trunks

Filed under: Apparel

Men have it easy when it comes to swimsuit season. No struggle to fit into the teeny weeny bikini and for the most part men's swimsuit styles don't change much. Which can be part of the problem, a man can wear the same monochromatic basic pair of swim trunks for years. A much needed upgraded comes from Vilebrequin which creates trunks for men and boys in a variety of fun prints. Developed in St. Tropez in the 1970s, the suits have classic style but their distiinctive prints make them more interesting than most men's swimwear. The suits have side pockets, a velcro back pocket and are designed to be quick drying.  The suit comes with a spinaker cloth bag and a water resistant wallet. The Green Shrimp Okoa suit shown here sells for $165.

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