swimwear

Sirène Collection Brings Swimwear Boutique Online

by Michael B. Dougherty (RSS feed) —

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.

Tags: beach, bikini, resort wear, summer, swimsuit, swimwear

A Vilebrequin Father's Day: Beachfront Daddies Get Their Crankshafts Turned

by Jason Tesauro (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Men's Style, Modern Gentleman

Vilebrequin's french definition might not exactly translate as "killer beach-trou, bro," but that's what you'll hear all day long whilst sporting a pair. I test-drove this slick import in demanding summery conditions featuring 95-degree scorch, scampering tots, sun-worshipping hipsters, and riparian resplendence along the James River in Richmond, Virginia. The view flowed f

rom blue sky to lush green vegetation, punctuated by a smattering of kayaks that made the panorama look like the scene of a brief paint gun fight. On the rocky beachhead, the afternoon produced a lithe parade of string bikinis, tankinis, and bandinis (sadly, no monokinis). Nearly all of the males wore board shorts of various lengths and tattoos of questionable taste as they reposed on tattered blankets and pulled lotion from beat-up backpacks. The stylish exception shone like a beacon of smartness: my two boys and me in matching Jim & Jam Vilebrequin swimtrunks (those ain't no cute models in the pix, these are our family photos...Brooks & Sebastion with yours truly). If the day were a William Carlos Williams poem, I'd say that So much depends / upon / a blue rabbit / glazed with river / water / besides the white / linen.

Vilebrequin rhymes with "celebs will grin," and anyone who's taken holiday on the gulf of Saint-Tropez will recognize the reinforced double-stitching, spinnaker canvas, and the braided tying cords tipped with engraved zamac, an alloy that will never tarnish or corrode.

If you own a bespoke suit, a tailored shirt, or custom cufflinks, this is your bathing suit. I mean, why on earth would you wear cut-off denims shorts to anything other than a costume party, Daisy Duke convention, or a spontaneous dip outside the Diesel outlet? If you don't yet have a shirt-maker on your speed-dial, consider this your entryway into fine duds. Appreciate the couture of hand-cut back pockets for pattern alignment, water wallet for stowing cash and cards dryly, and a signature label upon the rear waistband that's a handsome and subtle, anti-gauche declaration of brand. Add to this garment's quality construction the whimsical, classic, breezy, patterns of tropical flora and fauna the likes of which one might find papering the walls of cabanas in exotic locales, and you've got a helluva reason to hit the surf.

Tags: bathing suit, fathers day, modern gentleman, swimwear, tesauro, vilebrequin

Continue reading “A Vilebrequin Father's Day: Beachfront Daddies Get Their Crankshafts Turned”

Zimmermann Swimwear Opens Its Doors in Soho

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel

We at Luxist are huge fans of the Zimmermann line of swim and resort wear. Their sexy, bold colors and flamboyant vintage prints are eternally fresh and appealing. Last August, we published a story about their fabulous fashion show on the roof of The Empire Hotel -- and now, we can all buy many of those same items in their new store in Soho, NYC.

That's right, Zimmermann has opened their first ever pop-up shop in the USA. Though we Americans can access some of the wild, yet elegant Australian swim and after-swim fashions through Shopbop and some department and specialty stores, many items are exclusive, for North America, to their store at 112 Greene Street (between Prince and Spring). The store also features their capsule collection of footwear and handbags, as well as complementary jewelry collections by Australian designers.

The 2,500 square foot, bright and airy pop-up shop opened Monday, April 12 and will continue through June 30, but Zimmermann is on the hunt for a full-time home in Soho.

Gallery: Zimmermann Pop-up Shop

Tags: new york, new york city, ny, pop-up shop, pop-up store, shopping, swimwear, zimmermann

The Fashion Statement: Take the Plunge

by Kristin Young (RSS feed) —

Filed under: The Fashion Statement

Summer is bearing down upon us and so is the most fearful word in the English language -- swimwear. Sooner or later we all have to buy a swimsuit and we women like this seasonal ritual about about as much as filing our tax returns.

But this season offers hope. For those among us who aren't blessed with Gisele's bod, now is as good a time as any to hit the fitting rooms. Why? Because, one-pieces, like the throng Dolce & Gabbana (pictured above) sent down the runway, have the ability to cover up imperfections without a whiff of dowdy. If bikinis are more your thing, there are plenty of boy bottoms cut à la Marilyn Monroe that hide a lot more than the essentials. Of course, if you are a Gisele, there are still plenty of ways to show off your assets.

Here's a cheat sheet on who's doing what in swimwear. Then, ladies, gather up your courage, go forth and shop!

RETRO '50s: Designers have gone back to the days of Harry Truman, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and the birth of Rock 'n Roll. Maurizio Pecoraro, Stella McCartney, Moschino Cheap & Chic, and Hervé Leger all presented swimwear that jumped out of the mid-century. These silhouettes sit oh-so-low on the leg, but still read sexy because of their emphasis on the waist.

CUTOUTS: Not for the faint of heart. If the retro style is Marilyn Monroe, swimwear with cutouts are more like Grace Jones. Tim Hamilton, Gucci, Roksanda Ilincic, Jen Kao, and Yigal Azrouël sent out suits with a touch of the '80s and a good dose of fierce.

THE DEEP V: The swimwear equivalent of J. Lo's famed Versace dress, deep Vs are de rigueur. Jasmine di Milo, Milly and Twenty8Twelve showed V necks plunging down there that promise to boost the sex appeal of the waif-ish, in particular.

ONE SHOULDER: Gone are the days of the matronly one-piece. Taking a cue from evening wear over the last several seasons, Emporio Armani, Unique, Michael Kors, and Diane von Furstenberg designed swimwear that drape over one-shoulder, with some incorporating cutouts.

ITSY BITSY: Gisele's milieu. Jean Paul Gaultier, Dsquared2 and Emporio Armani used fabric sparingly in their swim collections. Waists are as low as they can go while tops are tiny triangles held together by a string. One-pieces take cutouts to another level -- one from Gaultier is in a harlequin pattern.

Check out the gallery for the latest looks.

Gallery: The Fashion Statement: In The Swim

Tags: Dolce Gabbana, DolceGabbana, Stella McCartney, StellaMccartney, swim trends for 2010, swimsuits, SwimTrendsFor2010, swimwear, Twenty8Twelve, Yigal Azroul, YigalAzroul

Sex on the Beach: Crystal Jin Swimwear

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

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.

Tags: beach, bikini, Brooklyn, Crystal Jin, Crystal Jin Eley, CrystalJin, CrystalJinEley, swimming, swimsuit, swimwear

Brette Sandler Swimwear Resort Collection

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel

All the holiday madness and rushing around may have you thinking ahead to your next vacation. If you're looking to spoil yourself (or a fabulous gal you know) with a holiday gift that goes well with a plane ticket to somewhere sunny, Brette Sandler's swimwear collection may be just what you need.

In the gallery below, you can preview the collection, which is rolling out piece by piece on Shopbop.com with prices in the $100 to $300 range.

If you haven't heard of Brette Sandler, she's a young designer with a bright future. When she graduated from Parsons School of Design, her senior thesis was a swimwear collection which immediately grabbed the attention of Barneys and Searle, and she went on to a two-year internship at Michael Kors. Her first collection was released in 2005, and now her suits are sold in Bloomingdale's, Intermix, specialty boutiques across America and of course Barneys.

We aren't sure we always agree with her choice of pattens, but we love the innovative, artistic, sexy shapes, and can't wait to see more from Brette Sandler!

Gallery: Brette Sandler Resort 2010

Tags: bikini, Brette Sandler, BretteSandler, resort 2010, Resort2010, swimwear

Luxist Preview: Zimmermann Swimwear

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel

Zimmermann models on the roof of the Empire Hotel

Zimmermann is a line of swimwear that's been around for ages in Australia, but they are slowly but surely cracking America with their wild and inventive designs. Known for eclectic prints and creative, haphazard shapes, Zimmermann suits are made from soft, forgiving (and flattering) materials in eye-catching colors.

We recently saw the preview fashion show for their upcoming resort collection (a private event held on the roof of the Empire Hotel) and the new styles certainly don't disappoint! These will be available toward the end of November.

So, here you go: Check out what's coming to make sure what you're buying now won't be out of style come resort season! We especially love the blues and greens. Keep an eye on ShopBop and Net-A-Porter to purchase.

Gallery: Coming in November from Zimmermann

Tags: luxist previews, resort, swimwear, zimmermann

Glamour Back in Fashion at Miami Swimsuit Shows

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

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.

Tags: bathing suit, BathingSuit, bikini, fashion show, Fashion Week, FashionShow, FashionWeek, Mercedes-Benz, Miami, models, Raleigh Hotel, RaleighHotel, South Beach, SouthBeach, swimsuit, swimwear

Luxe Swimwear Cover-Ups at Bergdorf's

by Laura Malesich (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel

Summer approaches and swimwear beckons to be donned on the deck, around the pool and on the beach. Any swimsuit can become a stylish outfit when a fashionable cover-up is slipped over its outline. Colorful patterns, bright pigments, and plain white and black accent a myriad of styles. Whether short or long, tunic or fitted today's cover-ups are sassy, glamorous and capture the very essence of summer. The gallery below flirts with the various designer options available this season at Bergdorf's.

Gallery: Bergdorf's Colorful Cover-Ups

Source

Tags: bergdorf goodman, BergdorfGoodman, cool summer, CoolSummer, cover ups, CoverUps, swimwear

New Suits from Lisa Curran Swimwear - Small Splurge

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel

Lisa Curran swimwear is one of the most luxurious lines of bathing suits and dreamy cover-ups available, and most suits run for $100 - $200, a perfect small splurge.

Coming next week from Lisa Curran is the sexy, tan line defying suit you see here, as well as all the new styles in the sneak preview gallery below. When I asked her how she gets her inspiration, she said "I'm always designing a year ahead, so I just make whatever I'm into." Next year? Expect lots of pinks and purples!

Purple abounds already -- click through the gallery to see the beautiful collection. All the pieces are sold separately, so it doesn't matter if you're different sizes on the top and bottom (Lisa Curran was one of the first designers to solve, not exploit that problem). The separately available pieces also allow you to customize your look -- you can pair any top with any bottom, even in another color!

Celebrity fans of Lisa Curran include Penelope Cruz, Drew Barrymore, Jenny McCarthy, and many, many more -- and she doesn't send them the suits, they've found them on their own. "I wish I knew where they were getting them so I could give proper credit!" says Lisa. We think they're probably picking them up in all the fancy hotels that sell her suits in their giftshops -- very convenient glamour.

The best place to shop, though, is clearly online. Lisa's designs include flattering gathers, ruffles, grommets, gold rings, genuine seashell accents, and more, and are all created from luxurious Italian fabrics that lay nicely and dry quickly. On the website, you can mix and match and not worry about what the hotel giftshop has in the back room. She also makes gorgeous cover-ups that go easily from the beach to dinner, with attention to materials that dry fast and don't look funny wet! Visit LisaCurran.com to shop, and take a look at our sneak peek of next week below!

Gallery: Sneak Preview - New from Lisa Curran!

Tags: lisa curran, swimwear

Agent Provocateur's New Swimwear Line

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

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.

Tags: Agent Provocateur, AgentProvocateur, beach, lingerie, swim, swimming, swimsuit, swimwear