Swimwear at-a-glance … for summer 2010
Here’s a peek at swimwear for 2010, shown on the runway during Fashion Week Swim in Miami Beach, Fla. You’ve got a year to get ready — both physically and mentally.
A model wears Cia. Maritima swimwear during the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Swim in Miami Beach, Fla. .
A model wears Cia. Maritima swimwear during the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Swim in Miami Beach, Fla. AP PHOTO
A model wears Poko Pano swimwear during the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Swim in Miami Beach, Fla. AP PHOTO
A model wears Mara Hoffman swimwear during the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Swim in Miami Beach, Fla. AP PHOTO
A model wears a swim suit designed by Red Carter during the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Swim in Miami Beach, Fla. AP PHOTO
A model wears a swim suit designed by Red Carter during the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Swim in Miami Beach, Fla. AP PHOTO
Sizzlin’ swimwear
Check out staff photographer Chris Landsberger’s slide show from the OKC N Style swimwear photo shoot.
Model the best swimsuit for your figure
If you’ve always dreamed of being a swimsuit model, now’s your chance. CHIC.TV is looking for real women to take part in a new show, “The Best Swimsuit for Your Figure.” There will be “before” and “after” shots so you will need to bring one of your own swimsuits for your “before” shot. Participants in the segment will receive a free swimsuit for the “after” shot.
To participate, e-mail the following information to info@chic.tv: your phone, address and email, a full body picture, height, bust, waist and hips measurements, and share what body type are you – full hips and thighs; large bust; small bust; tummy or belly control; pear shape; or plus size.
Send the information soon because taping will be May 8 in the New York City area.
CHIC.TV is a 24-hour lifestyle video magazine covering fashion, beauty, models, dining and all that is chic.
Suck it in, we’re talking swimwear
Pistol Panties. How’s that for the name of a swimwear company? Insired by timeless styles, the young UK brand is known for retro chic and glamorous swimwear that smacks of 1950s pinup girls.
Pistol Panties showed its spring ’09 collection during the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week swim event in Florida.
Here’s a peek at what will be showing up in stores in about eight months. The good news: We’ve got plenty of time to shape up. You start first, I’ll follow.
Guess who’s confident in a swimsuit?
Here’s one good thing that comes with age: Women over 40 feel more confident in their swimsuits. That’s according to1,400 women who responded to a survey by More magazine and Lands’ End.
The survey found that 47 percent of respondents have gained swimsuit confidence as they get older, especially after they turn 40. What’s more, some 95 percent of the participants said women older than 40 can truly look and feel fantastic in a swimsuit.
“Forty-something body confidence is in,” says Regina Haymes, fashion director of More magazine.
While fewer than 10 percent fully embrace wearing a swimsuit, 60 percent of survey respondents said they really don’t mind it and deal with it in stride. Seventy-one percent of those surveyed have learned the key to confidently wearing a swimsuit is to maximize the good parts and minimize the rest.
“We are not surprised women are confidently embracing just how great they can look at any age while wearing a swimsuit,” said Tara Ellef, senior vice president of merchandising, Lands’ End. “While swimsuit assurance may come with age, it may also result from over 20 years of swimsuit shopping experience. We’ve found over time women come to better understand which swimsuit styles and fits will best flatter their body shape.”
Click here to see The Oklahoman’s swimsuit slide show. And here’s our video swimsuit fashion show.
Stylin’ in the summer
This chambray wrap dress with flattering V-neck and flared skirt is from The Gap.
Summer brings skimpier clothes. In Oklahoma, when temperatures often reach triple digits by late June, it’s ridiculous to try to cover up from head to toe. You have to show a little bit of skin to keep from sweating to death.
Showing more skin often means bringing attention to flaws and areas of our bodies we would prefer to keep under wraps. Luckily, there are ways to camouflage and hide the flaws, or at least to make it look much more flattering.
Bobbi Schwartz, founder and CEO of The Bobbi Schwartz Group, a Dallas-based personal styling company, says a lot of how you look this summer comes down to dressing to compliment your figure.
“Boot-cut or flare-leg pants are more flattering than narrow-leg pants, for those with hips. And, believe it or not, wide-leg pants are very flattering to the backside, no matter what size or shape your hips are,” says Schwartz. “Somehow, they make the backside look small and shapely. Go figure!”
Clothing style makes a big impression on how someone looks, yet many people end up choosing items for the color or style, rather than finding something that will help create a more flattering image. Here are some simple tips for using clothing to your advantage, this summer and all year:* For those with a tummy, there are T-shirts that are cut in an A-shape that will help hide and distract. Eileen Fischer is a designer that offer such shirts in a variety of colors, with a high-quality fabric and cut. “The T-shirts will take pounds off those that are thicker in the middle,” adds Schwartz.
* V-shaped necklines help many women to get a quick slim look.
* For those with a long waist, opt for shirts or dresses that have a belt, to help with waist definition.
*Women can help keep larger hips in proportion by opting for a slightly flared skirt.
* Find a swimsuit that accentuates your better features and downplays your less flattering ones. Many swimsuit product lines offer such information right on the hang tag. There are suits today that look good on all body shapes and sizes such as Calvin Klein and Magicsuit.
“Longer shorts are very flattering to almost everyone, especially those baby boomers who want to wear a more flattering length and yet something that allows for a little air conditioning,” says Schwartz.
When choosing shorts this summer, those who would like to hide their hips should opt for a slightly wider leg. Those with thinner legs and hips will look better in the narrow-cut shorts, creating a long and lean look.
“If you are doing the short, however, unless you are really tall and thin, stick to wearing at least a short-heeled sandal, to really make the look flattering,” adds Schwartz.
