Swimwear and bikinis for this summer
It's July and the holidays for many of us are not a distant dream any longer but are a reality that is about to come true. We suddenly notice all of the ads and articles on how to lose pounds in just days, how to turn your pale white skin into bronze and how to get rid of your stubborn cellulite that just won't go away. The celebrity pages are full of photos of all the beautiful people in their glistening splendor lounging on beaches- it's the perfect A-list bodies wearing the perfect bikinis.
For us mere mortals, who aren't inclined to starve ourselves or spend endless hours applying expensive creams, buffing and exfoliating, preparing for that long anticipated holiday might be intimidating. It can be made even worse when you go around to the shops and try on bikinis that fit badly in small changing rooms with all of that unforgiving and harsh lighting. Suddenly the burkini might seem very tempting.
However, fortunately there are some easy ways to get around this yearly agony that I would want to share with you:
Try on swimsuits at home. When you buy through the mail, exchanges and returns are fast and free. It is a much more enjoyable way to try on bikinis than going into a shop. Also, you will often get much more accurate fitting advice as you are searching for your coloring, shape and size. A home mirror that is angled carefully can also provide a big boost to your confidence!
Always purchase mix-and-match bikinis. Most of us are not distributed equally, whether you are a size 16 or size 8. So being able to buy separates is necessary to ensure you don't end up squeezing into a top in order to get the right fitting bottom (or vice versa).
Be willing to spend a bit more money. The holiday is usually the first time of year that you are semi-naked in public. That's why having a nice bikini with a good fit is so important. The key to being confident at the beach is having a suit with a flattering cut with a fabric that lifts and holds. However, these bikinis do tend to cost a bit more. However, in the end you will be saving money, since a high quality bikini will tend to last a lot longer. So it's easy to justify the added expense.
Be generous when it comes to size. All of us hate having to go up a size. However, when it comes to shopping for swimwear, up-size can make the difference when it comes to not showing any bulges.
Oz Reigns Supreme. There are many exciting women's swimwear designers all over the world. However, Australian swimwear brands such as Ginja, Baku and Seafolly definitely seem to be doing a better job in terms of fit, fabrication and bikini design. Once you have tried one, you won't want to go back.
Know Yourself. Your beach wardrobe is your big chance to wear colours that you might not otherwise dare to wear. So why not be daring? However, just because you saw photos of Cheryl Cole looking absolutely stunning wearing a cut-out lime green swimsuit (that leaves tan marks and cuts the bottom), doesn't necessarily mean you can carry the look off. Choose colours you know will look good with your skin tone along with flattering shapes for your body type.
Accessorise. There are many beautiful beach accessories available in the marketplace. Fortunately, the "beach sarong (that is ideal for hiding certain parts of our body), has been approved by fashion critics. Another stylish option going from the beach to the bar is the kaftan. You can also wear one at night over your jeans.
Burkini avoided and lessons learned. Now we can save the time and hassle involved in shopping for swimwear and focus on getting excited about the holiday coming up. I was so happy when a customer emailed me to say thank you and that bikini shopping was now a pleasure instead of a nightmare. I knew I had done my job when I got that nice message.
Claudia Strand specialises in swimwear and beach accessories for women from Australian brands like Seafolly Swimwear.
For us mere mortals, who aren't inclined to starve ourselves or spend endless hours applying expensive creams, buffing and exfoliating, preparing for that long anticipated holiday might be intimidating. It can be made even worse when you go around to the shops and try on bikinis that fit badly in small changing rooms with all of that unforgiving and harsh lighting. Suddenly the burkini might seem very tempting.
However, fortunately there are some easy ways to get around this yearly agony that I would want to share with you:
Try on swimsuits at home. When you buy through the mail, exchanges and returns are fast and free. It is a much more enjoyable way to try on bikinis than going into a shop. Also, you will often get much more accurate fitting advice as you are searching for your coloring, shape and size. A home mirror that is angled carefully can also provide a big boost to your confidence!
Always purchase mix-and-match bikinis. Most of us are not distributed equally, whether you are a size 16 or size 8. So being able to buy separates is necessary to ensure you don't end up squeezing into a top in order to get the right fitting bottom (or vice versa).
Be willing to spend a bit more money. The holiday is usually the first time of year that you are semi-naked in public. That's why having a nice bikini with a good fit is so important. The key to being confident at the beach is having a suit with a flattering cut with a fabric that lifts and holds. However, these bikinis do tend to cost a bit more. However, in the end you will be saving money, since a high quality bikini will tend to last a lot longer. So it's easy to justify the added expense.
Be generous when it comes to size. All of us hate having to go up a size. However, when it comes to shopping for swimwear, up-size can make the difference when it comes to not showing any bulges.
Oz Reigns Supreme. There are many exciting women's swimwear designers all over the world. However, Australian swimwear brands such as Ginja, Baku and Seafolly definitely seem to be doing a better job in terms of fit, fabrication and bikini design. Once you have tried one, you won't want to go back.
Know Yourself. Your beach wardrobe is your big chance to wear colours that you might not otherwise dare to wear. So why not be daring? However, just because you saw photos of Cheryl Cole looking absolutely stunning wearing a cut-out lime green swimsuit (that leaves tan marks and cuts the bottom), doesn't necessarily mean you can carry the look off. Choose colours you know will look good with your skin tone along with flattering shapes for your body type.
Accessorise. There are many beautiful beach accessories available in the marketplace. Fortunately, the "beach sarong (that is ideal for hiding certain parts of our body), has been approved by fashion critics. Another stylish option going from the beach to the bar is the kaftan. You can also wear one at night over your jeans.
Burkini avoided and lessons learned. Now we can save the time and hassle involved in shopping for swimwear and focus on getting excited about the holiday coming up. I was so happy when a customer emailed me to say thank you and that bikini shopping was now a pleasure instead of a nightmare. I knew I had done my job when I got that nice message.
Claudia Strand specialises in swimwear and beach accessories for women from Australian brands like Seafolly Swimwear.