TheWorldJournal.com - Fashion & Style

Swimsuits Are Sensitive to Weather
By Julia Gabriel, TheWorldJournal.com

We spent a chilly spring in dark fall clothes and rain gear, but are we now in a beachwear mood?

Swimwear retailers are in pain due to the cold and rain, even though deep discounting. The later into the season the greater the temptation for consumers to stay happy with the suit they bought last year. Even worse, swimsuits tend to be an impulse item - women buy them when they need them, and don't plan their purchases ahead of time. And just in time the SARS virus constrained holiday travel.

But if you still want to get into beach mood, consider these trends.

Hawaiian prints and stripes are hot, as are graphic prints from 1960-s. This era also glitters in metallics and metal chain details. Retro-look is back, very feminine and soft, with ruffles and generous amount of fabric in 1950-s pin-up style. Just be sure to look for discreet underwiring and additional built-in support. Another hot trend this season - strategically placed cut-outs, often trimmed with metal. Great for the cocktail at the bar by the pool, but do not guarantee even tan.

Good news for pattern fans - mix-and-match is fashionably legal, so you can pair a black top and colourful bottom - or go the opposite way. Stripes are especially kind to women's body, and you can use them in s smart way to alter less than perfect shapes: vertical stripes elongate the body, and horizontal stripes may add several pounds to the hip area, which only seldom women may appreciate - but they can also do wonders to the small bust! Slim women can get away with even skimpiest of the bikini, but if you feel that you bare too much of unwanted flesh, remember that patterns and prints always have a voluminous effect, and have in mind that short legs do not really benefit from a high-cut bikini. The safe solution - tankini, a fabulous design that works like a two piece and fits like a one piece. You may also want to distract the attention from problem areas and focus on things that you like about your body, like your shoulders - here goes a halter neckline, or waist - with a little help of cute cut-outs.

© July 1, 2003

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