By Fashion Apothecary Design Co.
Two-piece garments worn by women for athletic purposes have been observed on Greek urns and paintings, dated as early as 1400 BC. Ancient artwork from over 1700 years ago in Villa Romana del Casale depicted women in garments resembling modern-day bikinis. Other bikini-style swimwear existed for many years before the first official bikini. Two-piece swimsuits started appearing in the US when the U.S. Government ordered a 10 percent reduction in the fabric used in woman’s swimwear in 1943 as part of wartime rationing. According to the official story, the modern bikini was invented by French engineer Louis Réard and fashion designer Jacques Heim in Paris in 1946 and introduced on July 5 at a fashion show at Piscine Molitor in Paris.
As fashion tends to do, bikini styles and accoutrements have proliferated over the years to an infinite selection to suit all tastes, sizes, shapes and budgets. String bikinis, monokinis, tankinis and sports bikinis all make an appearance as the summer sizzles on beaches from South Beach to Malibu and Cancun to the Cote D’Azur. Like sexy lingerie, swimsuits, pareos, beach dress and wraps rich in sophisticated details are key items in our summer and vacation wardrobe. As we become a culture yearning and living for leisure, spending more on vacations and holidays at the beach, beachwear becomes an increasingly important part of our fashion repertoire.
Not all beachwear is made equal. Whether lounging poolside, playing volleyball on the beach or swimming with the dolphins, swimwear should make you look fabulous, feel sexy, be comfortable, (stay on!) while ensuring that all eyes are on you. Bring out your soft straw hats, oversized shades, chunky Lucite bangles and grab a refreshing mojito! You’ll instantly feel as glamorous as you look! Bikinis in metallic’s and bold colors - purples, greens and blues - bright prints and patterns, gilded details and textures like crochet or leather are all the rage. If you’re looking for a swimsuit this season that will flatter your body type, you’re on the right track. We get caught up in what’s trendy and forget to look for a suit that is the best for us, that flatters our good features and plays down those we’re not so eager to share with the world.
Here are some tips to bring out your inner siren:
Fuller bottom than top: Try on one-piece suits that slim and flatter the top while continuing down to a skirted bottom. Often you will feel more confident knowing your hips and thighs are covered, and isn’t being comfortable the most important part of having fun? You may also want to try boy shorts. These are stylish and would allow you to wear them over a bathing suit or as the bottom half of a two- piece.
Full breasts: If you notice that your top half is considerably larger than the bottom consider a swim tank to minimize large breasts. Another way to do this is by wearing a bathing suit or two-piece that has one color on the top and another on the bottom
Full, round figure: The one-piece bandeau suit will slim and elongate a full figure. The chest area is exposed to balance the body and it does not have straps, which gives it a little bit of sexiness!
Hour-glass: Halter or triangle bikinis are best for you. These suits show off your best features, your legs and upper half, and keep the body looking asymmetrical.
Not enough curves: Try a one-piece halter wrap suit. This piece dips low in front and ties around the neck like a halter top. The material is wrapped around the waist area to carve out a silhouetted figure. The bottom of the suit can also be high on the sides to round out the legs and bottom.
A note on color: If a bathing suit has patterns it will draw the eyes to that particular area. Dark colors conceal, while light colors emphasis.
Now you’re ready! Grab your bandana, sunglasses, wrap, sunscreen, water bottle, iPod and magazines and you’ll look and feel fabulous the entire summer season.
