A look at summer bikinis that are making a splash
June gloom has lifted and it’s time to put on your best bikini and hit the shore. Whether you prefer strutting in the sand or jumping on your longboard, there are several new local brands that are perfect for every beach activity.
©Sarah Lee
Environmentally friendly Odina Surf is a new swimwear line from Redondo, California that is constructed entirely from recycled and reclaimed fabric. What sets this silky suit apart from your average skimpy bikini – it’s actually designed for excellent performance in the water. The 2013 collection builds on the fit and flare foundation, which translates into a functional, simple suit for an active women. Odina uses solids as a base and then accents with contrasting fun, elegant prints for the ‘Stand Up Paddler’, ‘Surfer,’ and where else can you find a brand that considers a woman who is caught ‘In the Curl’ with vibrant colors that will stand out under the wave?
Alison Teal Blehert-Koehn, of Alison’s Adventures, and Odina team rider says, “As a sponsored adventure surfer I need a suit that is sexy, and will stay on whether I’m dropping in big in Morocco, or riding an elephant to a secret surf break in Indo. There are a lot of unknowns in surfing, but one thing I do know is that my Odina bikini will always be there for me. They are designed to fit every girl’s perfect bikini dream – no weird tan lines, stays on while surfing, and offer styles that make any body type look stunning—even my mom and her friends love them!”
©Sarah Lee
The 2013 line’s bikini tops include the ‘In the Curl’ T-back, and its one piece counterpart ‘In the Wave’, the ‘Coral Connection’, braided halter top, the ‘Wave Catcher’, a one-strap bandeau; and ‘Cove Girl’, a traditional triangle top. ‘Triple Crown’ is a multi-function bandeau; and the ‘Bondi Tie’ one piece with tie side bottom. The interchangeable bikini bottoms include versions with braided sides, colorful side sashes, string ties, and a selection of Brazilian cuts.
If a classic string bikini with an edge is more your style, JungleGurl should fill the bill. Vintage prints range from blue hues, to black and white and jungle green foliage (naturally). with black side ties for the bottoms and black string ties over the neck and back for the tops. These one-of-a-kind, eco-friendly styles are the brain-child of former model Natalie Golonka who amassed all the fabrics and garments from her travels around the world, her childhood in Hawaii (she started by cutting up mumus from the 70’s), and took the name from her Father – Jungle. “Being from the islands, I always wanted to wear suits and could never find any I liked. I love vintage and feel like the dresses in the 60s and 70s are timeless prints. So I brought them back to life,” says Golonka. Fans who agree include Courtney Cox and Nicole Ritchie but you can find the fruits of her labor Barney’s, Intermix and other high end emporiums of style.
Jungle Gurl
West coast favorite and queen of retro Palm Springs poolside glam prints, Trina Turk may have just released a line for Banana Republic, yet back at her original boutique, Turk has not forgotten about the men, who are well represented under the ‘Mr. Turk’ collection. The choices are pastel tapestry twill, jacquard and vibrant poppy prep ‘Roger’ shorts for the pool or tiny trunks made with safari, strip or floral prints.
One of the most iconic French designers Jean Paul Gaultier and arguably the best lingerie company in the world, La Perla collaborated on a line of sexy, lacy beachwear last year that is still going strong at the Beverly Hills store. For this season, the swimwear collection looked to the 60’s for inspiration including the energetic colors of Pop Art, the bold shapes inspired by the famous Mondrian dress, and Andy Warhol’s psychedelic flowers. The suits are sure to be a standout the year on the sand with details such as feminine pleating, small tassels, printed silk chiffon and snake skin reproduced on Lycra, creating a sophisticated lacquer effect.
La Perla
So put on your stylish suite, dive in or lay out. Summer has arrived, and it can’t wait to see what you’re wearing!
