| Whether you are dreaming of making weekend trips to your beachfront time-share, jet skiing with friends in Tahiti, partying till dawn in Ibiza or simply soaking up some rays on your balcony, your sun-kissed fantasies will require some sexy swimwear. This summer, there are endless options that guarantee to show off your best assets – or at least make you feel comfortable parading around the pool half-naked.
Swimwear can be intimidating. Women often feel like they have to emulate Bond girls Ursula Andress and Halle Berry emerging from the sea, while guys believe they need the body of an Olympian to look good in a pair of trunks. But the trick to appearing sexy in a strip of cloth is choosing the one that best suits your body.
One of the major faux pas many people make is choosing an ill-fitting swimsuit. Mistakes to avoid include: bikini bottoms that are too small and inevitably turn into a thong, resulting in continuous butt picking; one-piece suits that are too small, resulting in rolls of Spandex; guys under five-foot-10 wearing extra-long board shorts, and guys sporting tiny Speedos who have more guts than glory. Really, what’s more important – being an embarrassing slave to style, or looking fabulous no matter your body type?
Swimco, one of Western Canada’s leading swimwear retailers, has created Mixables, a mix-and-match system that provides women with endless options for creating a suit that will accentuate their best assets. For a consultation, visit your nearest Swimco or go to www.swimco.com.
One Mixables highlight is a full cover tankini (think a tank top that you can swim in and not look like you’re in a wet T-shirt contest) with Spandex that will take a load off your midsection. Halter-tops and under-wire bra tops work best for fuller breasts. To address the lower half, Mixables offers bottoms in different cuts to suit your shape. Choose from hipsters, boy shorts, low waists or high waists, or side-tie bikinis.
Men’s swimwear comes in four main styles: bikini, boxer, square-cut or trunks, and board shorts. Mixing and matching is obviously not an option, so men only have to worry about choosing the right style for their physique. Smaller, more revealing suits, such as a racer bikini or square-cut trunk, better suit athletic and slim builds, while the short options will work for the rest. Long board shorts look best on tall guys, while short men should opt for boxers or mid-thigh versions. Big quads should be shown off with trunk shorts or loose boxers. If you’re shy, hide them with a loose-fitting board short.
Swimwear falls into two categories: function and fashion – that is, swimwear for serious swimming and suits for lounging or tanning. However, both are influenced by the current trends in fashion and water sports. This season, look for colour blocking, nautical stripes, bold graphic prints, polka dots and beaded embellishments.
Pattern mixing also carries over to mixing and matching different tops and bottoms, such as stripes with floral prints or polka dots. Local swimwear designer Jodi Opsahl notes that mixing patterns can also create the illusion of a slimmer or curvier physique.
"Women could wear a dark bottom and printed top, minimizing the hip and drawing the attention up to other curves," she says.
Opsahl’s line Jodio focuses on fun and flirty bikinis, reminiscent of vintage lingerie. Her suits are made out of washable ultra-suede and embellished with ruffles and side ties on the bottoms.
"Woman are mysterious and so are our bodies. Side bows not only distract, but provide adjustability for comfort," she says. Nor are the sexy styles just for younger women. "Fifty is the new 40 and I have put numerous women back in a bikini," she says. "They love it and write me for more."
If you prefer true vintage, check out Junk Star, Divine Decadence or Blue Light Special. For guys, choose from square cuts circa 1970s or Adidas lined shorts for an ’80s flavour. Women can choose bikinis or one-pieces in ’70s graphic prints. Most vintage suits fit smaller than the size indicated, so depending on your physique, finding a vintage suit may not be as easy as you think. |
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