With summer right around the corner who isn’t eager to hit the beach? Inspiration for 2011 swimwear has taken root in 60’s fashion and is shared by other bold patterns and designs.
The Trends
Delivered to GalTime by verteran fashion industry expert Cyla Weiner (SyleneDC) Eden Rausch (Cuche Bikinis), Co-founder of FashionStake.com Vivian Weng, Guilty Pleasures’ Ally Teal and South Moon Under swim buyer Tai Camper.
Camper ecstatically expressed “This season we are LOVE LOVE LOVING retro swim wear. We are finding inspiration from 50s pin ups to 70s divas. This means high waisted 2 pieces and low rider surf boy short bottomed 2 pieces too! Retro glam is totally where it’s at this season! The other trend we are OBSESSING OVER in swim is boudoir inspired. We love everything from bra tops, sweetheart tops and bustier tops…paired with a detailed bottom like ruching makes for one sexy suit!”
The Super Popular Retro/Vintage trends:
- Sexiness without showing too much is this summer’s muse.
- 60’s styles - high waist bottoms and moulded cup tops.
- Thick one shoulder straps especially with color contrasts.
- Halter necks paired w/ ruffled skirts.
- One pieces with cinched waists.
Color Trends:
- Black and white as a resurrection of the retro style.
- Summer bright and electric shades including yellow, lavender, fuchsia, violet.
- Oceanic colors such as royal blue, navy, turquoise and white. (These are combined with tropical prints and graphic prints.)
- Navy and forest green continue to be a strong trend this summer.
Design Trends:
- One shoulder swimsuits.
- Cutouts, particularly in one-pieces giving women a stylish alternative to the bikini. (Cut-outs in the waist area or low cuts in the thigh area reveal the right amount of leg, perfect for maintaining the mysterious allure.)
- Crochets, full swimsuits with cutaway detailing.
Pattern Trends:
- Mosaic prints.
- Bold geometric prints.
- Floral suits, stripes and nautical patterns.
- Graphic prints in the bust area.
Added Elements:
- Buckles in the swimsuit fabric or metal finishes.
- Ruffles as a subtle accent or dominating feature on a plain bikini or suit.
A comparison between 2010 and 2011 swimsuits:
In 2010, as well as 2009, swim fashion was influenced by the cutaway. This meant one shoulder pieces, high end sportswear and rock inspired swimsuits. This inspiration is still seen in 2011 swimwear and chances are, will continue to flourish. Teal reemphasizes that this year there is an explosion of vintage and retro, both in bold shades, and natural colors.
Now that you know the trends you can find the best style for your body type. Susan Bodack (InStyleSwimwear) and Melissa Tate (1 Sol Swimwear) have shared their knowledge with us about choosing the right swimwear for you!
Pear shaped/small chested:
- Dark bottoms paired with a printed or embellished top.
- Avoid hipsters and boyshort bottoms as this will make your bottom half appear larger.
- Styles with ruffles/embellishments make the bust appear larger.
- Padding, underwire and demi-bra styles accentuate the bust.
Apple shaped/inverted triangle:
- Dark tops with printed or embellished bottoms.
- Hipster or boyshorts with a busy print or skirted detail accentuate the booty.
- Halters and underwires offer chest support.
- One pieces with structure in the bust are also flattering for large-chested women.
Boy Shaped:
- To create the illusion of curves, a twist bandeau top with molded cups.
- Hipster bottoms or boyshorts also add the illusion of curves to the hips.
- Monokinis with side-cutouts help create an hourglass look.
Hourglass:
- Since your top and bottom halves are already pretty proportionate, you don’t want to throw your look off balance.
- A halter or triangle top paired with a scoop bottom or a tie-side bottom with thick tie-sides.
Curvy/Full-Figured:
- Draw attention toward your best features and away from any problem areas.
- Dark solid-colored swimsuits are naturally more slimming for your figure.
- High-waisted styles and tankinis are great for hiding the tummy.
Trends from New York:
New Yorker Morgan Flemming (AllWetBeachWear) says that citrus shades and bold orange are perfect for fashion destinations like the Hamptons, “We are seeing this from a lot of designers for Summer 2011. Swimwear in these juicy shades are modern, bold and perfect for fashion forward destinations such as Hamptons, Miami, and LA.” She also emphasizes on animal print and the all white bikini, visit the blog to find more trends from All Wet.
New Yorker Dawn Delos Santos introduces MiX Bikini (check it out on Facebook!) to GalTime readers. This interchangeable bikini allows you to design, wear, take apart and design again, your bikini. The more parts you and your friends have, the more combinations you can make, ensuring you’ll never get bored with your swimsuit! Please visit the Facebook page to start your design!
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