Crystal Jin

Crystal Jin is the New York based brand created by Crystal Eley. The line is based on several basic top and bottom styles that you can mix and match with different fabrics, colors, and prints. The styling is very classic with some lux touches. The cuts range from fairly conservative to somewhat revealing. To be honest, I think their solids are a lot stronger than their prints. Check out their site to get a better feel for what I'm talking about (you have to scroll through each style to see what the optional prints are). Here are some of my favorite looks:

Agua Bendita 2011

Agua Bendita is a Colombian swimwear brand created in 2003 by Catalina Álvarez and Mariana Hinestroza, two ladies who happen to design as well as own! Their designs are always super original- using really bright colors, patchwork-style prints, with embroidery or knit details that stand out. And I mean really stand out. You have to see these in person to really get a feel for the level of detail and the vibrant bohemian vibe. Their styling is also very feminine and sexy, with minimal back coverage on many of the bottoms.

Their 2011 collection features three themes: One the Rocks, Black Tie, and Happy Hour. Check out their site with Bar Rafaeli and Candice Swanepoel (who could look sexy wearing garbage bags). You can probable find some of these suits on sale now since the 2012 collection is already out. Here are some of my favorite looks...

Brazilian Swimwear Brands - Maravilhoso!

Eu adoro biquinis brasileiros! I have to admit I have a particular love for Brazilian bikini brands. The longer I live in Miami, the more I agree with the idea that "less is more" when it comes to bikinis. I wanted to share some of my favorite Brazilian brands and please feel free to suggest brands that you know and love.

Rosa Cha

Cia Maritima

Clube Bossa

Blue Man

Adriana Degreas

Lenny

Agua Doce

I've tried to link to the actual Brazilian websites wherever possible. It's kind of funny, but I didn't include Vix because I really don't like their line for Brazil as much as the US line. In case you don't speak Portuguese, here are some basic terms to help navigate the sites:

bikini - biquini

maillot/bathing suit - maiô

beach wear - moda praia

strap/thong - correia

strapless - sem alças

size - tamanho

campaign - campanha

line - linha

styles - estilos

accessories - acessorios

contact - contato

summer - verão

winter - inverno

buy - comprar

set - conjunto

brand - marca

collections - colecoes

These are my best translations- unfortunately I have only a year or so of Portuguese practice, so feel free to suggest any corrections to my list above. Obviously on these sites where the prices are indicated by R instead of $ it means that it's in reais and not dollars.

Some great looks from Blue Man 2012:

Miami Swim Week | Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim Show

Miami Swim Week | Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim Show

As the winter season is just getting going here in Miami Beach, I thought it might be fun to see what preparations are underway for Swimweek 2013! Anyone who works or knows swimwear, knows the amazing week every summer when swim lines from around the world convene in the Miami Beach convention center. There are amazing brands from Australia, France, Canada, all over South America, and beyond- and when I say a lot, I mean like over 500 lines! Mercedes-Benz also sponsors a ton of fashion shows at different hotels around the Beach, and its an amazing look at what's to come for the following season. The convention center itself is packed full of booths from the different lines, not only of swimwear, but of cover-ups and other beach accessories. Larger brands like Vix, L*Space, Roxy, etc will have booths three or four times the size of the other brands, and are typically closed off. You have to make an appointment or at least prove that you are a retail buyer if you want to check them out. Obviously this is to protect their designs from anyone looking to copy them and it's interesting to see how tight they really are about checking things out in there. I worked for a smaller brand as a model two years ago and had so much fun. The Convention Center show isn't open to the public, but its pretty easy to get tickets to some of the fashion shows around Beach and of course the after-parties!

Here is the schedule from LAST year's swim show:

Thursday
7pm – Diesel Location: Cabana Grande
8-10 OFFICIAL KICK OFF PARTY presented by Skyy® Vodka. Location: The Raleigh

Friday
6pm – White Sands Australia. Location: Cabana Grande
7 – Poko Pano Location: Oasis
8 – Beach Bunny Swimwear. Location: Cabana Grande
9 – Crystal Jin Location: Oasis
10 – L*Space by Monica Wise. Location: Cabana Grande
11-1am Wildfox Swimwear. Location: Penthouse

Saturday
6PM – Caffé Swimwear. Location: Cabana Grande
7 – Dolores Cortés. Location: Oasis
8 – Mara Hoffman swim. Location: Cabana Grande
9 – Aqua Di Lara. Location: Oasis
10 A.Ché / Natori. Location: Cabana Grande

Sunday, July 17
6-7pm (TBA) Location: Penthouse
7 – Cia.Marítima. Location: Cabana Grande
8 – Luli Fama. Location: Oasis
9 – Luxe by Lisa Vogel. Location: Cabana Grande
10 – Lisa Blue. Location: Oasis

Monday
6PM – A.Z Araujo / Aguaclara / Aquarella. Location: Cabana Grande
7 – Kooey Swimwear Australia. Location: Oasis
8 – Nico Lita. Location:  Cabana Grande
9 – (TBA) Location: Oasis
10 – True Religion swimwear. Location: Cabana Grande

Beach Bunny Swimwear "Lola" Cruise Collection 2012

Beach Bunny's 2012 "Lola" Cruise line is a lot of sequins, satin, lace and glam. Patriotic, primary colors and styles with gemstones and bows. Definitely appropriate for a pool party in Vegas. I also happen to love that BB isn't afraid to use curvier models. My favorite styles are fairly different from each other. 
First I think that the most feminine look from this collection is the Cherry Pie balconette set- it definitely stays true to their prints, colors and lingerie styling. I cannot get enough of the balconette top, although you might need some double-stick tape if you are larger than a B.  This is not a suit that you will be much of anything outside of sipping champagne and laying in the sun.

The second is the Speak to Me in the turquoise- love the gemstones. You can tell this color would be stunning in the sunlight and probably distract from any lack of tan this time of year.

Last is the ultra sexy Fast Lane. I can't decide if this reminds me more of a nun gone bad or a biker chick. Although I usually don't go for suits that have a ton of extra detail, beads, and strings hanging off, this one does it well and keeps it relatively simply.

Note to self: do not even think about wearing a Beach Bunny bikini without a serious conversation with your bikini waxer. 


Also, I own the original BB Lady Lace style and I have noticed that you definitely have to be gentle with these suits. In other words, be very careful taking them on and off so you don't rip the lace or damage the gorgeous gemstones.

L*Space Citrus Safari Collection

This collection is made up of their basic shapes in a zebra/tiger stripe pattern in a citrus yellow-green and grey, as well as several options in solids (grey, citrus, white). I have seen L*Space's citrus color and it is gorgeous and super bright in person. I think it would look great on a lot of different skin tones. I also love the idea of patterns and solid combined. These are my favorite pieces:

As a side note, I have tried on the bottoms with the cut-outs on the sides. They are a super cute style however they definitely provide a significant amount more coverage than a lot of their bottom styles.

Beach Bunny Sample Sale

I am soooo jeaous of you So Cal ladies right now...