Sunday, February 20, 2011

A Little More Lenny...New Spring Arrivals

As you all know, I'm a big fan of Lenny Swimwear.  I love designer, Lenny Niemeyer's clean, fresh esthetic.  No teenybopper stuff here.  Lenny's customer is all grown up, all woman, all confidence, with a sense of complete femininity.  Several, new, Lenny swimsuits have just arrived and I'd like to share them with you.

One of my absolute favorites is this one-piece swimsuit, the Bronze High Neck Cut-Out Maillot .  It has some peek-a-boo cut-outs between the shoulders and bustline that gives a slimming silhouette.  The back is cut in a low scoop to allow for sunning.  The fabric is a striated brown and black print with a soft, metallic shimmer to it.  This would be a great swimsuit for swimming, while looking absolutely fabulous at the same time.

Lenny Swimwear 2011 - Bronze High Neck Cut-Out Maillot

This Lenny bikini, the Cactus Padded Pleat Bikini, was modeled by Irina Shayk, cover girl for the 2011 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.  She is shown in several shots wearing this glamorous swimsuit, in the blue color choice.  We offer it in a dark khaki, "Cactus," color.  The top has a molded, underwire construction, with little shoulder straps.  There's no real push up padding, per se.  (Although, you could add your own little push-up pads, if you wanted to.)  I suppose it's due to a loss in translation of terms.  I like the way that the bottom is gathered and pleated, but still very soft and flexible for comfort and wearability.

Lenny Swimwear 2011 - Cactus Padded Pleat Bikini
Last, but not least, Lenny's new, Sahara Adjustable Halter Bikini, is not a new style of hers, but definitely a new print.  This contemporary stripe is part of her neutral palette for the season.  This swimsuit allows the wearer to adjust, both the top and bottom, to allow for more, or less coverage.  Just the thing if you love those tiny Brazilian bikinis, but want just a little less showing.

Sahara Adjustable Halter Bikini
This is just a sampling of what's new for Lenny Swimwear.  We offer several other Lenny swimsuits for 2011.  If this is a new swimwear label for you, take a peek, give Lenny a try. I think that you will so glad that you have discovered it.

~ C.

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Spring Break, The Ultimate Bikini Parade

Spring Break is just around the corner.  It's a raucous time of partying with friends and playing in the sun and the showing off of those beautiful bodies and glorious, new bikinis and swimsuits of the season.  In a way, it's the ultimate coming out beach party for the swimsuit industry.  The latest 2011 swimwear will be gracing the shores of Cancun, South Padre, South Beach, Acapulco, LV, Puerto Rico and anywhere else that's tropical, fun and can handle the crowds.

This season, the hottest swim labels for the college customer are Agua Bendita, Maaji, Salinas, Mara Hoffman, L*Space, Red Carter and Zimmerman.  The most popular bikini styles are the bandeau, the bustier, and variations of the tri-top/tie-side.  There are a couple of 1-piece swimsuits that also make the grade: 

Agua Bendita's Bendito Santo 1 Piece

Red Carter's Ruffled Plunge
Marysia Swim's Meke Maillot

As college tuitions go up, it's nice to know that swimsuit prices have stayed about the same...maybe even dropped a little.  However, to help with things a little more, Tropi-Ties offers several coupon codes and discounts on our Promotions page.  They can make your day in the sun just a little sunnier and leave you a little extra cash for those other hedonistic activies.

So, Bon Voyage!  Have fun out there and please be safe.  (I'm a Mom, after all.)

~ C.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue – The Aftermath and Why It Is So Important for the Swimwear Industry

What happens after all the hoopla about who will make the cover, the sexy, SI models’ delivery of the, “Top Ten List,” on David Letterman, the hype and the glam? Swimwear sales, that's what. The annual, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue is extremely important to this small, niche industry in the fashion world. Besides the obvious benefit to the careers of the up and coming models, actors and athletes involved, SI provides a wonderful PR platform for swimwear manufacturers, new and old. It also showcases the swimwear retailers, giving sales a boost in the bum, so to speak.

This year, the Swimsuit Issue was especially imperative to all involved. Let's face it, the economy sucks and all retailers are having a tough time out there these days. For the swimwear industry, it's been especially hard. After all, bikini retailing is a seasonal industry, at best, and it's tied closely with the discretionary, travel industry, which has been treading water for quite awhile now.

Sports Illustrated delivers its most important issue of the year at the perfect time for swim retailers, the beginning of the swimwear season, just before Spring Break and summer vacations, which gets customers to start thinking about buying that swimsuit. Besides, it certainly does give swimwear a sexy, glamorous spin. Thank You SI! Who would have thought that a sports rag would have the savvy to promote fashion in such a big and timely way? The fashion magazines, who should be taking this job earnestly to task, have been missing the mark for years, choosing to feature swimwear in May, June and July, just as the buying frenzy has died down and the best styles are long since sold out.

So, just how, exactly, does SI effect the swim retailers with it's bathing beauties? I don't have the figures for other swimwear retailers, but I can tell you that we see a huge spike in sales the day after the release of the swim issue and the sales continue at a high level for at least 3 more weeks. This year, we may see even better results with all of the widgets, videos, calendars and other gizmos that SI is employing to promote their swimsuit properties.

As for the swimwear manufacturers, being featured in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue is just pure gravy, after a long haul of designing, promoting, schlepping to the sales and writing orders. It's a fine, high note of recognition and sure increase in sales. It gives them courage to go on into the next season which starts only a couple of months later.

I can certainly attest. When I designed swimwear for our own, swim retail store, Tropi-Ties, we went to the swim show in Miami and met with several editors of various fashion magazines. They were all very nice and some of them did give us some good mentions.  (Thank You SEVENTEEN for all that great press.)  However, Diane Smith, senior editor at Sports Illustrated and in charge of the SI swim issue, and her staff couldn't have been more gracious, or more supportive. They took a few of our bikinis and yes, we made the swim issue that year....YEAH us!  But what's most important is that they went the extra effort to try to incorporate the newer lines like ours into the swimsuit issue, because they knew just how important it was to the swim vendors to be mentioned. It was, by far, better than any paid ad in a high-end style magazine. It was free publicity and it reached the everyday woman and her (sometimes gift giving) man.  And, if anyone thinks that girls aren't interested in sports, think again.

So, I guess that this is my long winded, "Thanks," to CNN's Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue for giving us swim people a break.  Bikinis and Jocks...It's a match made in heaven.  Thank You, Ms. Smith!   Thank you, SI!

~ C.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue - The Cover Girl, The Swimsuits

OK, David Letterman let us all know last night that Irina Shayk is the new, 2011 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Cover Girl, and yes, she's gorgeous!  Well deserved, I say...congrats!  There are lots of beautiful models this year in SI and they weren't your typical bikini girls.  There was a fresh bouquet of unusual faces, great bodies, loads of sex appeal, what can I say?  All of the the girls were all fantastic!  

Then, there's the bikinis...

We were so happy to see some of our favorite labels in there this year.  With the economy being what it is, the designers and manufacturers need a few kudos to keep them swimming through these murky waters.  Hats off to Agua Bendita for getting that adorable, Bendita Francia Bikini into Sports Illustrated this year, (modeled by Hilary Rhoda.)    Maaji put one of my favorites in the mag; Turquoise Barricades Bikini, also modeled by Hilary Rhoda.


Bendita Francia Bikini by Agua Bendita Swimwear


Turquoise Barricades Bikini by Maaji Swimwear

 
  Marysia made a showing, as did Lenny, Karla Colletto, Salinas, Red Carter and L*Space.


There were many other great swimwear companies featured.  We hope to bring you some of their styles in the near future.  Until then, enjoy this season's Sports Illustrated Swimsuits and bikinis.

~ C.

Monday, February 14, 2011

Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue 2011 - Who's On The Cover This Year?

Will Brooklyn Decker make the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue cover again?  Or, will it be someone new?  The 2011 cover model will be revealed on the Late Show With David Letterman tonight.  (We've heard that it's Brooklyn again, but who knows.  The suspense is killing us.)  The Top 10 List will be presented by the  17 SI swimsuit models on Friday. The full list includes Alyssa Miller, Anne V, Chrissy Teigen, Cintia Dicker, Damaris Lewis, Esti Ginzburg, Genevieve Morton, Hilary Rhoda, Irina Shayk, Izabel Goulart, Jessica Gomes, Jessica White, Julie Henderson, Kate Upton, Kenza Fourati & Shannan Click.

Tropi-Ties is carrying many of the swimsuits featured in SI Swim this year. We promised everyone that we would not reveal which ones before the release, but tomorrow's another day.  We'll keep you posted as to which ones made the mag.

~ C.

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Give the Girls a Boost! The Bustier Bikini is Making Waves

This season we're seeing a lots of takes on the Bustier Bikini.  I'm referring to that little underwire bikini top that makes the most of what God gave a girl...a bosom.  The Bustier is similar, but slightly different than the standard underwire bra top.  It's cut a little smaller, sometimes sporting push-up pads, usually including a removable neck/shoulder strap and it really does it's job by making the smaller breasts look rounder, sexier..OK, let's say CUTER!   I have to say that the comeback of the Bustier Bikini is a huge triumph for the girl with a petite bustline.  Let's face it, the large busted women just can't wear the this little underwire bikini well.  Frankly, there's just so much spillage.  I mean, after all, sometimes too much is just too much. 

This season, Marysia did a cute Bustier Bikini, Mara Hoffman did a few of them and Maaji did one that's just the cutest thing on the planet.  Here's our Bustier Bikini hit parade for 2011:





 
 


So, go for it girls!  It's time for the dainties to shine!

~ C.

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

L*Space Puts a Twist On Style This Season

L*Space Swimwear designer, Monica Wise, has come up with some twisted bikinis this season...so cute!  So SEXY!  Monica has quite a following of loyal customers who love the L*Space clean styling and unique details.  These bikinis are not, "toe-dippers," but swimsuits that women really want to wear and look great in. She's given a twist to the traditional bandeau bikini and even put a turn, or two into the bottom of the Aquarelli Bikini.

Aquarelli Bikini by L*Space

L*Space has also come up with another unique, twisted bikini top with their Twister Taboo Bikini.
Halter top has twist in center with thin straps &gold bead details.  Bikini bottom has double straps at the hips and offers moderate coverage in back.
L*Space Swimwear  - Twister Taboo Bikini
One of my favorite bikinis that Monica did this season is a very classy bandeau bikini, the Posh Bandeau with metal accents. Bandeau top has contemporary medallion in center, soft cups, side stays and ties in back. Bikini bottom has matching medallions at hips and provides moderate coverage in back.  Very sleek!
L*Space Swimwear - Posh Bandeau Bikini

I know that Monica has been working hard to bring us bikinis and cover-ups that work for the American girl.  All I can say is, GREAT JOB!  Good luck to all of the L*Space Swimwear crew this year!

~ C.