Spring Break 2012 - The Skirted Bikini Trend

 Oh, let's nots skirt the issue...Spring Break 2012 is coming to the shores and the fabulous swimsuits and bikinis will be on parade!  Here are some skirted swimsuit trends that you'll be seeing this year:

It can be ruffled, swathed, or simple.  It seems like every swimsuit designer has done a skirted swimsuit, in one form, or another.  Maaji Swimwear did a cute, skirted bikini that sort of "swags" across the topline.  It's not really a full, skirted swimsuit, but I thought I'd include it in the group, for lack of a better place.  It's very colorful...very young and kinda sexy too!

Night Diving Beauty Bikini

Night Diving Beauty Bikini Back

Karla Colletto went the complete route and did the full, skirted bikini with an underwire top.  This is a lovely pink swimsuit that would cater to a variety of ages.  I can easily see it as  beach bar attire. 

 Ruching Skirted Bikini

Cia.Maritima put together a couple of ruffled bottom bikinis for 2012:  

 Fashion Pink Bandeau Bikini



La Dolce Vita Floral Bikini

 Then, there's Salinas who did a tiny, brazilian-cut bikini with a few flounces of ruffles:

 Arpex Bikini

...Melissa Odabash did a killer, white, skirted, bathing suit number with a bandeau top:

India White Skirted Bandeau Bikini

~ C.

New Little Birdies In The Tree...Fresh Swim Labels On The Horizon

It's good to see change; it's great to see new innovations, especially in beach fashion.  There are a few, new swimwear labels that have caught our eye this year, due to their new vision and fresh approach to swimsuits and bikinis.  We've picked up a couple of them this winter and hope to bring you more, later in the season. 

First, one of our hometown faves, is Boys + Arrows Swimwear from our own home port of Ventura, CA.  Boys + Arrows Swimwear has sass and attitude and never apologizes for being who they are.  Designer, Meagan Scott, is fearless in her designs, uses only the best of materials and, let's face it, puts a little fun into everything that she does.  We like that...a California girl doin' good! 

Meagan Scott, designer for Boys + Arrows Swimwear

Boys + Arrows Swimwear 2012 - Havalah the Homewrecker Bikini

I know, we've already mentioned Tori Praver Swimwear, but since we're on the subject of new labels, her line is worth a second say.  Tori hails from another former home of ours, Hawaii, and so we feel that we understand her fashion speak.  We have watched her blossom from a beautiful Letarte model, to major runway and Sports Illustrated lass, and now, a talented swimwear designer.  As a surfer, she has the know-how of what it takes to create the perfect bikini.  We love her puckered, floral fabrics and chic on-pieces. 

Lily Bikini by Tori Praver Swimwear 2012

There are other lines that we're keeping our eye on.  One, is SHIMMI Swimwear, an LA based line that has a real, "spoiled brat," attitude...we like that.  Scarlett Chorvat and Alison Renner are the creative designers of SHIMMI Swimwear.  Both are successful models on a world wide scale and they've brought their experience and sense of style to SHIMMI.  There are lots of new bodies and shapes that we just haven't seen before.  We hope to bring you a tasting of their latest wares this spring.

We Are Handsome Swimwear has been making a big splash over the last couple of years.  The come from Australia (no, we've never lived there...but we'd like to someday.)  I just love their bold, artistic, photo-prints and clever shapes!  Those Australians...they keep coming on strong with their beach stuff. 

Recycled Swimwear by Rose, is just so wonderful!  Another SOCAL label that is very independent, an upstream swimmer, so to speak.  Rose Ponizil creates her designs from recycled clothing and garage sale finds, all spiffed up with ribbons and bows.  What comes off of her sewing machine is vintage looking and marvelous!  Cute, cute stuff!  We're hoping that she will give us the honor of carrying a few of her items this spring.

Looking across pond in search of new looks, we found a couple of other Euro lines that whipped at our whimsy.  Although, they aren't necessarily new, they're new to us:  Roseanna from France, Naelie (another French label,) and Guia la Bruna of Italy.  We'll keep a watch on them, as well. 

If you know of any other new swim designers on the horizon....please...we want to know about them.  drop us an email at info@tropi-ties.com.  Learning by word-of-mouth is always better than by hype.

~ C.

Give It Up For Those Fabulous Columbian Swimwear Designers!

The Columbians are stealing the show these days in the swimwear world. OndadeMar has been doing it for awhile, with Agua Bendita and Maaji Swimwear following close behind.  It's no surprise...The country of Columbia has been making great strides in cleaning up their old image of a drug lord dominated country to a hip, chic, destination resort.  It makes sense that their fashion focus is also looking forward. 

OndadeMar has kept a pretty, sophisticated look over the years and we love their designs.  Agua Bendita is covered with wild colors and embellishments and is just crazy cute.  This season, we're offering styles from the adorable, jr./teen, 2012 Maaji Swimwear collection.  It just came in and talk about new and different!  Their swimsuits are always full of surprising details and cute, as cute can be.  They've gone with bustiers and bustles, swags and wide strappings and lots of unusual fabric combos.  The Maaji look is young, it's fun, it's definitely affordable and it always makes me smile.  Here's some of the latest arrivals:

Castaway Love - A sweet Bustier with underwire support from Maaji Swimwear 2012 - $130



Maaji Swimwear 2012 - Snorkelly Bloom has a small bustle of yellow polka dots in back, $125



Maaji Swimwear's Tsunami Sublime Bandeau Bikini with laser-cut lace details, $120



Night Diving Beauty, criss-cross backside, by Maaji Swimwear for 2012, $130

We have a few other Maaji swimsuits in and should be getting even more Maaji bikinis in stock soon, so check back with us for updates.

~ C.

Sittin' Sweet in the Sand With SAHA Swimwear

SAHA Swimwear is another one of our new lines this season.  I took a good look at the line last season, but with moving and all, I had to take them off the list.  They did some pretty cute stuff this year, so we went with a couple of their bikinis and cute one piece swimsuit for 2012. 

SAHA Swimwear  - Pure Romance 1-Piece Swimsuit

Their look is fairly young.  I think that the mid-teen will enjoy their choice of fabrics and cuts, although the, "Happy Tears," bikini would definitely appeal to someone a little older.   



Love N Light Bikini by SAHA Swimwear

SAHA Swimwear 2012 - Happy Tears Bikini

 Anyway, it's a sweet line, with lots of calico florals and vintage prints.  I should be in very soon and being a new line, we didn't order too much of it.  So, you're liking what you see, check our SAHA Swimwear page often.  I think that these swimsuits will disappear as fast as your feet can fly over a hot, sandy beach.

~ C.

Salinas Swimwear 2012 - Sweet as Candy!

Salinas Swimwear 2012 is just as fresh and sweet as always, with new and novel details and that cute, albeit small, Salinas fit. Actually, this season we will be offering some more moderate bottoms from Salinas. (Is that a sigh of relief I hear from you?) I'm gushing over their adorable, surfer girl bikini in a preppy, geometric print!

Salinas Swimwear 2012 - Mosaico Bikini Front View

Salinas Swimwear 2012 - Mosaico Bikini Back View

Salinas Swimwear has also been known for their great, original prints and this year's collection does not disappoint. Check out the rainbow photoprint fabric used in this swimsuit:

Salinas Swimwear 2012 - Polaroide Bikini

Or, the unique artwork in this printed bikini:

Salinas Swimwear 2012 - Praiana Bikini

Salinas likes to put some attention grabbing details into all of their bikinis. That's one thing that makes them so special. I'm infatuated with the pom-poms at the end of the strings, not to mention the killer, turk and white print.

Salinas Swimwear 2012 - Da Gema Bikini

One of the reasons that I feel that Salinas has had such a long run in the beach fashion world is that it's a swimwear label that can cross over into different age groups. The 20-somethings love the fun and sexiness of their, "bitty booty,"styles, but the junior set can still get away with wearing some of their younger, more moderate looks.  In other words, they’re not just a passing fad.

Salinas Swimwear 2012 – Sweet Tom Bikini

Salinas Swimwear 2012 - Sexy Acqua Bikini Back View



~ C.

A Preview of the 2012 Tori Praver Swimwear Collection

I'm not going to clutter your brain with a lot of words today.  Here's some pix of the latest from Tropi Praver Swimwear for 2012:



Tori Praver's Lily Bikini in Ocean Blue



Lucy One Piece Swimsuit by Tori Praver

Raven Bikini - Very Preppy

2012 Tori Praver Swimwear  - Shyla Bikini

Tori Praver Swimwear 2012 - Raven Bikini Backside

 Tori Praver's beautiful bikinis and swimsuits are coming soon to Tropi-Ties!

~ C.

Solid & Preppy - The Newest Propositions For 2012 Swimwear

Done is the overindulgence and the high excess ...In is the sensibility and frugality for swimsuits and beach clothing this season.  There, I said it...That's what I really see on the horizon for swimwear in 2012.  No fluffy superlatives, here.  Not that I mind this new, practical outlook on swim fashion.  I love the preppy looks and simple solids that are coming out.  So refreshing!  They ground us like a low tide, while we wait for the next wave of extreme beach modes to come crashing in.  They remind us that less is more.

Melissa Odabash Swimwear 2012 - Florence Bikini, Preppy Nautical



Actually, I really started to see this trend last season, but I suppose, like eating a rich dessert, it was hard to push oneself away from the table, even when we knew we should. While some of us kept going for the extreme decadence last year, many of our customers began to beg off, reminding us that water is just fine, thank you very much. Here, at Tropi-Ties, we saw an increase of sales in the more elegant, conservative looks of designers such as Melissa Odabash, Sauipe and Karla Colletto. There were more solids sold last year. Stripes started showing up again. And what's more, nautical looks are strongly steaming in this season. The prices, while not rock bottom, are at least holding steady.

ANK Swimwear 2012 - Moher Bikini, Laced Up



Melissa Odabash Swimwear 2012 - Los Angeles Bikini -
Stripes Rule The Seas!



Tori Praver Swimwear 2012 - Raven Bikini

One Piece swimsuits are still moving ahead in sales...another sign that trends are moving to the more understated.

Sauipe Swimwear 2012 - Donatella 1-Piece Swimsuit

What's more, we have been seeing the more conservative tankini making a comeback. (Although we always thought it was so, so cute, if only done right.)  The little, black bikini, forever chic, has been coming on strong since last year.  L*Space did a couple of styles in the year prior, and this season we picked up on two by Crystal Jin and while they lack in color, they make up for everything in the details. 

Crystal Jin Swimwear 2012 - Solaire-Varick Bikini, Bring on the Black 

So, I guess that the mantra this season is: "Less is More." 

Now, is that really such a bad thing?  Oh my! Heavens no!

 

~ C.





Maaji Swimwer 2012 Just as Cute as Ever!!!!

Maaji Swimwear keeps us smiling.  They always deliver cute, cute bikinis at a reasonable price.  Now what beachgoer doesn't like that?  Here's just a little preview of what's to come this Fall from Maaji Swimwear 2012:

Maaji Swimwear 2012 - Splendid Treasure Bikini $108
I'm diggin' the side swoop on this top.  It reminds me of the set-in styles of the 70s.  $108

Seahorse Ride Tankini by Maaji $155
I can't tell you how many times we have had requests for a new tankini, but I just hadn't found a cute enough one until now.  I LOVE THIS!

Maaji Bikini 2012 - Tsunami Sublime Bikini  $120 
A very sweet bandeau bikini for 2012!

Maaji Swimwear 2012 - Delightful Seafarer Bikini $128
Maaji Swimwear loves to mix up the prints to create a wild, riot of color.  They do an awesome job of it here at a killer price.  

There's lots more Maaji bikinis for 2012 on the horizon.  Maaji sizes tend to run just a tad on the small side...just so you know.  We expect our first Maaji swimsuits to start arriving in about a month, so please stop by and have a look-see.

~ C.