Crystal Jin Swimwear 2012...Luxury By The Sea

Crystal Jin Swimwear 2012 - Solaire-Varick Bikini

We've been totally entranced by Crystal Jin Swimwear this season...So much so, that we decided to bring the line in, even though we were somewhat late.  We're confident that our customers will love it, once they get a chance to experience the beautiful fabrics, surpurb workmanship and an refined fit.  This line has a delecate quality to it, almost lingerie-like, with a silky, sumptuous, touch of luxe.   The straps are thin, the cut is elegant, the sewing is perfect...these are absolutely gorgeous swimsuits.  So girls, if you're looking for that special bikini to take on a romantic tryste, check out Crystal Jin.

Madison-Chrystie Bikini by Crystal Jin

~C.

Breaking Down The Blues...The Moody Hue For This Year's Swimsuit Line-Up

From clear skies, to coral reef shallows to deep, mysterious ocean, the blues are inspired by all things natural, all things water.  It's certainly my favorite swimsuit color.  It looks good on every skin tone, but especially on a tan, or darker complexion.  Here's a few "blues" for your pleasure:

Chain With Rings Bikini by Lenny Swimwear

Grommets 1 Piece Swimsuit by Karla Colletto Swimwear

Madison-Chrystie Bikini by Crystal Jin Swimwear

Lily Bikini by Tori Praver Swimwear

~ 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.





Mercedes Benz Fasion Week Swim 2011 - Let's Review

Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Swim - Let's Review...
I would absolutely love to show you all the pix, but I’m doing it legal and waiting for permission to publish them. Until then, you’ll just have to trust me on my text depictions.

July
16th

Crystal Jin is a new line looking long, sleek, with satiny, Asian inspired fabrics. I liked this line. While maybe not earth shaking in design, the cuts looked clean, the swimsuits certainly fit the models well, and the designs were all very appealing. This is a line that is almost baked to perfection…try it now, or give it another year to mature and flourish.

OMG…watch out! Beach Bunny is going bawdy-glam again. Ya gotta love their burlesque themed bikinis with the over-the-top lingerie inspired swimsuits…lots of lace, lots of shine…lots of va-va-va-voom!

Swimwear Anywhere looks at swimsuits the way most of us should. They’re bringing purpose and practicality back to swimsuit fashion…and that’s all I’ll say about that.

17th

I love Mara Hoffman! Gawd…who doesn’t? She amazes me that she does such an excellent job with swimwear, when, in fact, she has several other divisions in her design repertoire that are equally impressive. Where does she find all that energy? As usual, Mara Hoffman Swimwear for 2011 takes the print to another level entirely and the same goes for her bodies. She's always going just to the edge, peering over, and coming back with something new for the rest of us that are not quite as brave as she. And while her models are certainly lovely, if not a bit quirky, (that right there tells you something about Ms. Hoffman,) they never upstage her designs. This season there’s lots of crisscross lattice straps, combined with her now famous Egyptian inspired prints. Strappy details, skinny pants and flowing caftans…oh my!

18th

Mr. Carter, please take a bow. Red Carter’s swimwear shows always reveal his flair for the theatric, but he also demonstrates his practical side. He has a knack of combining drama and classic wearability into all of his designs. For 2011, Red gives us some clever cut-outs, and straps going places that we never knew they could go. He also used lots of metallics, but punched it up with some eye-popping solids. I’m so glad to see that once again, his line is super strong this season. (Applause)


Cia.Maritima Swimwear is always so feminine, sexy and above all…Brazilian. It looks like a Samba sounds. This year, I instantly fell in love with the exotic butterfly prints used for the swimsuits and many of the cover-ups. I think that the line this year is just a touch more sophisticated than in the past. There was some serious thought that went into many of the cover-ups, designing them to go easily from beach to bazaar. (I especially like the long jumpsuits.) Cia.Maritima always gives us some variety, particularly with bikini bottoms that range from full coverage to miniscule backsides.

This is the second year that I’ve reviewed Caffé Swimwear. I think that they are still evolving and probably going somewhere…soon. This season there were lots of big, chunky accents, decorating a cool, summery palette. More to come on this newish label.

Tonight: Marysia, Nicolita, Tyler Rose Swimwear, An Aussie montage including Kooey, will be hitting the runways. I love all of these labels…I can hardly wait to tell you about them next time!

~ C.