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.

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.

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.

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:




Maaji Swimwear 2011 - Peachy Lucky Hit Bustier Bikini



 Black Embroidered Bustier Bikini - Mara Hoffman Swimwear 2011 

Mara Hoffman Swimwear 2011 - Batik Sky Underwire Bandeau Bikini

 

 

Mara Hoffman Swim 2011 - Red Batik Bikini

  Luana Bustier Bikini - Marysia Swim 2011

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

~ C.

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.

Buying That Bikini...Better Early Than Never

I know, I KNOW, buying a new swimsuit for the upcoming season is something that most of us want to put off.  It can be a daunting task, I totally understand.  But, my advise is don't wait.  In spite of what many of us think, the swimsuit season does not start in June.  In fact, by the beginning of summer, it's just about over.  (Geesh!  When are the fashion mags going to get this?)   At Tropi-Ties Swimwear, our swimsuits start arriving in November and by January they're about 1/3 sold out.  By April, they're about 2/3 sold out.  By June, there's few slim pickin's left.  My advise is to start your swimsuit shopping early.  If you wait, those cute, cute bathing suit styles will be picked over, or sold out.  And don't think that you need to lose that 5-10 pounds first...ahhh...the hessitation blues.  Buy now, diet later. 

It's all the more important this season, due to the lousy economy.  Swimwear buyers need to make their orders way in advance and frankly, they just aren't sending in the huge POs to their suppliers this year.  That means that there is less inventory and bathing suits and cover-ups will start to sell out earlier.  This also means that there will be less "Sale Items" this season, because the ordering has tightened up tremendously, compared to last season. After all, no fashion retailer likes left over inventory.  It's not like wine and cheese...it doesn't get better with age. 


For example, Mara Hoffman Swimwear and Agua Bendita Swimwear for 2011 are just about gone from our shelves.  Will there be re-orders?  I don't know.  They're hottest labels out there right now, but the manufacturers are either afraid, or just can't continue with production this late in the year.  The quantities are limited.  It's all covered in the law of Supply & Demand.


I hope this doesn't sound like a hard sell, I just want our loyal customers to be informed.  So, if you're planning that vacation in July, buy the swimsuit now, while the styles are plentiful and fresh. 

OK...I'm crawling off of my soapbox now. 

~ C.

Agua Bendita 2011 Sale This MLK Weekend

Just letting our readers know that there is a private Agua Bendita Swimwear Sale going on this holiday weekend at Tropi-Ties.  The 2011 AB swimsuits and cover-us are considerably marked down for our loyal followers.  Sale ends Monday night.  Shop!  Enjoy!!  ~ C.


Agua Bendita Swimwear 2011 - Bendita Vibracion Bikini





Agua Bendita Swimwear - Bendita Realeza Bikini





Agua Bendita - Bendito Santo 1 Piece Swimsuit



2011 Agua Bendita Swimwear - Bendita Francia Bikini



Agua Bendita Swimwear 2011 - Fortuna Dress

Agua Bendita Swimwear - Giro Dress