Goldfish Kiss

Golfing in a bikini & coverup, and lounging in a hammock. Letarte knows a few of my favorite things, very, very well.

Top to bottom: Ruffle Bikini / Embroidered Pom Pom Poncho / Admiral Stripe Underwire Bikini / Ruffle Bikini

What’s Fun, flirty, sporty, can be worn surfing or laying on the beach, and costs under $70? No, it’s not some new perfume, it’s a bikini by Boom Boom Hawaii.

Owner and designer Elena Merritt (who nearly grew up in the ocean and claims a bikini is practically her second skin that she never left home without) you, my dear, know how to make one heck of a swimwear line. From cheeky and bold color blocks, to ruched bottoms & halters, the line is simple, yet makes a statement. That statement? Less is more. Oh, Elena I could hug you.

Some of my favorites: this beautiful rainbow Chi Chi, the sporty yet flirty (and appropriately named) Smiles, and the ruched to fantasticness Veda. But, really, you can’t go wrong with any piece from a line that’s “designed with expertise, made with soul, and worn with good ‘ol fashion fun.”

So, stop on over to BoomBoomHawaii.com and get your bum into a Boom Boom.

Boom Boom on Tumblr.

Gorgeous photos by Harold Julian with model: Hannah

There’s something about a bikini made of luscious, buttery, hand-dyed & textured fabrics that makes you think of lazy summer weekends in which you only wear that aforementioned bikini, and exotic travels when that’s all you need to pack. So, yes there’s something unbelievably sweet about Ani Bikinis.

If I were to shop for a bikini blindfolded, I would no doubt end up picking a piece from designer Ani Breslin’s line (it’s THAT soft), then be absolutely thrilled with my choice…and immediately want to head out for a surf to try it out.

Each piece is made from hand selected, exclusive “short run” fabrics, with a classy but sassy fit and simple design, perfect for the carefree beach babe. The suits don’t just hug your body in all the right spots, they bear hug it in sweetness.

The line has a certain air about it, and I think Ani says it best: “Fashion fades, style is eternal. Women who wear ANI bikinis will be drawn to what I create because they have style, elegance, charm, and class. But they will not be afraid to get dirty, dance around, and drink beer with the men.”

Yup. What she said. Thanks for the amazing Bikinis Ani.

Available online at Anibikinis and the The Bikini Fox

Ani Bikinis on Tumblr.

What happens when you take a surfer & designer from New Zealand, an artist, a year of living in a bikini, lots and lots of time surfing, and make a swimwear line? You get Kali, an amazing new line by surfer/designer/bikini guru/traveler extraordinaire, Kelly Clarkson.

Read more

Simple, steamy, saucy, but basic and unique. Yeah. Just a wee bit excited about this new line out of LA by Cassandra Kellogg, the oh-so appropriately named Minimale Animale.

The mesh Bottoms (pictured above - they WILL be mine someday) are just one of many pieces that should be both a staple and highlight of any bikini wardrobe. The line launches in 2012, and judging by the lookbook teaser I stumbled on (shot by the incomparable: Henrik Purienne & Kimberly Gordon) it’s filled with lots of mesh, buttery fabrics, flattering cuts, and basics with some seriously sandy cheeks.

In anticipation of the launch, follow their Tumblr, Check out their site, and get ready to make the beach purr.

When Jessica Garcia wanted a bikini line that she could do anything and everything in, while still looking amazingly hot, she took matters into her own hands. Literally.

Meet Ola Feroz, Jessica’s line of mix & match, unique, high-quality, flattering, fierce bikinis that, you guessed it, she makes by hand.

After visiting Venezuela every summer, where a local seamstress would hand make her a custom bikini, Jessica took Phi Beta Kappa-esque notes, learned to sew her own bikinis, and put her bikini addiction to work. Wherever that inspiring seamstress might be today, might we all thank you, because this line rocks.

Read more

There must be something in the water, sun, or air in Maui that breeds amazing swimwear designers. Meet Terra Christa, a new and already noteworthy line out of Maui that is turning heads and being grabbed up by beach babes from Sydney to San Diego.

Terra, daughter of Maui Girl Swimwear Guru, Debbi Wilson, definitely got some skills from her momma and launched a vibrant line that is feminine, flattering and really quite cool. Hey in her first year, 2 suits were deemed worthy of covering up Brooklyn Decker and Anne V in this year’s SI Swimsuit issue. Yeah, pretty sweet year one.

The colors are juicy the construction is solid, and the designs are suitable for everything from a day in huge surf, to…posing for Sports Illustrated.

Here’s the sweet part. Once a week until November 4, Terra is giving away one bikini to a fan of her line on facebook. All you need to do is Like Terra Christa’s page on Facebook to enter.

…then book a trip to Maui to figure out how all these great designers there do it.

terrachrista.com.au

Imagine a line that’s designed by a few avid surfers in Costa Rica who were determined to make a bikini that stayed put when surfing, but still was cheeky, and made you look pretty darn hot. Oh wait you don’t need to imagine, just check out Dkoko.

The gals behind Dkoko believe that a bikini is the most important piece of their wardrobe (can I get an AMEN!) and back in 2009 sought to make a line of suits that were vibrant, flattering, and perfect for any occasion, even overhead sets. Well, they did. I might just need to finally book a trip to Costa Rica to thank them for it.

The line features perfect simple cheeky bottoms in bold, juicy, vibrant colors, as well as some rather sweet & innovative tops. The piece that had me at hola…the gorgeous Selva wrap top (pictured above) a sleek wrap around top made out of amazingly soft fabric that enhances your bust line. Eat your heart out Wonderbra. You’ve been ousted by a bikini top.

The line is fun, imbued with Costa Rican beach style, and oh yeah, will not cause you to moon the lineup, or end up half naked after a wipeout or duck dive.

To make your day even better, you don’t have to go to Costa Rica to purchase a suit. The entire line is available online. Although I’m still going to check out airfares.

Some of the world’s greatest combinations: Peanut Butter & Jelly, Chips & Salsa, Sonny & Cher, Batman & Robin, Beach & Hammock, Bikinis & Visa, and now…Anna & Boy.

In 1995, when Anna Hewett & Lill Jenner departed from Vogue Australia to start Anna & Boy, the swimwear world became exponentially cooler. Kinda like when Babe Ruth went to the Yankees. Yeah, that cool. Their first collection was an immense success, and things have just been going up from there.

But, what makes the line such a winning combo? Well, here’s just a few items to check off the list. Amazing custom designed prints in eye-slapping vibrant colors, a modern interpretation of sixties-style flirtatiousness, the highest quality French & Italian Fabrics, durable & detailed construction, cute little gold trademark logos on the ties and sewn on each piece, and heck, Anna & Lill know fashion, they came from a little magazine called Vogue.

The line is feminine, but sporty, which is pretty much the best look around. You can look smouldering’ but actually go splash & frolic, catch a wave, or dive off of the yacht you look worthy of owning (thanks to the bikini). 

Some pieces that I’d give up Beer & Pizza (another winning combo) for: The sliding tri in Bee Bop, this scrumptious one piece, and whatever perfect LWB Elle Macpherson is wearing here.

I lied. I couldn’t give up Pizza & Beer indefinitely, but at least for a month. The line is just that delicious.

Available online and at select boutiques worldwide.

Some days you simply need a bikini you can throw on and swing in a hammock for hours on end. Maybe reading a good book, sipping on a cocktail, and most likely drifting on and off into a few cat naps. The bikinis from Sea By Gypsy are just that kind of suit. Don’t worry, they are waterproof and supportive so if you feel invigorated after your hammock sesh and want to splash around, you’re safe.

Designer & owner Kate Ruggiero branched out from her dreamy intimates to make equally soft and flattering swimwear that you could practically live in. The styles are simple (2 colors and two bandeau style tops with matching bottoms) and each suit is handmade by Kate herself in Hawaii. Swoon.

If you are feeling stressed. I think looking at Gypsy’s online store will relax you. Now go grab a kini, find a hammock & a mai tai, and devote a day to swinging away…

MadebyGypsy.com

Photos by: Daeja Fallas.

Whitney Andresen is a gal after my own heart. Raised in Martha’s vineyard, she was always on a boat, in the ocean, traveling or sailing around the globe. She was practically born in a bikini and has been obsessed with them ever since.

The obsession paid off in the form of the sassy, diverse, insanely flattering line that’s stealing bikini lovers’ hearts everywhere…Bikini Thief. Whitney’s taken inspiration from her years of traveling around the globe (Greek isles included…jealous) and oodles of notes on suits everywhere to make a simple yet stand out line. All those years of beach-going, globe-trotting and inspiration have paid off. This line is loads of deliciously-soft, surf-friendly, head-turning fun.

My personal winners in the hotness department are the Lucy Vincent (pictured above), and the Sayulita (which I own and matches perfectly with Lanikai Beach)

Wait…it gets better. Right now the entire line is $59. It’s a steal. Hallelujah.

bikinithief.com