Soak Wash ~ Scents & Sensibility

May 25, 2020

By HOLLY JACKSON

Everyone hates hand washing lingerie, but I’ve always felt like it’s little better when I get to use Soak. I’ve been a personal fan of this no rinse-free lingerie wash for years: Perfect for busy or lazy people who hate chores (I identify as both). What I didn’t know until I attended Curve NYC in February was how much Soak cares about sustainability and the environment.

Packaging is a huge issue when it comes to lingerie and it’s associated products. Sustainable products are one thing, but that effort can be easily undone when something sustainable is packed in plastic or other excessive packaging.… Read More

Maison Lejaby Previews Spring 2020 Swimwear

January 13, 2020

In our continuing effort to share the best beach and pool wear with our readers, Maison Lejaby’s expertise in lingerie fit and development is on display here. Harking back to the golden years in Hollywood and the eternal allure of the west coast lifestyle, Maison Lejaby has created a modern swimwear collection saturated with the colors of the California landscape. Styled to capture the sleek, chic style that defines the brand’s unique French signature, these seven collections embody a timeless design ethos. One piece and two-piece bathing suits, covering sizes 32-40, B-F cups and XS-XL are previewed here for Spring 2020.… Read More

Swimwear 2020 Season Takes Off

January 10, 2020

By ELLEN LEWIS

Rosa Faia (with Econyl® fabric)

The retail swim season takes off this month as winter sets in and the big escape begins. I confess that I am no swimwear maven, but I have been exposed to the category during my entire Lingerie career. Swimwear shares many of the fit and function issues as innerwear, particularly bras, panties and shapewear. It’s an important category for many Intimate Apparel boutiques, because it shares the same concerns with body issues with which women often struggle. Most of the brands featured here are experts in foundations engineering and are already ensconced in a retailer’s inventory.… Read More

Star Studded Swimwear ~ Parfait’s Big Splash

November 13, 2019

One thing I really appreciate about the Parfait brand is the intensity of due diligence they have done since they launched in 2010. A successful foray into large cup, plus size intimates (up to a K cup, UK sizing) in which construction details and fit issues can make or break a business, has enabled their new Aqua Swimwear initiative. The swimsuits and cover-ups are trendy statements engineered for a curvy woman who needs bathing suits with full on bra support and comfort. Launching at retail for Spring 2020 four star turning collections: Rita, Vivian, Lauren and Brigitte offer styles available from S-4XL and 32-42, C-G cups (UK sizing).… Read More

2020 Swimwear Trend Recap Straight From The Lions Lair

August 28, 2019

By KIMBERLY BERGER

Elomi

It’s buying season for the swimwear industry and I have been on the go since July. The Swim Show in Miami, MAGIC and Curve in Las Vegas and Surf Expo in Orlando all provide an opportunity to preview what is new for the coming season and I attend them all. The swimwear trends for 2020 are a celebration of the natural beauty of Mother Nature and make promises to lessen our impact on the environment.

Fantasie

Fabrics created with recycled plastics are trending in the industry.… Read More

Curve NY ~ Swimwear Impressions (Part Two)

August 19, 2019

By ELLEN LEWIS

Skin

In the past, I have interlaced swimwear impressions in the Intimate overview I post following the CurveNY show. But this market there seemed to be more brands showing beachwear warranting more discussion about the category. Swimwear is a natural segue from the lingerie channel: there are similarities in fabrics, fit, and now function. Swimwear is experiencing the same crossover effect as Intimate Apparel, not only in women’s wardrobes but also in the talent that creates it. Considered a predominantly seasonal business, its lifespan has expanded in recent years, occupying floor space year round in some retail stores.… Read More

Alawa Swimwear ~ Elegance in the Everyday

July 15, 2019

By ALISON CONNOLLY

It truly is a pleasure to discover a brand run by a team that is filled with passion for what they create and who they create for. I immediately felt this way when learning more about Madrid-based swimwear label Alawa. Creating elegant swimwear is at the heart of this label’s essence, following Dostoyevsky’s concept of “beauty that will save the world” as their mantra.

There is no shortage of elegant details in Alawa’s current Spring/Summer 2019 season. Haute couture elements are intentionally incorporated into many of the designs with the goal of inserting elegance into the everyday. … Read More

Swim Briefs