Summer style is all about finding beach-ready looks that are fun and flattering.
From sweet little sun dresses that are perfect for weekend errands to swimwear, cover-ups, and maxi dresses for wandering around the resort or sitting poolside on your next vacation.
Umbrella drink in hand – Mais bien sur!
{I adore kimono wraps for the beach. Long or short – They’re a classic piece with a fun bohemian twist that suits nearly any situation.}
{Feeling sporty? Try bold colors and active suits like this two-piece that’s perfect for everything from snorkeling to cliff jumping on your next trip.}
{Be bold baby! Sequins and printed styles are the ideal way to make an entrance.}
{Colorful, printed extras and accessories can take your beach look to the next level – Head scarves and casual, fun pants are two great choices.}
{Don’t underestimate the value of a killer floppy hat – It gives your look a boost while simultaneously helping protect your skin from cancer-causing rays.}
Swimsuit season is often met with horrified shrieks of denial, frantic trips to the gym, or even late night Google searches for “How many calories are in red wine?” This year I decided to do things a little differently and try to get excited about swimsuit season instead.
I mean, tropical vacations, lazy days on the beach, and fun, flirty suits in bright colors, bold prints, and eye-catching cuts? Sign me up!
To help get you in the mood for swimsuit season Moi Contre La Vie has partnered with InStyle Swimwear to bring you some fun bathing suit styles to swoon over and even a little discount to get you started!
I love the basic black and the rainbow print, and I even love them mixed together. This set is not only incredibly flattering, but quite functional. If you’re like me and enjoy spending your vacations being active {SCUBA diving, horse back riding, ATVing, parasailing…} then this is the suit for you. Really pretty and eye-catching, but it’ll stay on and stay comfortable for the day!
I love the lace-up details on this suit, they give it a flirty vibe, and the olive-green hue is really flattering – Not only will it look lovely against a tan, but it’s a great color for the ghostly pale like me as well.
Keep in mind though that strapless suits aren’t for everyone – If you’re heavier on top you may want to find a style with more support so you’re comfortable & secure.
Speaking of active – If you’re in the market for a suit that’s functional enough for your weekly lap swimming as well as knock-em-down cute, the Savasana should make the list.
I love the sporty chic style with the little cut-outs as well as the grey & yellow color combination, it’s both versatile and fun.
If you’re in the mood for a one-piece don’t think for one moment that you’ll be relegated to the boring or frumpy section of the swimwear shop. This sleek one-piece is classic and flattering, but still sexy as hell.
And with something as beautiful and versatile as this suit you’ll probably want to just pull on a maxi skirt or wrap a sarong around your waist and head straight from the beach to the restaurant!
If “less is more” is your go-to when it comes to your vacation style than this suit is a killer choice – The silhouette is minimal but the print & colors are fun and bold.
The simple bandeau style is really easy to wear – And accessorize – And the rolled sides on the bottoms will flatter a number of body types.
If you’re as taken by these fun, flattering suits as I am you’ll be thrilled to hear that Instyle Swimwear is offering my lovely readers a little discount. Using the code MCLV10 you’ll get 10% off from 29 January to 12 February – So start shopping!
Adding some healthy recipes to your repertoire is a great way to stay in shape and make sure that you’re getting all the necessary nutrients and vitamins. Here are some great options to try out:
Interested in the benefits of a raw diet and how eating high raw can help your health and digestion? Why Raw? Revisiting the Question from Choosing Raw.
Staying hydrated while you’re working out during the summer is key, whether you’re hitting the gym or going for a long run, it’s something that you need to be sure that you’re considering – 5 Tips for Staying Hydrated in the Heat.
And what’s life without a little dessert? 25 Vegan Desserts – Including every delicious thing from Coconut Tiramisu to Fudge Daddy Brownies to Cinnamon Sugar Monkey Bread to Caramel Peach Sticky Buns.
You can eat it or you can take it in a pill, but you should be sure that you’re getting enough! Enough what? Garlic, of course. Read Organice Your Life’s Garlic health benefits.
Fashion:
Here’s a fun, quick project that will help you entertain fashionably at your next dinner or cocktail party – Cupcakes & Cashmere’s Sparkly Rustic Tray DIY.
Clearly I’ve been procrastinating… It’s June and the fact that I live in chilly San Francisco and have selective amnesia when it comes to the necessity that is the bathing suit, means that I’ve been putting off this piece. As if suddenly a beach or pool day will rear its ugly head when I hit publish and I’ll actually have to put a bathing suit on.
Gulp.
Last year’s Bathing Suit Season post primarily focused on finding the right bathing suit for your body type, something that every fashion magazine tries to walk us through while showing the same model as an example of each body type… As if there weren’t enough frustrations when it comes to this topic!
So for swim suit season 2012 I’d like to share some of the fun and interesting articles I’ve found over the last few months on new styles of suits, tips for preparing yourself mentally for the bathing suit shopping & wearing experiences, and of course, some healthy eating and exercising ideas to make sure you stay in bikini shape all summer long.
Refinery 29’s 9 Swimsuit Styles For Every Shape & Size includes fun, flattering trends like high-waisted bottoms, triangle tops, fashionable one-pieces, retro-inspired maillots, and even bandeaus.
FabSugar editors chose their favorite suits for the 2012 season including everything from too cute stripes, vintage-inspired floral prints & risqué cut-outs to what celebrities are wearing & how to find similar styles – Our Ultimate Swimsuit Guide — Get the Best Fit For Your Body. You can also check out Lauren Conrad’s picks on her blog – Tuesday Ten: Swimsuit Guide.
Everyone has a different figure and different parts of their bodies that they love or want to cover up. So why not get some advice from someone who spends her daily life helping women find the most flattering undergarments for their shape? Linda “the Bra Lady” Becker is a bona-fide expert when it comes to choosing a bra and now she’s using her knowledge & know-how to help us choose the best swim suits. So check out Linda The Bra Lady’s:
Making sure that you approach your next trip to the pool, river, lake, or beach with the appropriate mentality is incredibly important. Feeling secure and confident can make you look better than the most expensive swimsuit that money can buy. So let’s hear from some of the self-love experts out there and see what they have to say!
The no-nonsense Holly from Holly Would If She Could includes gems like “Don’t hand over your power to a skimpy piece of spandex!” and “No one is worried about what YOUR thighs look like, and if they are — well that’s their problem” in her post Real Life Style: Look Foxy In A Bathing Suit – No Starving or Exercise Required.
You hear all about bikini bootcamps this time of year but I propose that we all tackle a different kind of bootcamp this season and really whip ourselves into shape – Radical Self Love Bootcamp:
Health & Fitness:
As I stated in my Healthy Mentality post in mid-April my goal for this Spring & Summer was to change my habits and mental approach to getting in shape. Rather than feeling stress when it’s time to get ready for bathing suit season each Spring, planning detoxes & cleanses, or going on crash diets, I want to stay healthy, in shape, and in control of my body, my exercise regime, and my eating habits year around.
Sound like a winning plan to you too? Check out the post, it’s divided into Workouts, Food, Motivation, and Extras, and is filled with inspirational sayings galore.
Curious what I toss into my beach tote when I’m planning a water day? Below are a couple of my current favorites from my swimsuits and cover-ups collection.
