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“There are so many styles of swimwear to choose from, especially if you are a women. With more options than ever, all women regardless of size or shape, can feel stylish wearing swimwear at the pool or on the beach this season.”

Summertime is inevitably a season when we all at some time or another bring out the swimwear. Whether it is at the beach, camping or the cottage, the warm weather and tantalizing water encourages a refreshing swim. There are some on the other hand who may not even use their swimwear for the water but who like to sit in the sun’s rays and give their skin the glow of summer. Whatever use you have for your bikini or swimwear the wonderful assortment of fabrics, styles and accessories will have you out and about enjoying the fine weather.

There are some of us who don’t exactly look forward to this time of year when we have to bring out the swimwear and bikinis in hopes that those couple of extra pounds gained over the year won’t have us bulging out of the seams. Not to fret though as swimwear today offers great stretch fabrics for easy mobility and plenty of style options that might just minimize or hide any imperfections.

The fabric, body shape, design and color are all factors when choosing the most flattering swimwear for you. When selecting a swimsuit the quality of fabric is important as you want a suit that will stand up to the seasons of wear, sun and saltwater. Nylon, Lycra and Faille are popular fabrics used for swimsuits, they resist fading and hold their stretchiness. Nylon and Lycra used together offer more stretch then standard swimwear along with shaping, control and comfort for the wearer.

The design of the swimsuit is probably the most important factor when women are out shopping for swimwear and bikinis. You will find plenty of suggestions on flattering suits for all sorts of body types. There are suits to create curves where needed, suits to minimize hips, suits to whittle waistlines, others to add shape to specific areas and then there are the standard all purpose suits that may look great on a variety of shapes. Lines and colors are very important in minimizing or accentuating particular parts of the body. Black and darker colors are often used to minimize, while stripes depending on whether they are vertical or horizontal are used for the same minimizing (vertical) or accentuating (horizontal) effects. There are several special sizes of swimsuits available to accommodate women from petite, tall and plus sizes.

Bikinis alone come in several popular designs that may include; tankinis which are similar to a tank top (with matching bottom, there are different variations of the tankini from short (above the navel) to tops that touch the bottom piece; bandeau tops are designed as a strip usually with no straps; halter tops are just as the name implies similar to a halter with possibly a string that goes around the neck connecting the bodice; lastly there are bra-tops (similar to bra designs) and triangle tops (triangle designs). The bikini that works best will vary from person to person, you want a top that offers support if needed, it is always best to try on a few different tops and see what works best.

Women’s swimsuits offer features such as; soft-cup bras which give full support, built-in shelf bras with underwire, sarongs that add gentle shaping to midsection, gentle tummy wraps that accentuates shape, side shirring adding gentle shaping, and overlapping tops with bottoms for gentle coverage. There are also swimsuits available in swim dress designs which offer additional coverage of hips if needed for some, and bandeau style one pieces with no straps.

Women really are at an advantage when it comes to selecting swimwear designs, as the number of women’s designs far exceeds the number of men’s designs.

Women’s swimsuits come in one-piece designs, swim dress designs, sarong swimsuits, tankini suits and several bikini designs. Whereas men’s suits are available mostly in the standard racing style, swim trunk and swim short designs.

The list of swimwear accessories is as great as the swimsuits to be had. The accessories are an important part of your beach or lake excursion, and can include; straw hats, crochet hats, sun hats, short chemises, pareo (cover up skirt), cover ups, capri’s, thongs, sunglasses, tote bags, mesh bags and most importantly beach towels.

Children’s swimwear offers some excellent options for those little one’s just learning to swim. There are great thermal wear suits available, which keep children nice and warm, the innovative suits are made from a specially treated heat reflective neoprene material. Thermal wear suits and special sun protective swimwear also offer UV protection from the sun. There are special water shoes for children that protect their small feet and help to prevent slips. Then of course there is the wide variety of designs and fabrics available to choose from. Designs for girls come in one and two piece while the boys’ suits most often come in the short and trunk designs.

Other considerations to keep the children busy at the beach or lake are lifejackets, arm floats, flotation devices, goggles and beach toys. There are great swim vests and special swimming tubes specially made for children to gradually ease into swimming. The list of pool toys is endless with floating basketball nets, dive toys, swimming fins and volleyball games to name a few.

The sun protection clothing and sun protective swimwear that is being manufactured is innovative and an excellent choice especially for children. Some of the sun protective clothing and swimwear claims to block 98 per cent of UV rays with a UPF of 50 plus. What this means is that only one fiftieth of UV radiation falling on the surface of the garment will pass through. Wearing this clothing is added protection against the suns harmful rays.

When going to the beach, pool or when participating in any outdoor activity it is important to wear a sunscreen of at least thirty. Nothing spoils a day in the sun like the pain of sunburn. That is why being prepared for your outing is important, bring along the necessary hats, sunglasses and cover-ups to ensure both comfort and protection. This is true especially for children, it’s probably best to avoid mid afternoon intense sun if possible. However if you cannot avoid being in the sun, be sure to bring along a beach umbrella to provide shade and again hats and sunscreens for children are absolutely necessary.

With so many wonderful swimwear options to choose from your beach, pool, lake or camping experience can be both pleasurable and fashionable. Take the time and find a swimsuit that you feel comfortable in and one that compliments your particular figure. With the right swimwear choices you will be ready for all your travel and vacation needs with a suit that lasts for a few seasons.

Valerie Giles owns and operates Bikinis and Swimsuits, a swimsuit and resort wear site showcasing bikinis, swimwear and resort wear. Find the perfect swimsuit for every occasion and every figure type. http://www.bikinis-and-swimsuits.com

Today you can get wonderful choices and selections in plus size clothes for women. Best of all the ideas behind full figured fashion have changed from the days when everything was big and designed to cover up everything, occasionally including the car! These days everything is little more out in the open with everything from skimpy tops to sassy sun dresses making a bold statement about celebrating who you are. The cuts have got a great deal better too and can make the most of the fuller figure.

There are some wonderful pleated skirts being offer this year with some great stripe fabrics and also some fantastic flowery sundress prints for the season. With a light fabric and delicate skimpy tops with shoulder straps they should be a joy to wear over the hot part of the year. Light silk tops seem be making a comeback as well, there are some great new ones out in bold but not overly bold colors and a sheer finish. Some of these have a waist that is drawn in just enough to give you a good shape without accentuating too much. In fact light shapes seem to be very much the fashion this year with even chiffon seeming set to make a small but significant comeback.

The whole plus size clothes for women market seems to be taking more of a lightweight theme with some great skirts in light fabrics that make them seem to float as you walk. They should go wonderfully well with some of they lighter tops and together they could make a really great combination. V-neck sweaters also are looking good and look great on larger women as they can really make the most of their figures. These work well when you put them together with a loose-legged dark trouser and some espadrilles, very summery and very elegant.

V-necks can also work really well with a short well cut jacket and if the waist is drawn in a little then it can really help to give you a bit more shape around the middle and help to keep the attention focused on your top half. There are some great plus size clothes for women around this year and it would be hard to avoid the temptation of getting the credit card ready.

Before spending any money on any full figured fashions take a second to visualize what the new outfit can go with from your wardrobe and you could make some great savings and still end up looking good.

Timothy Gorman is a successful Webmaster and publisher of FabulousPlusSizeClothing.com. He provides more information on plus size lingerie, dresses and and Donnavinci plus size clothing that you can research in your pajamas on his website.

So What–or Who–are you Dressed as Today?
Do clothes make the man? Can a lawyer wear sandals? Should I have really worn
that cheerleader outfit to the the company Halloween party? To answer these
questions and many more, I recruited the help of Style Consultant and marketing wonk Darcey Howard.

Darcey is a friend, a client, a former marketing exec for Seattle’s Best Coffee and
Nordstrom and, really, an excellent dresser. We sat down over burritos and
margaritas to chat about style, substance and that too-rarely visited island in the
marketing sea, Personal Branding.

CH: Ok, so, what’s a personal brand?

DH: Glad you asked. A personal brand is the idea and
impression people in your life or in the world have of you. We all know companies
have brands, but people do too. If I say “Chris Haddad” to anybody who knows you,
a certain attitude, a certain personality and a certain style will
immediately pop into their mind. And that’s your personal brand. That, really, is

what people are buying when they hire you.

And we all have personal brands. Me, you, Bill Gates, Michael Jackson . . . every one
of us has a brand. You can either just let your brand happen–which we both know
from our marketing work is a bad, bad idea–or you can take control of it. What I
do is help you take control of it. I help you shape your brand so your
brand doesn’t shape you.

CH: And you do this through . . . clothes?

DH: Yea. Here’s the thing: we live in a very image conscious
culture. I don’t care if you’re an accountant, a copywriter, a politician or a ice cream
store manager, the way you look–and how comfortable you are in your clothes–
will have a huge effect on your success, both personal and professional.

CH: So you’re saying I need to be stylish and wear those
leather pants the Queer Eye guys keep talking about?

DH: Not at all. Personal branding and personal style isn’t
about being fashionable. It’s about looking the part. It’s about taking a look at who
you are, who you want to be and dressing in a way that will help you get there.
When I work with a client I take the sort of “rules” of their profession or company
and blend them with colors and cuts that look good on them and fit their
personality.

Basically, I help my clients dress for the career and the life they want to
have, not the one they have now.

CH: But, shouldn’t just being good at your job be enough? If
I’m a great accountant, shouldn’t I be able to go to work wearing whatever I feel
like? Shouldn’t that be enough to get me what I want in my career and in my life.

DH: Well, yes and no. Being good at your job is important, just
like delivering a quality product is important, but you also have to think about what
people are investing in you. being an expert isn’t enough.
Your image communicates everything to your coworkers, to your clients and to your
boss.

If you put two people next to each other and one looks he just rolled out of bed and
the other looks like he took the time to get dressed and look professional and
confident, who are you going to invest your money in? Who are you going to pay to
be your expert.

CH: But doesn’t that seem sort of shallow? Wouldn’t it be
better to live in a straight meritocracy.

DH: Sure. Yes. I’ll be the first to admit that it’s a little shallow.
But, again, we live in an image conscious culture. There’s just no way around it.
There’s an old and very true cliche’: You never get a second chance to make a first
impression.

CH: Or a second impression.

DH: Or a third. Or a fourth. And as we know, branding is
about impressions over time. You’re making an impression every day. Every day, the
way you act and the way you look is having an effect on the people around you. It’s
tuning their ideas about you. It’s building (or destroying) your brand.

CH: But what about being yourself?

DH: It’s all part and parcel of the package. I never put anyone
in clothes they aren’t comfortable in. If there’s a color you love, I’ll try and make it
work. If you really like suspenders . . .well, we’ll talk about it. Basically, it’s your
personality plus your goals mixed together with your target market–the
professional and social world you live in. Stir well.

CH: So, should I wear a suit everyday?

DH: No. If that’s not something you’re comfortable in, it’s
going to show. You need to have clothes that you’re comfortable in in ever situation.
Clothes that prepare you for the modern world. Clothes that help you be the go-to-
guy or girl for your company.

CH: OK. So, what are some of the big mistakes you see people
making with their appearance and what are some small changes they can make
that’ll have an effect on their lives and their careers?

DH: First off, for business owners: You are your company’s
brand. You embody the goals of your company. So keep those in mind when you
think about who you’re talking to and how you want them to respond.

But on a more concrete level: Most people don’t dress for their size. Ill fitting
clothes, whether they’re too big or too small, can have a devastating effect on the
impression you’re trying to make. You need to be flexible when you shop. Sizes
today–due to some pretty big changes in American demographics–aren’t the
same as they used to be. You need to be flexible when you shop and find things
that work for the body you have now, not the one you had ten years ago.

And then, look at what things in your closet you really do like and get them tailored
so they fit better. A lot of people have clothes that didn’t fit them to begin with and
now they’re all worn out. If your clothes look tired and dated, people will
think you are tired and dated.

CH: Thanks, Darcey.

DH: No problem. Just remember, Sometimes Style is
Substance.

Chris Haddad is a copywriter and marketing wonk living and working in Seattle,
Washington. Chris specializes in using rhythmic, conversational copy to break down
the final barrier between company and customer and to turn one-time buyers into
highly loyal, high spending friends. You can learn more about Chris at http://www.haddadink.com

Sundresses are a perennial favorite of many women. And the most popular designers would agree and they will tell you from experience that the best summer staple for a cool, attractive and yet comfortable look are sundresses.

Women are not the only lovers of this particular style. Many men believe that sundresses are one of the sexiest looks on women. Based on the numbers in the Cotton Incorporated Lifestyle Monitor TM. The survey showed that the largest segment of men, 43% in all, prefer women in a sundress over denim jeans and a shirt (26%) or even an elegant dinner dress (28%).

So basically, according to the statistics this new revolution individual women’s summer attire is amazing, go out in style for much less cost to you if men prefer the sundress to cocktail dresses!

So men vote for sundresses because of their attractive appeal, and the women and sundress designers also know the practical side of them. Rebecca Taylor, one of the most popular new names in the contemporary category of women’s clothing, is already selling out of her cotton summer sundresses. These include the apron look, embroidered bias cut slips, as well as full-skirted numbers in pastel cotton twills and more. Cotton is also very modest because it lets your body breathe and yet it is still a very sexy look. In the city, it is very common to see women wear these dresses, even to work.

Designer Nanet Lepore agrees. She says: “sundresses are so easy to put on in the summer. They can go from the beach to dinner with just a change of shoes, and with a little cardigan they can go to work.” Her top sellers this summer are cotton madras sundress look for day and a more dressed-up cotton jacquard dresses with a matching jacket for evening. The appeal of the sundress spans the decades. Women of all ages can wear themfrom younger girls to older women.

Pack your sundresses to go on a weekend trip, or wear a nice sundress for a picnic etc.you will not feel overdressed and you will look wonderful. Not only that, there are many luxurious places you can wear a good sundress, and you will look and feel perfectly appropriate for the occasion. More designers are realizing that consumers seek out versatile clothes- clothes like spring and summer sundresses.

Esprit De Corp. was founded in the early 1970’s solely on the little cotton summer sundress, says design director Marcus Brown. Customers always expect the summer sundresses style - one of their most popular styles is an ethnic-inspired batik print summer sundress. Many women look for things that have longevity and versatility, and summer sundresses are an inexpensive option. To freshen up your wardrobe without making a huge investment, sundresses are fun to wear.

These delicious looking dresses the revolutions of summer attire- are easy to wear, unrestrictive and yet not without that “sophisticated look”. This summer, the sundresses on the market will be both elegant and appealing. And I am sure that because of all the hype, these lovely additions to your wardrobe continue to evolve.

Preparing a good collection of sundresses for the 2006 season will absolutely be one of the most wonderful, luxurious and classy decisions you will ever make for your wardrobe.

Anne Clarke writes numerous articles for websites on gardening, parenting, fashion, and home decor. Her background includes teaching and gardening. For more of her articles on spring and summer fashion, please visit Summer Swimwear.