For little slips of things that can only be worn on a seasonal basis, beach wear does demand so much. It requires its own trend list, reserves its own fabric, not to mention haunts every woman to pursue a variety of treatments that come this close to self-torture: Brazilian waxing, self-tanning, Pilates, cosmic cycling.
But who can resist the beach and its style requirements, anyway? It’s too fun not to pursue. Especially now that the recent summer trends are looking to bold, bright and blinding elements.
Victoria’s Secret and Rosa Cha (the first lady of Brazilian beachwear) are doing vintage-style prints in a big way: streaky rainbow prints, earthy jungle patterns, and kitschy florals, all of which were domains of the ‘70s Saint-Tropez scene. Those teeny-weeny ’70s-style halter bikinis that made Farah Fawcett an angel claimed not just by Charlie are making cheerful comebacks, along with beach cover-ups that outdo the sun when it comes to brightening up the coastal scene.
One-piece swimsuits are more fabulous than ever. Australian sun-worshipping brands Zimmerman and Seafolly are lauding it in a big way — printed, ruched or simply color-blocked. You’ve probably seen photos of your mother wearing some stretchy maillot in the beach back in the ‘70s and pondered its cool factor. Well, it was cool then and if she still has the guts and the figure to don a one-piece today, she’d be cool now too — in a Carine Roitfield sort of way.
On the local front, all of these trends are being purveyed by homegrown brand Cococabaña. Exclusive to SM Department Store, Cococabaña offers the entire gamut of summer wear, from neon-colored linen beach cover-ups to floral tunics to zebra-print maillots. It also stamps tie-dye on everything flimsy, flouncy and skin-baring. Wear them with your biggest Mary Kate Olsen-ish eyewear and brightest plastic accessories and you’re set to blind every other beach bunny silly.
Cococabaña is available at all SM Department stores.
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