This week I caught up with Woolworths Swim Wear Buyer, Erica Lambert, and asked her what’s hot in swim wear this summer while I got to play with some of their latest offerings.
Q:What are the trends for Summer 2010/11 swimwear in terms of
a.) styles ? :
A: Summer 10 and 11 are quite different. For Summer 10 we had the following influences:
“Yacht club” which drove our mix and match pack – nautical-inspired spots and stripes. (Mix and match different tops and bottoms)
“Naturally” – our glamorous neutral statement with embellishment, foils and lurex, and…
“Summer Sport” showcasing colour blocking and true sporty colouration and styling.
For Summer 11 we have the following:
“50′s pin-up glam” - our mix and match pack done in a 50′s way with broader straps, moulded cups and lots of spots and florals.
“Afro-graphic” where it’s about tribal abstract prints and dip dyes. Purples, hot pinks, sporty blues and new levels of green are important here, also traditional animal print.
“Gypsey 70′s glam” with hot tropical prints, lots of hardware detail and crochet trim and …
“Retro surf” with elements of ditsy florals and fun stripe combinations to target the younger customer specifically.
b.) colour/pattern/print ? :
A.) In addition to the above, we always offer a ‘hot’s and cold’s’ palette across the influences for the season, built on a black and white base. Turquoise and pink are our dominant highlight colours in our base offering.
Q.) Do you have a number 1 style that has come to be a best seller every year?
A.) Yes, we have our elegant 1 piece swimsuit with pintuck detail and powernetting on the inside for shaping and support. We also do really well with our basic bikini and boyleg bottoms and feminine moulded underwire bra top where the patterns and colours can be co-ordinated.
Kim: I can see why the elegant one piece is so popular. It’s a style icon, a classic and the pintuck detailing ultra flattering.
Q.) Do you have any swimwear style tips for women with:
a.) Big Bust:
A.) A bigger bust often needs extra support. The types of support we can offer are; underwires, moulded cups, soft cups, halter ties and wider straps.
b.) Large Hips:
A.) Try not to draw too much attention to that area, so in a tankini and boyleg set, make sure the boyleg colour is darker and more flattering and let the tankini get all the attention in a bright colour. Also, boylegs that are slightly more high cut are more flattering, as they provide the illusion of the legs looking longer.
c.) A large Tummy:
A.) Ruched fabric covering the stomach area as well as carefully placed colour blocking and style lines. Tankini’s are also a great shape for people who are concerned about the size of their stomach
Q.) Do you have any tips for women with a slight, boyish frame?
A.) I would suggest bandeau bras (strapless tops) and stringers.
Kim: This string bikini above is perfect for that boyish figure.
What will you be sporting this summer? Have any questions? Drop me a comment!
ALSO:
A reminder to watch our ‘Summer Holiday’ show on 3Talk on SABC3 at 15h50, Wednesday, 24 November for more swim wear tips by Woolworths.
The show will comprise the following:
- An interview with Shado Twala of SA’s Got Talent Fame around how she likes to spend her summer holiday, as well as her favourite holidaywear.
- A foods section with Claire Swanson and Catherine Bothner showing us easy solutions for entertaining at home using Woolworths product
- Interviews with Megan Naidoo and Jamie Daniels showing our viewers easy wardrobe solutions for a day at the beach as well as for a more formal night out.
- An interview with Rebecca Wallis around what Woolworths has on offer with respect to kidswear for the summer holiday season.
