By AnnMarie Proudfoot

If you’re anything like me you’ll be running around the night before your flight like someone possessed trying to figure out what to bring. You then pack, re-pack, lie on the case trying to close it and when you get to paradise, you realise that you forgot to pack a bikini!

Fear no more because I’m going to give you some essential tips to make your packing smooth sailing. Don’t try and bring every stitch you own – you only need some core outfits that can be dressed up or down.

Firstly, with the new luggage restrictions it’s worthwhile investing in one or two lightweight suitcases because we all know the dreaded phrase at the check-in: “your bag is overweight”.  Check out a good range of lightweight luggage on trippluggage.ie

Ok let’s start filling our new case.

A key tip is rolling your clothes instead of folding them, this helps reduce creases and maximises space.  Roll full outfits together so you don’t end up ransacking your bag on the first day.

Try to keep trousers and ¾ lengths neutral or white so they can easily go with a variety of tops and jewellery.

My general rule of thumb is 2 or 3 tops to every pair of bottoms.

Skirts – Look for a versatile maxi skirt that can be worn as a skirt or dress in the evening and then later in the holiday demoted to a beach cover-up. For more cover-up and Kaftan ideas, check our Kaftans article for suggestions.

Dresses and more dresses – They are a great item to bring on hols because you have your full outfit nearly covered in one hit! Be careful with the fabric you choose as you don’t want to spend your holidays sweating over a hot iron. Jersey is a great option as the creases fall out – the “Convertible dress” from http://www.victoriassecret.com/ is a holiday must-have. They will post to Ireland but you may be charged at customs so don’t go overboard!  I love this dress, it can be worn in 10 different ways and comes in 7 colours.

Bikinis – They are small and light and can be squeezed down the side of your case so you can afford to bring a few. Tankinis are also handy as they can double as a top. 

Sarongs and Kaftans – Sarongs come in very handy to lie on the beach, put on your sun lounger or use as a towel when you forget one! Kaftans – can be worn over your bikini heading to and from the beach but can also double up as an evening top with your linen trousers.

Shoes – 4 pairs of shoes should see you through from ´dusk till dawn´. Killer Wedges, cute pumps in metallic or neutral colours, fierce gladiator sandals and the all-important flips flops. Make sure at least one pair are comfortable enough to go walking around in e.g. for exploring a new city by foot, a long walk etc.  You don’t want to end up with blisters!

Outerwear – Pashminas are great for those evenings with a chill in the air, also a good one to have on the plane if you get a little cold.  Also take a cardigan and light weight jacket – just in case.

Underwear  – Keep to neutral colours so they can be worn under anything. OK, go on then, maybe bring one or two specials too!

Hats - I really like the reversible sunhat option (two for the price of one). You can pick one up in stores that carry the ‘Roxy Surf wear’ range.

And last but we won’t say least – Accessories:
Chunky bracelets and necklaces. They look great with linen and also are not too delicate for travelling. Pack any valuable jewellery in your handbag. Also, a good idea is to wear the bulky or delicate items while you travel.

Sunglasses – if they are expensive bring a hard case to protect them while you travel.

Under 100 ml Travel Containers

P.S. Remember to get some travel cosmetics containers and put them in re-seable plastic bags. You don’t want a case of the “exploding shampoo bottle”! If you only have onboard luggage, then pack your liquids (under 100ml) before getting to the airport –this will save hassle & stress!

By  Ann-Marie Proudfoot

It’s sun-holiday season again and it’s time to start shopping for some swimwear.  OK, take a deep breath!

All you need to do is arm yourself with a little knowledge of the style most flattering for you and remember that nobody is perfect. We all have something that we´re a little self conscious about, but really it’s about finding something that suits you and then wearing it with confidence. Here are some tips on which swimwear suits your body type.

Swimwear to suit your skin tone

Before you decide on the best shape swimsuit or bikini, keep in mind colours that suit you. You want to have a little bit of fun with the colour but you don’t want to end up looking like the lifeguard either!

Paler skin tones should opt for dark’ish colours as light colours can make you look even paler on the beach.  The ¨professional¨ sunworshipers wear neutral coloured bikinis at the start of the holiday moving on to whites and brights the more tanned you get. This means at least four bikinis for a seven day trip though!

My word of warning when you´re choosing the colour – be careful if you choose white. Make sure the swimwear is well lined or you may end up with some unwanted attention!

Swimwear to suit your body shape

Tummies

Swimsuits can work best if you’re conscious of your tum as bikini bottoms can tend to squeeze around the mid section. From muffin tops to a less than flat stomachs, look out for swimsuits with rouching (a detail which is slightly scrunched up material) as this deflects from the tummy area. Pleats and ruffles too can hide a multitude of sins too.

Ensure the suit has a good Lycra content; this will help to keep your stomach looking flatter.

Strapless or one shoulder swimsuits work well and can add a little VA VA voom.

Avoid horizontal stripes, they´re just going to draw the eyes across.

Hippies and Booties

For the fuller pear shaped figure, go for a touch of flamboyancy on yout top half. Choose a bikini or swimsuit with a bold print or colour on the top and dark bottoms to draw attention up to the ear and away from the rear!

Disguise a large bottom by going one size down with your bikini  – going a size up leads to too much fabric on show.

The skirt style bikini bottom works great for your figure, a sleek short style that just covers what it needs to.

Avoid string bikini bottoms which provide little support and lots of unnecessary detail on the hip area.

For those of you with smaller hips string bikini bottoms work well because you can tie them tighter on this side.

You have the option of going a bit crazy with the prints, stripes and colour, so go ahead!

Busties

For the more voluptuous lady on top, look for halter neck bikinis. They provide good support and pull you up and in. Bikini tops with wide straps are also a good choice because they help support and are more comfortable all round.

Here the opposite applies to ´The Hippies’ – bikinis that are dark on top and lighter on the bottom draw attention away from those larger than life assets.

Avoid the bandeau or triangle style top styles. An underwired bra top is crucial for you too – you need all the support you can get (you wouldn’t go bra less in a dress, so don’t go without and underwire in a bikini or swimtogs).

`Little Gems` (small bust)

If you´re small on top, you may want a little bit of enhancement – padding, underwire and push up tops can give you a little bit of oomph.

Demi-cups (half cup style) also give the illusion of being a little more busty by showing off some more flesh.

You are one of the few that can pull off the bandeau and cutesy ruffle style bikini tops.

Avoid tops with excess fabric. Remember the skimpier the better here!

Taller Flower (long torso)

For those of you a little longer on the upper body, tankinis are a great option. They make the body appear in proportion and also get to show off a little mid riff flesh.

Choose a style with a V-neck to show off some cleavage too.

Slightly high-waisted bottoms, (don’t go extreme) can make your legs appear longer.

The latest cut-out swimsuits are great for your body type because they break up the torso - again making it appear shorter.

Short and Sweet (short legs and torso)

If you find gravity is pulling you down, choose swimwear that will lengthen your body. Don’t think that by pulling your bottoms up higher makes your legs look longer -it just looks silly. A hipster style bikini bottom (think Sophia Loren) suits every body shape.

Here you have the option of vertical stripes in a bikini or swimsuit. They will make you appear taller.

A solid colour one piece creates a long appearance; try the one strap for that sexy look.

A great source for bathing suits including plus size swimwear is Swimsuitsforall.com.

Accessorize

Be sure to pick yourself up a sarong for those several trips to the bar! A woman always looks good from the waist up, so cover down below with a sarong. It’s not just about your choice of swimwear – a matching kaftan and wedges will complete your look perfectly.

So go on, get out there and strut your stuff!

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Go Buy Now: One Piece Swimwear

Apologies for making you jealous as you sit at your desk today, but some people are off on their holidays.

And no better people to rub it in our face than the paparazzi who love to take pics of the jet set hanging out in their bikinis.

Take for example, model Kate Moss who was seen last year holidaying in Saint Tropez (the south of France destination, not the fake tan brand).

This celeb-with-designer-holidaying is no coincidence – apparently it’s that time of year when designers are joined by famous folk on holidays – Kate Moss and her beau Jamie Hince joined designers Karen Mulder and Stefano Pilati on their yacht for a spot of topless sunbathing no less. The year before that she holidayed with Marc Jacobs and his fiancée Lorenzo Martone.

Kate Moss Bikini

We are loving her gingham and denim bikini which we found out is from the lovely lingerie people at Agent Provocateur.

Considering that the supermodel Moss launched the White Wedding lingerie collection with Agent Provocateur last year, no doubt the bikini was a freebie.

Copy Miss Moss’ yacht style with the exact match Kerry Gingham bikini bottoms  bikini top . The bottoms were €65 but are now even cheaper, as they are on sale).

For the savvy shoppers amongst you, turn to Asos, who stock a red and white gingham bikini  €61 for the top and €30.44 for the bottoms, half the price of Agent Provocateur.

Ray Ban Wayfarers

Meanwhile Kate chilled on the yacht sipping her Martini while wearing her cool Rayban Wayfarers sunglasses. 

To snap up her Ray Bans which normally retail for €139, head to the designer sunglasses boutique that is David Clulow in Kildare Village where you can nab them for €92.76.

They also have Ray Ban Aviator sunglasses for the same price, and this offer runs from Saturday 31 July until Monday 02 August only. See the pics in our gallery.

Eva Mendez Kaftan

Later on, over at the Isle of Capri, designer duo Dolce & Gabbana were out on the water with actress Eva Mendez followed by a visit from fellow Latina Jennifer Lopez.  Eva obviously read our piece on beach cover ups and looks demure in her leopard print Kaftan.

We found a similar Kaftan to Eva’s – Melissa Obadash for sale over at The Outnet (60% off, down to €153).

Jealous, us? No.

[View with PicLens]

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Images

Kate Moss, Eva Mendez: Fabsugar

Rayban: Kildarevillage

Elizabeth Hurley Beach is a Women’s beachwear, swimwear and accessories previously only available in such high end establishments in the UK such as Harrods and Selfridges. It’s also sold in uber glam hotel shops in the One and Only Resort Reehi Rah in the Maldives, Amanpuri in Thailand and Cotton House in Mustique.

Elizabeth Hurley Beach opened it’s only Irish shop today in good old fashioned ribbon cutting style and Hurley herself was on hand to help customers for two hours.

Elizabeth Hurley

Elizabeth owns the company and is quite involved in the day to day running of it from designing to sourcing the fabrics; she also models the collections on the website www.elizabethhurley.com, where she looks AMAZING!

Interesting fact – I met a former employee of hers recently, who is under a disclosure agreement and couldn’t give me much detail about her but did say that she is lovely to work for and hates the way the paparazzi call her “Liz” Hurley and not Elizabeth. “It’s like calling Victoria Beckham “Posh” to her face.” I’d often have referred to her as Liz so I’m calling her Elizabeth from now on…you know, just on the off chance for when I meet her in person!

The collection

Fans of the collection include Heidi Klum and Kate Moss (you can just imagine the uber glam one pieces on the likes of Cheryl Cole too) and prices start at €77 for a bikini and €95 (down from €144) for a kaftan.
Bikini tops and bottoms are sold separately, so you can mix and match sizes and styles. The tankini tops come in the same fabric as the bikinis.

Sizes come in XS, S, M, L and XL which is not ideal unless you’re a standard cup-size. There don’t appear to be any under wired styles either which means that this collection is out for you if you’re in any way bigger on top and need some support.

Not a bikini lover?

For those of us without Elizabeth Hurley’s body, try the tankini (pictured here on her) or a kaftan, which are more appealing for most of us. I’m always on the lookout for Kaftans with embellishment so my favourite piece from the collection is this silk Raj Kaftan in red (€472). Here’s wishing I could have it!

Cutler & Gross sunglasses

Otherwise try a fab pair of sunglasses. I was very excited to learn that the boutique also stocks Cutler & Gross sunglasses – exclusive to Elizabeth Hurley Beach Boutique.

Victoria Beckham is a huge fan and the Cutler & Gross 0811 style (costing approx €460) is one of the few non DVB (her own brand) sunnies that she wears. She’s even collaborated with the brand for her own sunglasses collection so they must be good! This is the king of big sunnies and I’d recommend this style for non bling loving advanced sunglasses wearers only.

Opening Times

The Elizabeth Hurley Beach Boutique (Telephone 045 520501) will be open throughout the summer at Kildare Village.  Kildare Village is open seven days a week and has late night shopping on Thursday until 8pm and Friday until 7pm.

The shop also stocks Philip Treacy hats so should have a big allure for race day goers trying to stand out on Ladies Days around the country.

Images of shop launch : Kieran Harnett

[View with PicLens]

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One piece swimwear

Whether you’re planning on splashing out on a single swimsuit or stocking up on a bikini, it’s always nice to know what’s out there before making any summer swimwear decisions.  You may think its a bit early to be thinking about holiday wear, but now is the ideal time to start planning your holiday wardrobe.

These days you can find lots to cover up your swimwear (more on that later), but for the moment choose your main piece with care.

2008 saw the rise of the one piece swimsuit.  Take fashion forward Cheryl Tweedy (pictured centre) who opted for a animal print revealing one piece.

So, why chose a one piece swimsuit over a bikini?

A fitted one-piece will flatter your figure and is seriously foxy right now.

There are plenty of minimizing “miracle” swimsuits which contain micromesh to draw you in in all the right places.

Check Marks and Spencers and Figleaves for a great selection, although our favourite shop for swimwear in general has to be Victorias Secret.:

The underwire on Victoria’s Secret suits give great support to bigger busts. This is the key to swimwear, you have to wear underwired cups!  Non wired bikinis or swimwear are for A cups or less.  Note that for Victoria Secret cup sizes, always order a cup size down from your normal cup size. Other benefits include:

Ruching detail will hide any bulges you may have.

For an extra slim factor, add a skinny belt to your swimming costume, to emphasize your tiny waist.

Take this red, very sexy retro bustier swimsuit (pictured right) from Victorias Secret (€50 plus postage and packaging). It is also available in black and the halterneck straps are removable. Look pin up perfect in this curve flattering suit that evokes timeless glamour. This very one is featured in April 2009 issue of (American) Vogue, page 246.

Otherwise, go for this plunging hot pink monokini (€74)  by Kenneth Cole also from VS (pictured left).

WSW tip # 1: Chip into a pool with friends and order your swimwear online from Victorias Secret. This will save on the shipping costs and the end result will be well worth it.  We have seen nothing like their selection, quality or colours here in Ireland.