Bikinis & swimwear.

There are a number of things Zimmermann do well, as we’re reminded in the lead up to their Australia fashion week (MBFWA) showing (one I’m personally looking forward to) and with the release of their Resort 2012 campaign. One of their strengths is the ability to seamlessly mix glamour with understated cool in their collections, both swim and clothing. The other is the campaigns themselves.…

Swimwear and glamour by no means have to be hopelessly estranged, as this shoot by Peter Soulis will attest. That holds true even in a country like Australia where, people imagine, the beaches and swimming pools are populated by laid-back surfer types. Saturated and sun-drenched, Soulis’ shoot hits on a mood of summer luxury that Airdrie Makim’s styling not only compliments, but completes. 2012′s swimwear…

Every piece of swimwear by Eau Paix Vie is designed around sense of adventure, lust for travel, belief that life in general – and summer in particular – is about having fun. Hitting the right note for 2012's bikini trends, Eau Paix Vie's strapless bikini with lace trim straddles the space between retro pin-up and modern day girl. We have one set in the most dreamy soft baby-blue to give away. Read on for details about this upcoming new swimwear label, and on how to enter the draw to win.

There are two types of designers in this industry: those who worship their customers and design solely for what they want, and others who design for themselves and take a risk for the popularity of the designs amongst the masses. This young Australian duo, from the label Venroy, fits in the latter category, and they’re not ashamed of it. An Australian summer lifestyle has created…

As far as international cities go Melbourne is by no means a large one, and that’s a fact that translates heavily into its retail landscape. Shop under the roofs of some of the big-name fashion houses in the city and you’ll find stores dominated by accessories with only a smattering of clothes, if any at all, to be seen. So it is that it’s a…

Mention swimwear and Americans are going to think of California, Miami, or maybe Florida. Not New York. But Graffinis, a hip, young swimwear company, is taking the rather grittier Big Apple for its inspiration, and making its mark on the sunnier West Coast. Founded by designer Paul Cartelli in 2007, Graffinis has found fashion-conscious sun lovers responding to its unique marriage of the “urban edge”…

It’s hard to pick a favourite from Zimmermann’s High Summer 2012 swimwear collection. The rich floral one-piece, an ultra-modern update on vintage swimwear if ever there was one, is not only a pool-side winner but the kind of piece that could easily double as a bodysuit layered under a maxi-skirt or denim shorts. And then there’s the floral bikini inset with delicate sheer panels. Like…

For a country for whom swimwear is often cited as being its best (and potentially sole) influential fashion export to the world, it seems somewhat ironic that ‘emerging designer’ showings seldom feature an exploration of it. Presenting her collection on the last night of Melbourne fashion week (MSFW) designer Renee Le Hunt did just that, however. And she did so in great style, presenting a collection…

Swimwear design presents a unique challenge: how many new ideas can you create around what equates to a mere scrap of fabric? The materials are limited (they must be suitable for water) and so are the acceptable cuts. It’s an area therefor less about invention and more so about constant reinvention. It’s about taking an existing idea and adapting it to current trends. As far…

With its fresh spring green hue, ruched waist, and all-over gathered fabrics, you’d be forgiven for mistaking this swimsuit for a modern-day Lanvin offering. You’d be right about one thing though; that a full-breifed vintage style swimsuit is certainly a style to take inspiration from this year. And the perfect way to wear something with a little hint of Grecian goddess, right now? With some…