Island retailers talk trends in swimwear cover-ups

M
FASHION UPDATE
By Jean Amodea
Swimmin’ in Style
Island retailers talk trends in swimwear cover-ups
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Despite your flattering figure, at one time or another, you need to cover up that swimsuit.
Whether grabbing a drink at the pool bar, setting up at your favorite beach spot, on a fast
grocery run or out to lunch, there is no reason you can’t be stylish and chic while donning your
summer beachwear.
Marco Magazine contributing editors scoured some local retailers for the
hottest look in swimwear cover-ups for the 2014 season and those
retailers weighed in on what customers look for: the wow factor
with on-trend styles; pieces that coordinate or match their
swimsuits; versatility; functionality; fit and more.
Styled for the beach
At Aqua Beachwear, president Mary Bauer said one key factor in
selection the right cover-up is to look for an amazing piece that women
can wear beyond the beach. “The most popular pieces are tunics and
dress shapes that are not only hot in sportswear, but also hot due to
the soaring popularity of the skirted swimsuit bottom that now
can be stylishly covered,” said Bauer.
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: A Profile
Blush Navajo cover from Aqua Beachwear.
A Trink Turk pop wave from Aqua. A Betsey Johnson Retro cover-up, available at
Aqua. A Luli Fama Pasion cover-up from
Aqua. Juice Couture bow chic dress, from
Aqua. A front-and-back view of the TSW
sundress in swim fabric from Island Trends.
An Alley Spots halter dress from Tommy
Bahama, which has a store in Naples and
is sold at Island Trend. The Tommy
Bahama Ocho floral dress.
A Seafolly Pom Tunic from
Aqua. A Tommy
Bahama lace long
T-shirt dress. Drawstring long pants
with tassels.
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Strapless dresses transform into the perfect swimsuit cover-up, like this one from Island Trends. Add a little bit of the tropics to your look;
available at Island Trends. Swim shirts are another fun way to transition from the beach to anywhere, like this blue-stripped one from
Island Trends. White lace cover-ups are a great look for summer.
Aqua Beachwear features the latest trends like high-low maxi dresses
and skirts, lace prints and sarongs ($30-$200). “Versatility is very
important. We even have customers that purchase cover-ups to wear
as tunics with leggings or as a sundress to a beach wedding,” said Nicole Braunstein, store manager. “J. Valdi is one of the most popular
brands, with a large variety of styles to fit customers’ needs and budget, whether they are looking for something with a short or long
sleeve, in white or black.”
In addition to J. Valdi, the store carries more than 40 designer
swimwear brands including Lucky brand, Juicy Couture, DKNY,
Trina Turk, Carmen Marc Valco, Lablanca, Gottex and Becca.
Double up that sunscreen
Island Trends carries multipurpose cover-ups ($50$125) and some, like Rash Guards can also be worn
as tops ($80-$95). “Both short sleeve and long
sleeve Tommy Bahama (TB) Rash Guards are hot.
A fun cover-up, they offer great sun protection as
they are made from swimsuit material. You can
also swim in them, and the styles complement
swimwear,” said Leah Fhon, general manager,
swimwear and footwear buyer.
Cover-up dresses in halter and over-the-shoulder styles by TB and Trina Turk can be worn as
daywear or sundresses, just right for running
errands après beach. Seafolly Pom-Pom tunics ($58-$125) are an easy fit and great for
throwing over a swimsuit; these pieces double as a top too. “The pom-poms add a little
bit of fun and style,” explained Fhon. “You
can turn the tunic into a sportswear piece by
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putting a tank top and leggings underneath and add a belt.”
From day sportswear to evening
Jeff Johnson, owner of The Cricket Shop, said multi-purpose coverups do extra duty as sportswear, day dresses, skirts and shirts ($28 –
$248). Dressier pieces are suitable for dancing, since
the lightweight fabric flows well and stays cool.
The store’s cover-up designers include Cover Me,
Dotti, La Palapa, Jordan Taylor and J. Valdi.
“Sleeveless, three-quarter sleeve or full sleeve in
white and hooded and non-hooded are popular in
styles like pareos, shorts, skirts, pants, pullovers,
zip-ups and button-downs with camp shirt style,
or with pockets that are especially hot,”
Johnson said, of this season’s fashions.
“Textures and printed fabrics are coming in all kinds of fabrics, like 100 percent cotton to multi-mixtures for
stretch and wear. The swimwear manufacturers are making cover-ups that
match swimwear prints and that
offer SPF 50 sun protection.” n
Aqua Beachwear
239-642-9171 or
aquabeachwear.com
Island Trends
239-963-4227 or
slandtrends.com
Cricket Shop
239-642-4464