Imagine yourself floating around the mediteranean on board a large yacht, the sea is glistening, the sky is bright blue and the sun is hot. You are of course sunning yourself on deck of the yacht in a classic nautical bikini. Nautical swim wear conjures up images of expensive and exotic holidays by the sea. With Chanel also showing a nautical theme at the resort collection this year, you can’t really go wrong with nautical for swimwear that oozes money and class.

The classic nautical style usually involves navy blue and white with horizontal stripes and sometimes some red gold or yellow trim or detail. This combination looks great on swim wear and bikinis. Nautical bikinis are a classic style that will always be in fashion. I love this halter neck nautical bikini with it’s flattering style of top and modern tie bottoms.

It might not seem like it but summer is just around the corner and I am really hoping for a real scorcher as promised by the weather men. I haven’t dared even think about swimwear up until now, just in case it brings bad weather. But with summer holidays only weeks away, I thought I would check out some of the catwalk swim wear for some inspiration.

At Louis Vuiton, a very glamorous black swim suit with plenty of detail, ruching, bands of fabric and ruffles made an interesting change to the minimalist one piece. This is definitely one for those who like to sit on the sun lounger rather than swim laps in the pool.

At Gap - function was almost certainly at the front of designers minds with this sporty looking swimsuit with cut out sides for a high fashion twist. Some lovely bright summer colours.

At Alexander Wang - this white swimsuit is lovely for those with a great tan. Again with cut out sides but this time triangular shapes. I love the way this has been worn with a denim and leather jacket for the ultimate in pool side cool.

Danielle Scutt - A two piece bikini in bright tropical colours worn with a fringed scarf for clever mix of pool side glamour and boho chic.

pictures from www.style.com

Although the swim wear on the catwalk was predominantly one piece with cut outs at the sides, I have always preferred a two piece or bikini for my holidasys. I will be taking my inspiration from Danielle Scutts designs with this Soul Cal Tropical print bikini. 

With the beautiful weather we are experiencing at the moment, my thoughts have moved away from the autumn / winter trends and back to light and bright summer clothes. This highly unpredictable and changable weather has me to-ing and fro-ing my interest from summer to winter. With the rare bit of sunshine we have had over the last week it would be criminal not to get out some of my summer favourites and make the most of them, lets face it they might not get a lot more wear this year. So today I have chosen to post about one of my favourite summer item of clothing. Something that I bring out year after year and that never really goes out of fashion- The Kaftan.

The kaftan is elegant and lady like and covers a multitude of sins, it is a great over bikini cover up and  an absolute must have for holidays. It is also very versatile looking equally great on the beach, with a pair of jeans or for an evening out. But the thing I love most about the kaftan is the array of beautiful colours and bold prints that it is available in.

Some of my favourite Kaftans for this year

With summer holidays not far away. I am starting to consider what to get for my holiday wardrobe. As most of the day is spent on the beach or by the pool, swimwear will be an important  part of my holiday wardrobe - which is great as it won’t take up much room in my suitcase. I am choosing my swimwear carefully this year and paying attention to which style will look best form my shape. Here are some top tips on finding the best swimwear for your shape.

Athletic figure - Choose bikini tops with ruffles, prints or a halter neck, which will accentuate your bust or cutout swimming costumes which will give you more curves. For an even bigger boost, go for gel-filled or underwired padded tops, which creat instant cleavage. Hipster boy shorts or tie sides which will show your slim waist and create a curvier silhouette. Avoid tankinis as they will give you a solid outline with no definition.

Pear shape -  Wear a swimsuit with a bold design on the top half and a block colour on the bottom. This draws eyes away from your bottom and hips, giving you a slimmer appearance. Go for swimsuits cut high on the hips to lengthen your legs. Dark one-pieces with a sexy open back will maximise your top half and look great. Avoid side strings or bikini detailing that draws attention to your lower half. Avoid boy short styles, which will only make your frame look stocky.

Apple Shape - Printed or detailed bikini bottoms to draw attention to your lower half - mix and match separates are great for your shape; medium to high cut bottoms to elongate legs; simple, solid coloured bikini tops that aren’t too revealing. Square necks with wide straps are best for added support. If you’d rather cover up your tummy, stick to one-piece swim suits in simples styles. Go for support fabrics that flatten wobbly tums.

Hourglass shape - Look for bikinis or one pieces that flaunt your curves. Block colours, bright patterns and details such as embellishment will look great on you. If you have a large bust opt for a top with lots of support.

This Wrapover V-neck Tummy Control Swimsuit is amazingly flattering for an apple shape.