For a sophisticated and festive swimwear collection, contemporary British label Orlebar Brown looks to James Bond, the world’s most famous secret agent. The new limited-edition pieces include a retro-fantastic summer romper with a revere collar and gold belt buckle (inspired by the outfit donned by Sean Connery in Goldfinger) and a graphic-printed Moonraker trunk that serves as a more transparent nod to the series. Simple yet fun, the collection is a novelty and timeless way to honor the film icon.
The collection is available online now. Check out some pieces below.
In support of Mental Health Awareness Month, active and swimwear label The Upside has unveiled a social media campaign by supporting the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The images, shot by Zanita Whittington, feature figures (including me) across industries ranging from fashion, fine dining, art, and wellness, and will be posted throughout the month on the Australian brand’s social channels.
“As a long-time supporter of Mental Health Awareness, it is so wonderful to see that these issues are being brought out of the dark,” creative director and founder of The Upside Jodhi Meares said in a statement. “Communication is the universal solvent, making it more acceptable for people to speak up and receive the support they desperately need. The contemporary approach to mental health is now much more holistic in recognizing that a healthy lifestyle is central to keeping a balance between mind, body, and spirit – a fundamental way to assist your wellbeing.”
Self-care has always been at the core of The Upside’s mission since the label launched in 2013. In addition to the social campaign, 25% of proceeds from the signature tank tops will be donated to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Check out the campaign below.
A match made in … France, Vilebrequin and Jean-Charles de Castelbajac was a collaboration waiting to happen between the St.Tropez swimsuit maker and the French couturier. Fixating on the ’70s, the collection is ultimately a compilation of carefree vibes including vivid prints, cheeky swimwear, and an extra focus on sportswear chic.
Known for an element of surprise in his work, Castelbajac chose to design a collection that is casual and chic, but also comfortable with the right amount of cheeky. “This collection is about a desire to innovate and strong personality. You can use it to reinvent yourself, freely and simply. Isn’t that the very essence of sportswear chic?” the designer said in a release. Paired with a line of Hawaiian shirts and accessories, the final wardrobe is unmistakeable Castelbajac in design and Vilebrequin with its exceptional quality.
Image: Courtesy of Vilebrequin
in time for summer where we are already seeing an opulent trend featuring our favorite items borrowed from the ’70s, Vilebrequin x JCC is ahead of the curve with a collection that has surely been 50 years in the making.
Images: Courtesy of Vilebrequin
The collection is available on Vilebrequin.com, in select Vilebrequin stores, The Webster in SoHo, and a Galeries Lafayette pop-up opening in May 2019.
Just as we ease into sweet springtime and start planning beach getaways, Swedish sock giant Happy Socks is launching its first swimwear line. Known for its array of colorful socks and accessories, the label is expanding its presence with a seasonal beach line for men and women. For the coinciding campaign, the brand chose former Baywatch hunk David Hasselhoff as the face of the inaugural collection. As expected, the range is as playful and tongue-in-cheek as you’d imagine.
Happy Socks Swimwear is available in select stores and online now.
For the celebration of The Mustique Company‘s 50th anniversary, Orlebar Brown launches an exclusive capsule collection. Channeling the essence of the eternal summer spirit of the British label, the capsule collection pays homage to the charmingly unparalleled paradise destination.
Consisting of three classic Bulldog swim shorts featuring photographic prints of aerial shots, iconic pink and purple houses, and an all-exclusive Slim Aarons snapshot of an island holiday with friends. The swim shorts embody and reflect the deep history and beauty of the private island experience.
The shorts are available for exclusive purchase on Mustique island, Orlebar Brown retail locations, and online.
Orlebar Brown, British swimwear label known for its sophisticated thematic collections, has been acquired by Chanel. It’s another somewhat unexpected move (see also Michael Kors buying Versace earlier this week) since Brown is an e-commerce heavy brand while Chanel remains committed to retail offline, but one that will likely benefit both parties. Orlebar Brown launched in 2007 and quickly expanded into a full ready-to-wear line by 2010 — while popular in the UK, this new partnership will aid the label’s plan to expand internationally. Let’s see how it goes.
Summer is here and the swimsuit-Insta-competition is in full swing. This season has been especially good to us, with a range of classic shapes, whimsical prints, mini-cuts, and athletic influences permeating the swimwear sphere. Ocean waves are calling, foreign parties tempting to book tickets, and it’s officially time for August slowdown to bask in the tail end of the season. From the traditional French Vilebrequin that continues to stay on trend season after season to newcomers like Everest Isles and Katama offering a new take on trunks, we select some swimwear highlights.
After making waves with its sophisticated contemporary label, Stella McCartney dips into men’s swimwear. The full line—which includes everything from boxers to briefs to lavender rash guards—features varied color palettes, gorgeous tropical and animal prints, and lush patterns. McCartney’s ambitious new take on the swimsuit adds audacity and raucousness to the sunny beach life. With boxers in short, medium and long cuts, ethically-made beach bags, and cheeky button-downs, the collection boasts something for every summer occasion.
With a goal to keep the California dream alive and well all year long, swimsuit label Vilebrequin and west coast artist Alex Israel team for a pop-art limited edition Moorea swimsuit of a red-hot caliber. In creating his new teen art film “SPF-18,” inspired by the suntanned surf classic “The Endless Summer” by Bruce Brown, Israel crafted an animated dream sequence featuring the elusive “perfect wave,” a surfer legend that evokes an unquenched thirst through obsessive chase. In his sketches, the artist found a natural pull towards fashion, aiming to cover beach goers in the same mesmerizing spirit of the mythical surfer trope. Joining forces with Fred Prysquel’s Vilebrequin seemed a no-brainer, whose line of Saint-Tropez swimwear has redefined the swimmer’s sect into one of high fashion and fascinating design. The resulting piece from the collaboration, an almost Warhol-ian ode to summer and the sticky-sweet dreamland of Los Angeles, is a scorching swim trunk that sizzles as it hits the surf scene. The perfect wave might always be just out of reach, but the prismatic Israel board shorts more than make up for it.
The Vilebrequin & Alex Israel limited edition Moorea swimsuit is available online now.
Slate & Stone releases its Spring/Summer 2016 campaign, which draws inspiration from California’s athletic yet leisure-full Venice Beach, despite the brand’s New York origins and sturdy Euro-influenced tailoring. Starring John King and shot by photographer Standa Merhout, the setting, other than a visceral escape, introduces Slate & Stone’s debut assortment of swimwear; various iterations of colored prints with a polished, modern style.
With the calendar officially marking vacation season, the sizzling weather is a call for not only a stand-out body, but also a creative swimsuit; yet, alas, scoring the best discussion-prompting pair can often go from midsummer night’s dream to tragedy with so many options yet so little finds. For those who have lost their way in fruitless search, here is the ultimate roundup of bold swimwear for either yacht-hopping in Ibiza or chilling poolside in the Hamptons.
1. Printed Dog Front Shorts, Julien David x Quiksilver
Image: Dover Street Market.
Julien David and Quiksilver’s peculiar partnership did not let us down when it offered its equally eccentric printed shorts that stay true to edgy attitude of the Parisian label and the laid-back ethos of the surfwear house.
Sharp and bright, today luxury swimwear designer Onia unveils a breath of fresh air online in its just-launched Spring/Summer 2015 collection, with a rich color palette and elegance that recalls the naval history and dynamic locations on the coasts of Italy and the South of France. Vibrant hues of peach and electric skyway blue are blended with shades of heirloom and coastal fjord, creating a maritime atmosphere, along with deep blacks and clean whites. The complementing lookbook showcases the brand’s assortment of technical beachwear atop pure white backgrounds that make the fun colors pop. The clean silhouettes are crafted from the finest materials and reflect the brand’s attention to detail, while also welcoming sunnier days ahead.
Select styles of Onia’s Spring/Summer 2015 collection are available online now, with new offerings being added weekly.
