north shore news

FASHION

— Summer style
— gets in the swim

YOU don’t have to be Cindy Crawford to
look good in a swimsuit.

But it helps.

The toned and tanned supermodel offers a few choice
words on the subject of swimsuits in the current issue of
Elle magazine. ;

The bikini is basically a con game, says the supermod-’
el: If you have the nerve to wear one, vou’re almost
bound to Jook good in it.

Nobody has a perfect body, not even the model who's
made millions from posing in swimsuits.

* “JT have all the insecurities anyone else
has,” she confides.
While Cindy has our sympathies, it’s
important to note that most of us aren’t
built like supermodels.
Recognizing our figure flaws, or figure
.. “challenges” as fashion diplomats like to
say, and attempting to minimize them

will: go a long way to making us feel great

ina bikini.

{ s TEyou’re small chested you'll look
. good i in a bandeau-style or triangle top. Sports-bra styles

' give support and coverage to fuller figures. High-waisted
suits with a band of fabric-covering elastic at the waist will
help hide tummies.

And choosing the right size helps too.

-, “Most women don’t know how to pick the proper

. size,” says Marie-France Matte, district manager of La Vie
“En Rose. The lingerie chain, which has a store in Park
Royal’s north mall, stocks a selection swimsuits.
“Tf you are between sizes, always go for the smaller f fit.

: “The ‘suit will adjust ro your body like a pair of jeans,”

says J atte, who previously managed a swimsuit store for
six years. Buy bottoms that are too big and they'll bag out
t the butt when they’re wet.
*; Stores that allow you to mix and match sizes and styles
are a great help.

‘TAKING @ ipecial care of your swimsuit will
help: ‘Keep it Jooking i its best.

Lands’ End, which sells swimwear and other cloth-
items through mail-order, offers the following tips:
E Hand wash suits after every wearing. Use cool water
and a-mild detergent.
@ Hang to dry. Do not dry ina dryer. The combination
of the, tumbling action‘and heat of a dryer can cause the
‘spandex ina wimisuit to begin to weaken and break

@ IF aic drying the suit; hang’ it to dry in the shade
rather, than in direct sunlight to avoid unnecessary fad-

a swimsuit before storing it. Most suits today are
“made of fabrics that air dry quickly. Placing a wet swim-

At La Vie En Rose, customers can purchase bottoms
and tops separately, allowing for a variety of looks and fits.
The store’s awn label Aqua Rose, for example, features
triangle and halter tops, boy-cut and bikini-cut briefs.
Body Glove two-pieces in orange and lime offer the
option of a thong concealed with a mesh bikini overlay or
a fuller cut brief. The store also stocks two-piece and one-
picce styles by La Blanca, Linea Mare and Solare.
Swimsuit prices start at $14.99.

This season, anything goes, says Matte. There are no
wrong colors or wrong shapes. Sporting goods stores

stock a great selection of sporty-style
swimsuits. Nike’s sports bikini is a top
seller at Sport Chek in Park Royal’s south
mall, reports sales clerk Angela Serrano.
Boy shorts, triangle tops and underwire
bra tops are also selling well. Colors are
bright: fluorescent orange and green,
electric blue, purple and navy with floral
prints. Prices run as high as $85 for a
Nike nwo-piece but start as low as $29.99

notes fora “throw-away” bikini (not expected
to last more than one season).

Hawaiian prints are also hot this season. For the best

‘selection, head to a board shop like Second Wave Surf and

Snowboard Shop on Lower Lonsdale.

“The surf” culture i is really hitting here,” says owner
Steve Hoiles, who stocks girls’ board shorts and halters by
Roxy, Rusty, Girl Star, Billabong and Rip Curl year round.
He's expecting a shipment of bikinis by Raisin to arrive
next week. They'll go on sale at 50% off, priced from $35

to $45.
O00
Second Wav is org2nizing a Surf Diva surf camp at
Long Beach, Vancouver Island, in late July or early
August. Surf Diva is a La Jolla-based women-only surf
camp. The board shop will be flying in four professional
surfers from California to host the camp. For more into,

call the store at 986-9283.

suit in an enclosed bag can lead to mold and mildew and
the dyes in some suits could bleed.

@ Do your best to avoid getting suntan lotion on your
swimsuit. As with heat, suntan lotion can cause spandex
to weaken.

@ if suntan lotion did make its way to your Suit, rub
shampoo (usc a shampoo that does not contain condi- |

tioner) into the lotion and then rinse in cool water. j

§ When removing a stain, work from the back of the
stain to push it out rather than rub it in.
To remove soft drink stains, sponge immediately

~ with cold water. For coffee, soak suit in coo! water for

at least 30 minutes, then work in a mild detergent and
rinse the suit thoroughly in cool water.

For cosmetics and grass stains, work a mild detergent
into the stain ‘and rinse in cool water.

| Sidewalk Sale at Jill Hampton, Park Royal

July 1-12
Vhiocher golfing, gardening or camping, you want clothing
hat’ easy and fun to wear. Visit any of our locations for a

‘great selction of styles and colours.

Women’s clothing made in Vancouver

“ROYAL CENTRE: _ KERRISDALE
681-2611, 263-0432.

- PARK ROYAL
9131600:

: ANYTHING goes in
‘swimwear this ‘sea:
son. Bikini in lime.or
‘orange by: Body
Glove; available at La