16 - Sunday, Juty 19, 1992 — North Shore News FASHION photo submitted Ken Mayer NORTH SHORE swimwear designer Susi Hil created this bikin! in coral nyton and spandex. Local shop suits its customers A new shop on the North Shore specializes in swimwear that fits. Beyond Beach Wear recently opened at 240 Lonsdale Ave. in North Vancouver and is owned by designer Susi Hill. The boutique custom-designs and fits each bathing suit that is sold. Top-quality fabrics from Montreal and Los Angeles are us- ed in the maillots and bikinis, which are available in a wide range of colors and patterns. Quantities of each fabric are limited to ensure a greater variety is always stocked and so you will not see another bathing suit in the same design. Hill, who was schooied in design at George Brown College in Toronto, creates each garment herself and fits it to the customer. Her vast experience includes being a production manager for the well-established North Shore design firm Margareta, and the designer and pattern maker for the Vancouver swimwear company Reach the Besch. Before opening this store, Hill sold her Beyond Beach Wear by Sesi label through home parties ard out of her home. She felt that it was time for her to expand her custom business to the new outlet, which opened on July 10. The store provides samples for clients to select from, as weil as simple line drawings with a variety ef different silhouettes from which to choose. There is also a small selection of ready-made styles on the rack to be purchased. It is worthwhiie having one made for you, however. Hills explains, ‘‘I offer custom-fis_ garments for off-the- rack prices.”’ And your bathing suit will only take two days to one week to complete, including preliminary fitting. The most fun comes in when you are choosing your own styles and fabrics. You can mix and match the top of one pattern with the bottom of another or combine two different prints in one gar- ment. Hill says she has approxi- mately ten different designs il- lustrated for bikini bottoms, in- cluding higher or lower cut legs, ruffles and trim and wide or nar- row side straps. There are eight different maillot sty'2s including those with a sweetheart neckline, tank top cut, crisscross back straps, a racers T- back and halter. Hill feels that one maillot style reminiscent of the '40s is especial- by flattering and gives support. It has a gathered bandeau bustline with an elasticized area across the front, wide band halter straps and a higher cut back. Bold, bright colors now avail- able at Beyond Beach Wear are large and small flower patterns, graphic geometrics and Navajo prints. Coral and purple are the best selling colors currently, as well as black and white. The cost of a custom-made swim suit by Susi Hill is $45 to $65 for a bikini and $50 to $80. | for a mailfot. Bikinis need only one fitting, and maillots may take two, but the suit is completed on the same day as the second fitting. - Carol Crenna fe CORAL COURT SZECHUAN CUISINE 1 230 Lonsdale 8 N. Vancouver 987-3303 fl Exciting hor & | spicy Chinese food, A Feast i from the Easti this ad * Expires i July.31/92H *Min.$30 oj order . Dinner only. | TOTAL FOOD BILL GS SE ES Be Ee OE es 2) Oe es ee ee ee ee es ee | LAST WEEK - SALE ENDS JULY 25/92 MOO-VING SALE Sa up to O0% off Furniture, Pottery, Folkarr, Glassware, Wrought Iron & Nightrshirts Jackee’s HOMECRAFT GALLERY 1761 MARINE DR., WEST VANCOUVER 926-5711 To our new location But before we move - for 3 DAYS July 19, 20 & 21 0% alg Moving to #734 Park Royal North (next to Blacks) “WHAT A NOTION” FABRICS LTD. PARK ROYAL NORTH 922-5816 shoes clothing accessories Lonsdale Quay Market 986-4893