kimong.com

*Gulp* its not a bandage. It’s called a “bandeau” bikini. It is indeed a very fancy bandage for women who want to seek full exposure of the skin under the sun without strap tan lines.

As the monsoon season is about to end in the east coast of Malaysia, I’m preparing my beach wear for the season and while prepping myself, I’m enjoying the summer here in Australia as well. The trend now is to to get a nice even tan (lots of sunscreen and no fake tan, please) and accessorise well with a nice set of swimwear and ensure no jiggly bits hang off your swimwear. Hasn’t that always been the trend or number one rule of hanging out by the beach of pool anyway? Unless you’d like to hide under your scuba wear or a big schiffon beach blouse. Well, there are always ways around it. We can start by selecting appropriate swimwear for all body types.

Some of my beach essentials, the last one I read was The Secret (2nd time reading it), sunnies and sandals. Not forgetting sunscreen, beach towel and a nice bikini! I ask myself – what my purpose is at the beach, how much do I want to tan myself?

One-piece swimsuit - Maillot, classic and bandeau style swimsuit are suitable for fuller bodies. Good for everyday pool swimming.

Monokini - A one piece suit with sides are nearly completely cut out, giving the appearance of a bikini that the top and bottom are connected with a thin strip of material. This is probably not suitable for sun-tanning but more suitable for pool parties. This will suit any body type.

Tankini - A two-piece swimsuit like a spaghetti top and the bikini bottom may not be very flattering as it does not hide love handles, but definitely provides more coverage.

Swimdress – A swimsuit with a little skirt around the hips can look very pretty.

Swim sports bra – Usually for triathletes, looks like gym top.

Slingshot – Also called the sling bikini or the suspender bikini, this is another very revealing one-piece swimsuit.

Bikini – Classic, string, halter top, bandeau, spaghetti top and more.

The swimwear you choose has to be one you love and feel comfortable in. It has to bring out your best assets. For this, I’m willing to spend more than USD$100 for a pair of swimsuit, I don’t think I’m being unreasonable here, for good quality cloth and design that can last me a while – able to withstand the strong sea salt and chlorine from pools.

When you have purchased enough of eBay China’s fancy swimwear, you’ll notice the difference. I once had an eBay China zebra monokini and after one wash, it grew cotton bits on the fabric. The quality of Brazilian and Colombian swimwear is amazing, and I’m not biased because they’re made for their hot culture (people – think Brazilian and Colombian women!). I don’t find it easy to find the right bikini for myself for my type of body, but I had to re-assess my beach goals; to get tanned – so a bandeau bikini would be perfect for what I want to achieve.

Beija Beachwear, recently established in Malaysia, provides men and ladies with imported fine swimwear from Rio de Sol (Brazil),Maaji (Colombia), Saha (Colombia) and Larissa Minatto (Brazil). The company aims to provide uniquely beautiful quality swimwear from around the world to women of all shapes and ages.

This strong pink Rio de Sol bikini lycra fabric is smooth and stretchable. After one warm water handwash, it dries up really quickly away from direct heat, including the bikini padding as well. The cup pad is hard to maintain the shape of the bandeau especially when you twist it before wearing, but does not cut into the skin as it is soft around the cup edges, providing proper support and boost. The hip band that holds the brazilian cut bikini bottom is stretchable without giving me the love handles, fits perfectly. This style is perfect for small bottom girls who want to appear to have bigger butt, and for fat bottom girls who aren’t afraid to reveal their assets. I can testify that this is a very safe swimsuit, does not shift as I swim.

I love it so much, here’s how I wore it at Josiah’s birthday party last Saturday.

Here are some tips I found on WikiHow on body types and choosing the right beach wear:

• Pear shape: If your hips are significantly wider than both your waist and bust, you’re probably a pear.
• Apple shape: If your waist is significantly wider than your hips, and equal to or nearly as wide as your bust, you might be an apple.
• Hourglass shape: If your bust and hips are about the same width, but your waist is significantly smaller, you’re a classic hourglass.
• Straight (also known as ruler or banana shape): If you’re thin all around, with no significant difference between your hips, waist and bust, you’re a straight shape.

• Choosing the right beachwear:

• A one-piece will hide your waist. Choose one with shirred panels over the stomach, or in a dark, solid color.
• A 1940s-style, bathing-beauty bottom that’s high-waisted can also help hide a waist. Again, go with a dark color or shirring.
• A tankini will highlight your waist, because it draws the eye to the section of skin that’s showing. If you love your waist but not so much your hips or bust, choose this.
• Boyshorts make your hips look wider, regardless of color. If you have a large bust and want the hips to match for a classic hourglass shape, choose boyshorts. However, be aware that this style can feel uncomfortable for some women, so be certain of fit before you purchase anything.
• High-cut bikini bottoms make legs look longer. If you’re short, or you’re long in the torso, this is a good selection.
• Halter tops draw attention to the bust, as do triangle tops.
• Tie-front bikini tops draw the eye to the bust, as well as pulling the breasts closer to one another, effectively making them look larger. If you have small breasts and want them to look larger, this might be a good fit.
• Bandeau tops will make the bust seem wider. If you’re a pear shape and you want to imitate an hourglass shape, choose a bandeau top with ruffles or another busy detail.
• For a large bust, look for a straight across cut at the top of your swimsuit with wide set straps to minimize your bust. Try a bikini top with an underwire and a thick chest band for extra support. A thick chest band will prevent jiggling so that the bra stays where it should be and you can’t fall out.

A Rio de Sol model poses nicely in this photo for your viewing pleasure.

Some Beija Beachwear models in Kuala Lumpur donning the Rio de Sol bikini and sunga collection.

Black bikini to make one look fairer and provides a slimmer effect.

I absolutely love this one on the model, the electric blue colour really brings out the tan in her and her bikini bottoms look really comfortable, hiding the love handles if any (I don’t think she has any).

Here’s another style – swimsuit from Saha in electric blue.

Beija Beachwear website features some of the following bikinis (and monokini) above. I personally feel that they are definitely catered to the Asian body type, mostly petite girls. The patterns are not too funky and are for everyday use. I personally like the ones with thick hip bands and gold buckle. Gold on swimwear look so good and sophisticated.

To win a Rio de Sol bikini (sizes available in S/M/L) *mystery bikini*

1. LIKE www.facebook.com/Beija.Beachwear.Couture
2. Post a link to your favourite Beija Beachwear bikini on your twitter OR blog OR Facebook wall
(i.e. “I love this bikini from Beija Beachwear! http://bit.ly/YhGXD0″) It can be a link to Beija Beachwear’s FB Page or official website
3. Send a “printscreen shot” of your shoutout to my email at kim(at)kimong(dot)com as proof of entry.
4. Contest ends 25 March 2013
5. Open to international participants
6. Winner will be chosen and announced on 28 March 2013

Even if you don’t win the contest, all entries automatically get a 20% discount off Rio de Sol brand only till 30 April 2013.

(See T&C at bottom of this post.)

To shop for Beija Beachwear:

Online:
www.beijabeachwear.com
www.facebook.com/Beija.Beachwear.Couture
Affiliated Stores:
Kate’s Closet by Intoxi-Kate@1st Floor, Bangsar Shopping Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
TriBeCa@ Bangsar Village 2, 1st Floor, Unit 31, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Chic & Luxe Private Showroom@ Block C2, Level 2, (C2-2-3) Publika Shopping Mall, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Sassy Objects @ (Next to Ben’s restaurant) Level G2, Publika Shopping Mall, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia