SS13 at Beach Cafe and Swimwear Trend Advice!

With my first holiday of the year less than 4 days away, I've spent the past few weeks dreaming about the beach and planning my vacation outfits. When I'm abroad, I pretty much live in a bikini during the day but often struggle to find flattering swimwear I love. As a result, I tend to wear my bikinis until they fall apart and then spend ages trying to replace them.

In my campaign to look as stylish as possible on the beaches of Barbados, a few days ago I began browsing London-based Beach Cafe, a luxury designer swimwear store. I first stumbled across Beach Cafe last year and fell in love with their beach coverups and awesome selection of brands.

Just in case you're off on holiday this summer and need a little swimwear inspiration, I've compiled my top 5 swimwear pieces for you to drool over...

1. Zimmermann Aqua Floral Swimsuit (£264) - Oh my. I've absolutely adored Zimmermann's one pieces for years and this is definitely my favourite swimsuit of the season! The colours are beautiful and I really like the quirky contrasting floral prints. One pieces are great for those days when you feel a little bloated and to me, this Aussie brand can do no wrong.

2. L*Space Janeiro Bikini (£125) - It feels only right to follow my favourite swimsuit of summer with my favourite bikini of summer! HUZZAH.  If you haven't heard of L*Space, it's a super cool cali brand inspired by designer Monica's globe trotting! It's been seen on tons of celebs including the one and only Rihanna. This 'Janeiro' bikini reminds me of being on Ipanema beach in Rio last year so is definitely on my want list!

3. Melissa Odabash Melissa Dress (£295) - Coverups are just as important as swimwear but unfortunately my wardrobe is lacking in this department... I really need to get my paws on a cute boho crochet dress like this! Melissa Odabash is well known for her incredible kaftans, swimwear and huge celebrity following. When I become famous, I probably won't wear anything else.

4. Vitamin A Lauren Maxi Dress (£229) - I like that this crochet maxi is more fitted than the above Melissa dress and it could easily be worn at the beach in the day, or for cocktails at night! I can totally imagine Vanessa Hudgens wearing it to get her groceries. Just beautiful.5. Seafolly Empire Bandeau Bikini (£103) - The Great Gatsby in a bikini! Inspired by art deco, this gorgeous design reminds me of the roaring '20s. Seafolly swimwear fits well and is really comfortable. I also like that their bandeau bikinis come with removable halter straps for added support. Another great aussie swimwear brand!

*Since choosing the right swimwear is crucial to any fun and fashionable holiday, we asked the stylish swimwear experts at Beach Cafe to give us some advice! I emailed them a few questions yesterday, and they were more than happy to share their swimwear wisdom with us.*

Can you tell us which trends are the most popular for SS13?

Fringing is huge trend right now, it’s playful and fun to wear! It’s featured in collections from Sofia, L*Space and Ondademar. Black is also making a comeback as well as sundrenched bright yellow and orange. Neon too! 

Are there any particular colours we should be wearing to the beach this summer?

Ice cream shades of pistachio, pink and coral look fantastic on bronzed skin. Yellow, Orange and Neon pink are also hugely popular this season. For coverups, classic white is the most cool and stylish option for the beach. 

What is your favourite swimwear brand at the moment?

We love L*Space for their Californian surfer girl glam look – and Seafolly for playful pieces in fabulous colours 

Which style bikini would you recommend for: Someone who is top heavy? Someone with a small bust?

Top Heavy – Always balance out your bikini, avoid a skimpy bottom if you have a bigger bust as you will appear even more top heavy. A halterneck style creates the most flattering silhouette for a bigger bust and can be adjusted to fit perfectly, with good support.    

Small Bust – most styles of bikini will look great if you have a smaller chest. To enhance a smaller bust we recommend a top with fringing or a frill, or a top with a ring or stone detail in the centre as attention goes to the detail, not the lack of cleavage.

   

Do you have any advice for feeling confident on the beach?   

Stand tall and celebrate your figure whatever your size – nothing looks more gorgeous than a happy, confident girl on the beach.  

Thanks to Beach Cafe for answering our questions! Are you heading on holiday this summer? If so, will you be rocking a swimsuit or a bikini?

T - The beach countdown has begun... XoX