| Photo: Thinkstock |
We found this unique gallery of literary bathing beauties, which includes everyone from blond-blond bombshell Sylvia Plath to the always-debonair Truman Capote (who appears to have accessorized his Speedo with a headband). Next time you get the jitters staring at your itty-bitty bikini, channel your favorite smart (and sexy) writer—after all, Ernest Hemingway obviously wasn't afraid to let it all hang out! And of course, don't forget to pack your favorite beach read.
[via Flavorwire.com]
For more confidence-boosting bathing suit tips, keep reading:
Find the perfect swimsuit for your shape; plus, snag one that's affordable and flattering.
When it comes to fashion trends, we all make mistakes. Some uh-oh moment flashbacks: harem pants, retro tube tops, the head-to-toe designer logo trend. This summer’s jumpers might not be the easiest thing to wear, what with the bra problem (to wear or not to wear?) and shorts that are just a tad too short. But jumper are fun and flirty, and ideal for summer bike riding or...a tennis match?
Today, the San
Francisco Chronicle reviewed the jumper that Venus Williams wore at
Wimbledon describing it as “open in the back and generally unwieldy” and
remarking that “it brought to mind togas, or hospital gowns.” Then and only
then did the paper mention her 6-3, 6-1 victory over Akgul Amanmuradova of
Uzbekistan.
| Photo: Getty Images |
Not to be picky, because Williams clearly dresses to get
attention, but does the message for women so often have to be: clothes first,
achievement second? This woman has won 43 major tennis singles titles, 18
doubles titles, and earned over 27 million in prize money. She can wear a naked-looking
bloomers if she wants. Oh
wait....she already did that.
The jumper looked pretty elegant to us, except from the back where things got a little low cut (note to self: remember to look behind you in the dressing room). But at the end of the day, women who know how to risk are usually women who know how to win.
Besides, a certain other
woman close to our heart has risked a little fashion ire—and lived to laugh
about it.
| Photo: Kim Grisco |
You may be asking yourself, "And why is that so important?" If you've ever tried to check out your butt while trying on jeans, then you know that it is no easy task—there's lots of twisting, turning and neck strain involved. American Rag Cie, a California-based retailer, recently solved this fashion dilemma by embedding a camera for your derriere into the dressing room mirrors of their World Denim Bars. After all, the back view is just as important (if not more so when it comes to jeans) as the front. These strategically placed, closed-circuit cams give you a 360-degree view while you look straight on. (And no, it's not recording you or your attempts to squeeze into those ultraskinny styles.) Finally, finding the perfect booty-hugging jeans isn't such a pain in the neck!
[And it's not only the ladies who are getting in on the action...]
| Photo: Thinkstock |
Fancy headgear isn't just reserved for the royal wedding, Oprah's garden party, the Kentucky Derby or mornings when tackling bedhead is just more trouble than it's worth—today is Hat Day in the Sun. And while wearing broad-spectrum SPF daily is a necessary part of avoiding a burn (and preventing skin cancer), it's just one aspect of the equation, as Steven Q. Wang, MD, director of dermatologic surgery and dermatology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, reminded me earlier this week. The Headwear Association—founded in 1908 by 34 hat salesmen at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City (one imagines 34 people in top hats drinking Manhattans)—will be passing out free sun protection hats in various locations across the United States. Check out their website or follow them on Twitter to find out where you can score a freebie near you.
[Up next, three things that make it a sun-safe hat]
| Photo: Thinkstock |
The Undie Awards were announced this week. (Yes, there really is such a thing!). Over 40,000 women and men voted for their favorites—from bras to boxers...and categories you may not have even considered, like man thongs. Check out whether one of your go-to styles made the list, or amp up your underwear drawer and try one of the award winners at 15 percent off.
All of this talk about unmentionables, however, got us thinking about how important it is to find a strapless bra that doesn't slip (or give you back cleavage), panties that don't bunch and a support system you can count on no matter what your cup size.
Next: Our pros reveal a few of their top picks...
| Photo: Marko Metzinger/Studio D |
Like a crisp white oxford or a little black dress, the long-sleeved striped boatneck tee is a timeless staple. Wear it under a blazer or on its own, with chinos, jeans or cropped black pants, and you can't go wrong.
Julia Leach, the former creative director of Kate Spade, has based her entire new line, Chance, on this one iconic piece. Her soft, lightweight cotton versions are simply irresistible.
Chance, $60 each; ChanceCo.com.
And for the beach, this Saltwater Canvas tote ($36; SaltwaterCanvas.com) has everything you could ask for: eight outer pockets, room inside for up to six towels and a mesh construction that strains out sand. It stands upright by itself and flattens down for packing. Happy trails!
