Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, May 19, 1990 TAG: 9005180637
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: E-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By Tracie Fellers Staff Writer
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
How about a suit with undeniable all-out glamour?
Whatever you choose, this season's suits have the potential to put perfection well within reach.
Those who would rather show less skin than more may be pleasantly surprised. In stores around the region, women from 16 to 60 can find stunning suits that provide the most coverage in years.
Even in junior styles, which usually appeal to younger women, "the swimwear we have now is probably wearable by a wider variety of people than in the past," said Peggy Lyons, special events coordinator for Thalhimers' Lynchburg and Roanoke stores.
"There is a more covered-up look, both in one-piece and two-piece" styles, she added.
"Some of the reason behind that is the awareness of sun damage from overexposure to the sun."
And some swimsuit manufacturers and designers are creating suits that minimize trouble spots, such as the less-than-taut tummy or thick waist.
One such suit is Carol Wior's Slimsuit, available at JCPenney stores in Roanoke and across the country.
The one-piece Slimsuit has a patented inner lining of elasticized lycra and spandex, which Wior guarantees will remove at least an inch from the waist. A measuring tape is included with each suit so that customers can check the Los Angeles-based designer's claim.
Underwires in the Slimsuit's bra are designed to support larger bustlines or enhance small ones. And tags included with each Slimsuits also assert that the suit lifts and smoothes the derriere.
Wior has created around 50 Slimsuit styles, in everything from new two-piece designs to one-piece styles in colorful florals, stipes, solids and velvet.
Slimsuits are available in sizes 6 to 18 and full-figure sizes 38 to 46, and cost $45 to $65 in department stores nationwide.
With the help of Trulo by Design, a London-based swimwear manufacturer, model Jerry Hall has launched a line of figure-flattering swimwear with a subtle sense of glamour.
"She seems to have an idea of what people look better in," said Bonnie Jackson, owner of Patina stores in Roanoke, which carry a selection of Jerry Hall suits.
In her designs, Hall "tried to get good coverage on the backside . . . especially in the little bikinis that have been lacking that," Jackson said.
Hall also has brought back the boy-leg swimsuit, which has a straighter look than the high-cut legs that have been popular in recent years.
And Hall features a group of metallic suits in her collection, which have been popular with Patina customers, Jackson said. The one- and two-piece styles are in color combinations of orange and fuchsia or purple and turquoise on a metallic background. They come with matching cover-ups of miniskirts and leggings.
"Her whole idea is that you can go from day to evening with these suits, and in that metallic fabric, it looks dressy," Jackson said.
Patina also has a selection of two-piece styles by Half-Moon. They too are figure-flattering, with a high-waisted cut that makes the waist and hips look smaller, Jackson said.
If you prefer drop-dead glamour to quiet elegance and figure flattery, don't give up. Dee White, a Roanoke swimsuit designer, creates swimwear to dazzle even the most fashion-forward.
She has crafted suits of gold metallic spandex, which have hand-sewn beaded and sequined designs. She's created a classic, sleek black suit with a glamorous twist - genuine obsidian and onyx beading.
White has made suits of fabrics from chamois to Ultrasuede, embellished with everything from shells to rhinestones.
White, 36, has been designing swimsuits since she was a 16-year-old growing up in Greensboro, N.C. "I always felt when I was younger that bathing suits did not fit me right and did not fit other people right . . . I wanted one that would fit right," she said.
"I also liked just having swimsuits better than anyone else when I was younger. My swimsuit had my own little trademarks - the beads or shells or sequins made them different."
In the 20 years since she started making suits for herself, White has acquired an ever-increasing pool of customers, some of whom have their suits custom-made.
"Don't even ask me how many swimsuits I make. I'm too busy doing the stuff to actually keep up with it," she said.
White's suits can also be purchased at Dance Etc. in Vinton or at the Foxx, Classic Designers and at Roanoke Athletic Club's pro shop.
But can you actually wear such opulent suits in the water? Sure, White said. However, she readily admits her suits - at prices up to $198 - aren't made for swimming laps.
Like women's suits, men's suits this season encompass a variety of influences. The California-inspired neon look is still popular, but prints - including florals and batiks - and madras plaids are making an impact, said Tom Julian, associate fashion director for the Men's Fashion Association.
The bikini is still around, Julian said, but men who think they could benefit from the trend toward more coverage will be happy to hear that the boxer style is the season's preferred shape.
by CNB