Beach Bum

Sigh.  I don’t know what it is — maybe that we are having an unusual cold snap here in southern Louisiana — but today I am longing for sun, springtime, warm weather, and sun-kissed skin.  All I can think about is laying on a pristine white sand beach, awesome music playing on my ipod, and lazily glancing up at the blue-green water every now and then as the waves break onto the shore.  Naturally, I’d be just as content laying poolside in a cushy lounge chair at a swanky hotel or resort while being waited on hand and foot.  So, for those reasons I started looking at bathing suits today, which helped to cure my springtime fever but also served to remind me that I need to do some sit ups.

So yes, I know it’s early, but here is my 2009 Spring/Summer swimsuit preview.  Many of these suits won’t ship until mid-March, though you can pre-order most of them.

Juicy Couture Beach Ruffle Bikini

I love this uber sexy and feminine suit by Juicy Couture because it is modern and fun but still has decent coverage.  The ruffled bottom will help to hide problem areas and the top leaves just enough to the imagination.  Definitely one of my favorites.

Ralph Lauren Blue Label “Big Pony” Bikini

I love the simple and classic look of Ralph Lauren Swimwear.  This is an updated take on the triangle-top bikini that can give you a bit more (or less, if you want!) coverage by adjusting the top.  I love side-tie bikinis just because they can adjust to the shape of the woman wearing them and still look fantastic.  The grommets in the bottom for the ties add an awesome detail that really polishes this look for me.

Juicy Couture Smocked Tankini

I love the French Provencial look of this swimsuit.  The smocked top makes it flattering on any sized bustline and the empire waistline has a gorgeous tie detailing that helps to make the transition from fitted top to flowy tankini.  This is a great suit to hide any tummy imperfections and show off great shoulders and arms.

Shape fx Triangle Bikini

I love this one because it has lots of character, it actually might be my favorite of them all.  I think that the criss-cross underneath the top gives it a really fun and different feel and the ruched bottom will be great for hiding any trouble spots.  Naturally I’m drawn to the deep pink color, and I think this might be a really good choice for me.

La Blanca by Rod Beattie Eyelet Cover-Up

Oh, and I know this isn’t a swimsuit but I just loved it so much that I couldn’t resist!  What a great cover-up – perfect for walking to/from the beach/pool in style.  Because really, what fun is a fabulous swimsuit if you throw on an old t-shirt and pair of sweatpants over it?

So tell me, what do you think?  Which ones do you like – do you have tips/advice for me? Do you buy a new swimsuit each year?  What style or styles do you prefer?

Get the Boot!

I have been searching for the perfect pair of boots for quite a while.  Little did I know that in Louisiana it was easier said than done.  All of the swimsuits, the sandals, flip flops — all have moved to the front of the store.  Well, I was heading to NYC and this Southern Girl needed boots.

I knew exactly what I was looking for — I wanted black, suede, mid-calf, slightly scrunchy, with a cuff at the top and no heel (see, I told you I knew EXACTLY what I wanted!).  I thought this would be fairly simple to find – so I set off in search of them.  I stopped at a few department stores, where I swear I must have looked at over 50 pairs of boots in total.  They were all leather, with a heel, had buckles, not scrunchy enough — I couldn’t believe that this boot that I had conceptualized in my head didn’t exist.  Bummed and frustrated, I returned home.  I turned to Twitter, sending out this tweet detailing my frustrations.

Guess what?  The recommendations started pouring in!  Thanks to the suggestions of my twitter friends, I eventually stumbled upon the most amazing pair of (PERFECT) boots – the Bonanza by Steve Madden!  Naturally, they didn’t have them in my size online, but I found them at the Steve Madden store at a nearby mall.  These babies ROCK!  They are comfy, stylish, and warm — they were my saving grace in NYC.  You can check out my TwitPic in Times Square to see the boots in action, but I am just in love with their soft, warm goodness.  So, if you are looking for the perfect pair of boots, you might want to consider these.  Trust me, I’ve done all the leg work for you!