scene

Life & Style | Beauty & Fashion

Sponsored By

Style story: Make waves with beachwear

Life's a beach in this summer's gorgeous new swimwear

By Lucy Wildman, Fashion Editor, Scene
Published: 00:01 February 9, 2012

Image Credit: Grace Paras/ANM
Clockwise from top left: Kaftan Matthew Williamson @ theoutnet.com Sunglasses Marks & Spencer, Dh75 Yellow bag River Island, Dh575 Sun hat Next, Dh115 Leopard print swimsuit Marks & Spencer, Dh245 Chiffon tie sandals River Island, Dh250 Triangle bikini Topshop, Dh215 Shell necklace River Island, Dh75.

Image 1 of 2: 1 2

Ursula Andress has a lot to answer for. Wading out of the water in her white two-piece, the blonde Bond bombshell created one of the most iconic cinema images of all time - and transformed the way women thought about beachwear forever.

But whether you're channelling Bond babes of yesteryear, or rocking the hottest catwalk cossie looks, every era is covered in this season's swimwear - from art deco to futuristic sports luxe and everything in-between. And ridiculous as it sounds, since it's probably the place where you'll wear the least amount of clothing - getting dressed for the sunlounger involves way more than just your swimmers and lashings of sunscreen.

How to look sizzling on the sand

Flat-chested? Triangle or bandeau-style bikinis with ruffles add inches where you're lacking. Busty? Go for underwired or halterneck to support your chest.
Kaftans look glam, hide a multitude of sins and will take you effortlessly from beach to bar in style. An oversized T-shirt does none of the above.
Love Ursula's Dr No style? A white bikini's a classic, but make sure it's lined to prevent embarrassing transparent-when-wet issues.
The swimsuit is having a moment in the style spotlight. Retro styles with built-in skirts are flattering for curvy girls, while cutaway cossies are for the stick thin or super body confident only.
Remember your seven style staples - swimmers, sun hat, shades, sandals, sarong, suntan lotion and fab beach bag.

For the full style story, pick up this week's copy of Scene, on newsstands for just Dh7, or subscribe now

More from Beauty & Fashion

All articles in Beauty & Fashion

More from Life & Style

Where you need to be

Popular in Beauty & Fashion

Lifestyle & Entertainment columnists

Life the Hemmings way

Life coach Russell Hemmings on fears, anxieties and the human psyche demystified
The Dubai Insider

TV personality Uma Ghosh Deshpande guides you through the city’s society gatherings and stories
Yoga for you

Bharat Thakur guides you through practices and wisdom of this ancient science of exercising
Gaby Doman: Notes to myself

The everyday ups and downs of being a modern woman, according to this globetrotter
Design diary

Dubai-based interior designer Pratyush Sarup lets us in on the world of design

Life & Style editor's choice

Staycation offers in and around UAE

Spending summer in the UAE or Gulf countries? Here’s where you can go for a break
5 local Eid breaks for the budget-conscious

Find out which budget resorts to go to this Eid without breaking the bank
Dubai Insider: Happy Eid

TV personality Uma Ghosh Deshpande shares her thoughts on Eid weekend
Style your hair like Selena, Rihanna or Rita

Perfect the Hollywood summer style with these hair tips by star hairstylist Asgar Saboo
‘I am a more than my gender’

Everyday sexism. That's the most irritating of them all, says Gaby Doman