It’s Almost Winter

May 10th, 2013

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It’s mid-autumn in Australia and we are experiencing beautiful warm sunny days and cool nights. The next few weeks will see us move into winter with cold and often wet weather. Not the weather for swimming at the beach. It’s time to move inside to a nice heated pool. There you can swim laps or join a water aerobics class in nice warm heated water. Swimming through the winter months is great exercise and helps keep your body in shape. Heated indoor pools are also hard on your skin and hair. The chlorine and other chemicals used to keep indoor pools safe and healthy can be damaging to your hair. Make sure after swimming in the pool to wash your hair with a quality shampoo. A good conditioner should also be used to maintain the health of your hair. Chlorine is a harsh chemical and you should endeavor to completely remove it from your hair.
Swimming is great exercise and is really good for your body. It helps keep you flexible and strong. The anaerobic benefits are immense. You will benefit from the strength you gain from lap swimming and the lack of impact of your joints from swimming.
Remember if you want to stay trim, strong and fit through the winter months there is no other exercise that will give you complete fitness with no impact.
Get down to the local pool, swim some laps, sign up for a water aerobics class or just do some exercises in the pool on your own.
All you need to do is a few laps each day and you will be looking fabulous when the summer arrives and you can wear your Bikini again.

Three Different Looks for Your Swimwear

May 1st, 2013

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The photo above shows Kylie wearing three different styles of briefs or shorts with the same top. You can see how the different the looks are, even though it is the same Tankini top. Each different brief or short makes the Tankini top look completely different.
In the first photo she has on a Lycra Swim Short. These shorts were originally designed for maternity wear, but we find they suit lots of ladies. They are a comfortable fit on the waist, have a tie top for adjustment and the leg is quite loose fitting. They certainly sit nicely on Kylie. These shorts are great for young Mums as they sit loosely on the body, are easy to move in and dry very quickly after a swim.
The second photo has Kylie wearing a standard leg brief. This brief is low cut on the leg line but is quite high in the body. The higher waist helps to eliminate the muffin top and has Power Mesh inside to help hold the tummy in. Also with this brief you get good overlap with the Tankini, so if you are active on the beach there will be no tummy exposed.
The last style Kylie is wearing is the Bike Pant. This is great if you are doing Water Aerobics or Hydrotherapy as they sit tight against the body. Made of Chlorine resistant Polyester they are strong and easy to wear. They will float away while you are exercising, swimming or doing therapy.
Kylie has short legs and if you go by the Rules the best style for her is the Standard Brief, but I think looking as these photos the best style for her is the loose fitting Lycra Short. This style complements her body shape and actually gives her body some extra length.
We all love to have rules to go by. If you are an Apple shape wear swimwear that is high cut on the leg line etc. The trouble with the rules for swimwear is that unlike a dress where lots get hidden, swimwear shows your body as it is.
You only need to be a bit longer or shorter in the body and the rules don’t work.
That little bit of difference is huge when it comes to swimwear. As we can see in the photo’s Kylie is breaking all the rules and looking lovely. Her legs look thinner and her body looks longer, even though the short should the last on to work on her it is the best by far.

Legs and Swimsuits

April 28th, 2013

OK I know we all have legs. But all our legs are different. Long, short, slim and not so slim. What I want to talk about legs and swimwear and what swimwear looks best on all the different legs we have.
The two most important things with swimwear are fitting the bust and the bottom. Fitting the bottom correctly entails getting the leg line right. Swimwear comes in cup fittings these days so fitting the bust has become a lot easier.
Getting the right leg line and fit on your bottom is not that easy.
If your legs are not so slim you need a brief or swimsuit with a higher leg line. I’m not talking about high like the 80′s where the leg line went up to the hip. Just slightly higher so the leg line is on an angle and makes your legs look longer and therefore slimmer.
Long thin legs require the opposite treatment. Boy leg or low retro briefs or swimsuits will help to shorten the leg. If you are not too long in the body the Hipster brief can work well.
Short legs need the same treatment as the not so slim leg. Higher leg lines to help lengthen the leg. Tie side briefs work well to lengthen and narrow the thigh.
Slim to skinny legs are the hardest to fit. Often they are associated with the Apple shaped body. Any brief or swimsuit with ruching or a drawside will be good for the very skinny leg. The ruching or drawside will pull the leg up and actually tighten the swimsuit on the leg.
Swimwear is the most confronting outfit you will wear and it is all about balance. Getting the right top to suit your body and balancing it with the right bottom. It’s not easy but with patience trying on many different styles you will learn what works for you.
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I’m over the so called Experts……

April 25th, 2013

I am sorry but I am so over all the so-called EXPERTS telling ladies of different body shapes what to wear.
Most particularly I have been on Youtube watching videos about the correct swimwear for various body shapes.
Oh dear. It is just unbelievable what is being shown. People who have no idea making videos about fashion and then quoting from books on what to do. Come on, are they for real. Supposed experts who have no expertise at all.
When you look at a girl with an Apple shaped body being told to wear a strapless Bandeau swimsuit you realise how little the “Expert” knows about swimwear and body-shapes. This body shape needs swimwear that will give her body length, usually halter neck, vneck and possibly a highish leg (not high like the 80′s).
There are basic body shapes that give us a starting point as what styles will suit. But, it is a starting point, not the be all and end all we are being told it is. One girl with an hourglass figure was told to only wear triangle tops and tie side pants. She was most concerned and she didn’t feel comfortable in either. Usually an hourglass figure has a full bust that needs more support than a triangle top can give.
I also saw an expert who had photos of what to wear show a girl with a pear shape body wearing a skirted brief, she just looked more pear shaped.The cozzies on the right shows her in a Bandeau that gives her bust more shape with the soft gathers. The brief is not skimpy but gives nice coverage and is balanced to the top.
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And what about the cartoon drawings showing what to wear for your body shape. I don’t look like a cartoon drawing so how can anyone identify with that.
Or the skinny model wearing a swimsuit to suit a full bust or and large tummy. It’s impossible to imagine how these cozzies will look.
The whole idea of using body shape styling is great. The problem is so many so called Experts telling us what to wear when they have no idea. Body shape is only part of choosing the right cozzie. All our bodies vary and it can be just a little bit but it can make a huge difference as to what suits you.
I have square shoulders and halter neck tops make me look like they are huge. Someone else with square shoulders may be able to wear a halter neck top.

The best idea is to work out your body shape, choose swimwear for that particular shape and then try on swimwear to find the right style for you.
It might be a halter neck style from this season works beautifully and next season the halter neck swimsuits might be slightly different and don’t work at all.
Once you work out what styles are right for you stay open minded. As I said next season might be entirely different.
The designers only need to change things slightly, and designers love to do that, and the new swimwear in the same styles doesn’t work as well on your body shape.
Look at the body shape charts and recognize what shape you are, then try, try, try on swimwear until you find the right cozzie for you.

Next Summer 2013

March 22nd, 2013

OMG…..how exciting is next summer going to be.
We have had the most amazing few weeks looking at the Summer 2013 ranges.
Beautiful florals and flouro plains. Wow its going to be a colourful summer.
Fabulous Flouro colours, beautiful Pinks, Yellow’s, Orange’s and Greens.
Flouro colours, bright and clear. Great for sunny days.
Look at these Cotton Shirts perfect to go over your cozzies. Pink, Orange, White and Yellow.

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Bright Flouro bikini’s again in Flouro Pink and Flouro Yellow.
Fabulous crop top style bikini’s…….

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Plain bright colour bikini’s and one piece in a beautiful seersucker lycra….

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All we have to do now is…..WAIT WAIT WAIT for the winter to pass by and we can get into these fabulous new styles and colours…….

Next week I’ll give you a sneak peak at the pretty florals for Summer 2013

Summer is Almost Here

October 14th, 2012

Summer is coming and everyone is looking for new Cozzies.

We have had numerous ladies coming into our store recently stating, “I can only wear a boy leg” or “I only wear Black it’s the most slimming”.

Please ladies when you come to a specialist swimwear store come with an open mind.

Certainly it is good to know what basic styles work for you.

Just remember you don’t go to buy a dress thinking you can only wear one style.

Because the A line cozzie you had last summer worked so well doesn’t mean you can only wear A line styles. Many other factors in that costume made it work for you.

Trying to hide the bits you don’t like about your body doesn’t work.  Covering them, especially if we are talking about big thighs, usually makes them look bigger. You need to accentuate the good bits about your body. It might be a good bust line, a small waist or lovely long legs. We all have good bits as well as the bad. We just tend to look at the bits we don’t like and feel we have to hide them.

The way to look your best in Cozzies is to get the right costume for you.

That means an open mind and a lot of trying on.

At Cozzies swimwear we will work with you to find the right fit, style and colour for you.

Swimwear is the most confronting clothing you will wear. You need to feel the fit and style is correct.

Be open to everything, it may take quite a few tries to find the right cozzie.

It will be worth the effort.

It may be a bikini, tankini or full piece that is right. It may be a bright colour, pastel, floral or Black. So many options are waiting for you to try.

Don’t be limited by your inhibitions.

The most important thing to remember with swimwear is that everyone is just as concerned about how they look as you are.

They are possibly so busy worrying about how they look themselves they don’t even see you.

If they do look at you, if you have had professional help choosing and fitting your cozzie, you know you look great. You will feel confident in the right cozzie.

Public figures, actors and all sorts of people in the media have stylists.

They are paid a lot of money to choose their hairstyles, make-up and clothing.

We are swimwear stylists. We will lead you through the process of finding the correct swimsuit.

Using our knowledge to assist with your swimwear choice is the best choice you will make.

What has “Trompe L’oeil” got to do with Swimwear?

December 9th, 2011

“Trompe L’oeil” is French for “deceive or trick the eye” It is used in decorating houses and gardens. I am sure you have all seen photos of beautiful scenes painted on house walls by early French decorators.

This is “Trompe L’oeil”. Different scenes are painted on the wall to give the impression of a shady walk out into a garden or through palisades to a pond. Lots of different scenes and styles, it is very effective and lovely to look at. It really does “trick the eye” into believing the scene is there.

 

What does the French “Trompe L’oeil” have to do with swimwear?

 

Everything.

 

Tricking the eye is what successful swimwear buying is all about.

So the French “Tromp L’oeil” is the same principal as we use when trying on swimwear to get all sorts of body shapes looking balanced.

 

Girls who have a large bottom and small bust can create the impression of balance using “Tromp L’oeil” trick the eye.

Start with a top that has frills, ruffles, a pattern or rouching. These extras will give the impression of a larger bust than actually exists. “Trompe L’oeil”.

Keeping the bottom plain minimizes this area, thus giving the impression that the top and bottom are in balance. A bit of trial and error will show the right height bottom for you. It’s not something that can be decided without trying on. You will quickly see which bottom looks right and balances the body.

 

“Trompe L’oeil” trick the eye.

 

Conversely if you have a large bust and a small bottom the opposite comes into play. Keep the top plain with maybe a pattern, but no large frills or draping of the fabric.

Most ladies with large busts don’t have to worry about their bottom. So look for a pant that suits your body shape.

Stand back and look at yourself objectively, try not to let your eyes go to that bit of your body that worries you.

Everyone else sees the whole picture, not the bit you focus on. Try to let yourself see the whole picture to.

“Trompe L’Oeil” is a very old art technique that we can use very successfully in our every day life. It applies so beautifully to choosing the right swimsuit for your body shape.

We are endeavoring to make the big bits look smaller and the small bits look bigger.

Using the principle of “Trompe L’Oeil” we are creating the illusion of small looking bigger and bigger looking smaller.

 

We are not all beautiful oil paintings, but we can use this very old technique to look great in our swimwear.

 

There are lots of ideas to help you when purchasing swimwear in our

Ebook: “Buying the Perfect Cozzie”.

Download it from our Facebook page: facebook.com/Cozziesswimwear

or on our web site www.cozziesswimwear.com.au

 

There is also a video on buying swimsuits if you are short and round on youtube.com/cozzies145

 

 

 

 

The One-piece Swimsuit verses The Tankini

October 7th, 2011

The Tankini versus One Piece swimwear.

Lots of ladies who have always worn one-piece swimsuits ask about changing to Tankini’s. They wonder if the Tankini would be more comfortable and would offer them greater flexibility. Especially these days when we are often out all day in our swimwear.
There are benefits in both swimsuits. Its one of those things that come down to your body shape and how comfortable you are in the two-piece swimsuit.
The first thing to consider is your body shape.
I am short and round. I have gone from wearing a bikini when I was younger and slim to a one-piece swimsuit now. The one-piece swimwear gives my short round body some length. That is to say, one line through the body thus creating the impression of a longer bodyline (relatively speaking).
A Tankini breaks up the body and even though you can match Tankini and brief it will still make the body look shorter. This is not a problem if you are of average or taller height, but if you are at the shorter end of the scale the Tankini can make you look even shorter.
Another way to wear the Tankini is with a plain brief, this is great for the pear shaped body as the plain brief creates an illusion of a smaller bottom.
This will help balance the top and bottom and give the wearer a nice even look.
Another way to wear the Tankini is with either Board shorts or a Lycra swim-short. This more covered bottom gives a lot a ladies a sense of more security, especially when they are doing more than just laying round at the beach. If you are boating, on a cruise or just getting from the beach to home the Board short or Lycra swim-short offers a lot more coverage.
Swimwear is the most confronting clothing we wear. Dresses etc. cover a lot of what we don’t like about our bodies. With swimwear it is all there for the world to see. We need to feel that our swimwear is the best fit and style for our shape.
If you are considering changing from a One-piece to a Tankini go to a specialist swimwear store and try them on. Try the different combinations of Tankini with the matching brief, a plain brief and a Board short or Lycra swim-short.
Get advice from the sales assistant on the different styles on you. Never say no to a new style to quickly give it a few minutes before jumping in and saying no to the new look.
Just remember any new look you are considering must fit well and be comfortable for you. Don’t buy swimwear because it is the newest look, buy the swimwear that suits your body shape and is suitable for what you are doing.
Most importantly remember to enjoy your swimwear and your time in the sun……….

Winter Swimming

May 31st, 2011

It’s the start of June and in Oz thats marks the start of Winter, not exactly beach weather. The best way to keep that beach/bikini body is to keep swimming through these colder months.

There are lots of heated pools that you can go to and swim a few laps. Or maybe join a Water Aerobics class. Nice exercise, nice warm water and its non weight bearing. Easy on the joints.

There are lots of great chlorine resistant cozzies now. A lot are sporting styles that will sit on your body very neatly. Some really great bright colours and patterns have been introduced by companies like Way Funky. Also there are some lovely designs that suit and support the larger busted ladies.

Remember to keep trim and fit and when the summer comes around again you will be ready to wear the latest looks.

 

Swimwear comes in more colours than Black.

January 10th, 2011

I am so over ladies coming into our store and requesting a plain black cozzie. Please think about what you are doing. Don’t just mindlessly believe what the so called experts tell you. And definitely don’t listen to all the blurb on the evening shows. There are a lot of basics rules for the right cozzie for your body shape. Mostly you need to try on to get the right look for you. Believe me most ladies look better in a variety of cozzies in patterns or bright colours than they do in Black.

The truth is if you are a svelte size 10 you will look fabulous in a plain Black cozzie. You will also look fabulous in most cozzies you try on. If you are like most of us with a few more kilo’s than you would ideally like, you are most likely going to look like a blob in a plain Black cozzie. That plain Black cozzie hides nothing. You become one area of Black with nothing to break up the area or distract the eye.

If your tummy is large wear a cozzie with a feature at the to. Beads, pearls, diamontes all take away from the tummy you don’t like. Try a pattern on the bust area only or even of draping over the bust. All these things take the eye away from the area you are not happy with.

Conversely if your bust is large reverse the distraction. Draping over the tummy, pattern on the body of the cozzie combined with a plain top.

Patterns of all kinds will help break up the area, thus blending some of the lumps and bumps.

Take an objective look in the mirror, that plain Black cozzie shows every lump and bump on your body.

Go to a swimwear store and try on some patterns and different styles, look honestly at how you look.

If you still can’t cope with a pattern try some colours. It’s summer, bright and sunny. If you still want a plain cozzie bright colours could be right for you.

Use all the things you know about what you wear in clothing. When you buy a dress you have an idea of what is going to work. Do V-necks suit you or are you better in a square neck line. These same styles will suit you in swimwear. You will look much better in the right style and will be more comfortable if you are wearing styles that suit you.

The one thing I am sure of is that putting on a Black cozzie and trying to hide on the beach is not going to be the best way to enjoy the summer.

Getting the right cozzie is the best way to enjoy the beach, go to a specialist swimwear store and get some advice on what to wear. Try on as many cozzies as possible. You will find the right one and I’m sure it won’t be Black.!!!!!