Israel has been celebrating its 60th birthday this week, so let's be topical and take a look at our favourite Israeli export - superglam swimwear brand Gottex, which marked its own 50th birthday recently (check out the vintage pics on the brand's official site).
left to right: Casino one-piece £137, Fascination one-piece £143, Yacht Club one-piece £143.
Australian Fashion Week ends today so let's mark the occasion with a look at Zimmermann, one of the designers who showed on the catwalk earlier this week. What we're loving for summer 08? The sweetest prints on the beach, both from the Zimmermann main line and the Shine diffusion range. On the left: Zimmermann bikini £103. On the right: Shine by Zimmermann bikini top £35 and pant £30.
Now that we've just enjoyed the first sunny weekend of the year (and I have the sunburn to prove it), this week might be a good time to highlight some designer swim brands that recently arrived on the site:
Let's kick off with lingerie designer Mimi Holliday's debut swim collection which features the designer's trademark balconette bras fashioned into feminine beachwear - think frills, bows and polka dots. Bonus feature? Some of the best cotton kaftans of the season. Olive kaftan £83, polka dot bikini top £48 and pant £36.
Some cheering ecological news today. The bikini might have gone from strength to strength since its invention in 1946, but what of the Bikini Atoll that inspired its name? Some intrepid scientists have been finding out what happened after the American atom bomb testing - and the coral, it turns out, is remarkably healthy all things considered.
Image from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies; find out more here.
Pictured on the left is Sudanese supermodel Alek Wek, lending her support to Speedo's Swim Around the World initiative. Register to take part on 5 April and you'll pay a one-off fee of $5, which will buy a bednet impregnated with insecticide (but do feel free to raise more money for the cause once you've registered). And there's more: Speedo has created a special range of World Swim against Malaria swimwear and will be donating a bednet for every piece you buy.
For more info and to register for the swim, click here. (And if you do take part, let us know how you get on).
Sporty swim brand Speedo turns 80 this year and to celebrate, it launched the LZR Racer swimsuit yesterday - independent testing has shown it to be the world's fastest swimsuit, no less. Michael Phelps will be wearing one in Beijing this year; here he is modelling it, Robbie-style, as a hologram.
image: Getty Images for Speedo
Thanks to sharp eyed Desta in our Buying department for spotting this Freya bikini on last night's episode of America's Next Top Model. In shimmery shades of gold (the season's top swim trend, everyone!), it was featured in the auditions stage. Meanwhile, check out tonight's episode of Ladette to Lady to see how the girls get on at Cliveden in some beautiful bikinis from figleaves.com.
Now here's an early candidate for the swimwear piece of the year. Miraclesuit - the brand that promises to make you look 10lbs lighter in 10 seconds (very useful at this time of year) - has gone all colourful on us for spring/summer 08. This bright red one-piece, complete with a dashing and very flattering ruffle down the front, has just hit the site. Wrap your curves in colour for £99.
Booked any exotic (or not so exotic) getaways for the New Year? Must say the Caribbean, left, looks particularly tempting at this time of year. Here's our guide to what to wear if you are lucky enough to be catching some sun this winter, be it in the Caribbean, the Canaries or a South African safari. Go!
If you're worrying about looking less than svelte on a winter holiday this year, maybe Jennifer Love Hewitt, who has hit back after criticism of her bikini body in the media last week, can help. Reasons to give Jennifer a break: as she rightly points out on her blog, a size 2 is not fat. And she's fighting the fight for all of us. "To all girls with butts, boobs, hips and a waist, put on a bikini -- put it on and stay strong." You heard the woman - go flaunt.
Feeling better? Bikinis here.
