NORMAN HARTNELL SAYS... Buy A Swimsuit Early

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32386, 27 August 1970, Page 2

NORMAN HARTNELL SAYS... Buy A Swimsuit Early

LONDON. Women always shop for Beach clothes in the worst possible way, says Norman Hartnell.

They walk into a shop in the middle of a heatwave, and spend far too much on a swimsuit that does not do much for them because they dislike the business of trying on swimsuits, and want to get out of the shop as quickly as possible. In fact, the time to buy a swimsuit is at least four months before you need it. Take at least a dozen swimsuits into the fitting room, and try each of them on. Just what should you ex?ect a swimsuit to do for you? o my mind, it should support you like a firm and flattering corselette. It should give you colour, shape where you need it (premoulded bust section for example), and subtract inches where you do not need them —round the tummy, seat and thighs. Do not buy a suit wktich wrinkles round the midriff when you try it on, or one which is too short and needs constant tugging down. Always buy a suit which incorporates an aqua-bra—a preformed bust section, or a bra incorporated into the suit —so that you do not get bust “sag” when swimming. Look out for qualities that show that the swimsuit is “structually sound.” Many corsetry companies make swimsuits, and these are generally made from the inside out, or from foundation outwards. Thighs Problem

They are usually excellent buys, since the makers know that tummies need flattening, bust sections need good support, and few women have

such shapely thighs that they need cutaway legs. Many women, especially those who do not get sufficient exercise, feel self-conscious about plump thighs, and try to disguise them either by tugging down the pants of the swimsuit, or buying a swimsuit with a brief skirt The latter are often hard to And today, as skirted swimsuits are out of fashion. Tugging down the pants of a swimsuit merely looks unsightly and draws attention to the offending thigh. Instead, try a swimsuit that ends in brief shorts: many of the latest terry suits are made like this, and the “disguise” is attractive as well as fashionable, if your thighs are plumpish. A new idea in two-piece suits is a bra and trunks. The trunks are like shorts, and very flattering to those women who are not 16 any more.

One-piece suits with scoop backs and fairly low necklines are very pretty. Ask for a suit with detachable straps for suntanning and ’ an optional skirt for crossing the road to the beach. New Styles Every year brings its change In swimwear fashions, styling and colour, and 1970 is no exception. I like the “swimwear wardrobes”—very plain in style but bold in colour or pattern —which have a tailored look. You buy a bikini and a onepiece suit, perhaps in floral terry, which match each other.

Then you buy plain hipster pants to tone with, say, the tangerine, in the pattern. Now consider a mini skirt in tangerine too, or perhaps a mini shift to wear over the bikini or swimsuit, to bug you dry and dress you up aS you walk along the beach when the sun has gone down.

What about a tangerine shirt or top for wear over the bikini or swimsuit? Wraparound skirts, caftan dresses and Bermudas are all fashionable extras this year. If it is a suntan you are after, consider the new suntan bikini, made of treated cotton which allows you to suntan through it, but modestly. Some of the new Continental suntan bikinis do not even need suntan oil as they are treated with a special formula which acts as a filter, or screening agent.

Shaped Panels

Some of the latest suits are very modest, with sleeves and pockets, like catsuits with shorts. Others have big cutouts. which reveal just as much as the law allows.

Knitted swimsuits are still intensely popular. Colours to look for this year are saffron, honey pink, royal, kingfisher, sapphire, carmine red and peacock. Many swimsuits come in two colours plus a trim of Crisp white. Remember that white can do a lot to slim a woman visually. Look for a suit with a white trim in cleverlyshaped panels which are eyedeceiving and seem to whittle away the inches. And, do not forget accessories. Invest in an elegant raffia beach basket and sandals, a swimcap that turns into a sunhat, elasticated swim-glasses, 3-D beach “jew-

ellery” in plastic and you will find you are suddenly so with-it, that the model girls will be queueing up to ask you where you shop.