It’s day two here at MAGIC and what a an incredible two days we have had! For those of you who missed our first post, Azura Swimwear is in hot Las Vegas attending MAGIC, an annual fashion and designer swimwear tradeshow, held at the Las Vegas Convention Center and Las Vegas Hilton from August 25 to August 27, 2008.

There are over 250 women’s swimwear designers on show at MAGIC alone, not to mention some other designer swimwear labels showcasing at nearby tradeshow CURVE NV and PROJECT, so as you can imagine, we have had a very busy couple of days!

I know a lot of you may be interested to find out which amazing swimwear designers were present, so here’s a list of some of just some of the swimwear designers we saw…

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It’s that time of year again and boy are we excited. Yes, it’s the designer swimwear tradeshow season and we’re writing to you live from one of the biggest women’s swimwear trade shows of the year MAGIC in Las Vegas.

With the release of the new women’s swimwear collections each July in Miami at the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Miami Swim, the following few months are followed by a slew of trade shows like MAGIC, giving us, your wonderful swimwear stockists, the opportunity of reviewing (and going crazy over) the following year’s range.

MAGIC is an annual fashion trade show covering everything from handbags to designer jeans to accessories. And, of course, let us not forget its specialty division SWIM, a showcase of some of the most coveted designer swimwear labels in the industry.

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Get ready.

Get set.

Go!

Pack your bags and join us for the first installment of our series Vacation Love as we take a journey to some of the world’s most beautiful beaches. From the exotic and untouched beaches of the Philippines to the art deco glamour of France, Lifestyle Azura has scoured the earth in search of the perfect holiday destination… So all you need to do is choose your designer swimsuit and you’re ready to go! This week, we take a look at beaches a little off the common track, and in case you needed a little swimsuit inspiration, we’ve chosen the perfect bikini to match the lush surroundings…

Ain’t life wonderful?!

Byron Bay, Australia

Surrounded by glorious golden coastline as far as the eye can see, Australia is indeed home to many of the world’s most beautiful beaches. Throw in the Aussies and their laid back lifestyle, and you have a beach destination that’s hard to beat. Byron Bay, on Australia’s Pacific Coast, is one of the country’s best examples, blending the best that Australia has to offer, from great surf to bohemian chic and city savoir faire.

The look: Jade Mountain 2 by Sauvage Swimwear/ Ace by Birdie Jo Swimwear

You could go a couple of different ways here: 1) Choose designer bikinis that are feminine but not too sweet, like the Jade Mountain 2 by Sauvage Swimwear; or 2) Choose designer swimsuits that are funky and fun, like the Ace by Birdie Jo Swimwear. Don’t go for gaudy or over the top, women’s swimwear Byron Bay style is all about relaxed effort and unaffected cool. 

Boracay, Philippines

A land of close to 8000 islands, the Philippines certainly has its fair share of stunning beach destinations. But for pristine, crystal blue waters, tropical palm trees and a night life to match, Boracay appeals in more ways than one. Cruise around the islands by day and frolic in the warm waters by night… and don’t forget your cocktails!

The look: Hanky Panky by Beach Bunny Swimwear/ Kenya by Red Carter

Island holidays are always a little sexy, so meet the mood with designer swimwear to match. Think sultry and fun, like the black studded Hanky Panky by Beach Bunny Swimwear or the exotic with sexy swimwear like Kenya by Red Carter.

Puerto Escondido, Mexico

The Pacific Coast of Mexico is known worldwide for its stunning beaches and beautiful backdrops - from Los Cabos to Acapulco and Puerto Vallarta. But when it comes to big waves and bohemian cool, nothing beats Puerto Escondido. Here, lazy days are spent sipping cervezas, relaxing in the cool breeze and watching the day turn to night over crashing waves…

The look: Chains by Sauvage Swimwear/ White Ruffle by Maya Swimwear

To match the chilled out vibe, choose a simple, unadorned designer swimsuit. Bright whites and bold blacks, like the Chains by Sauvage Swimwear and White Ruffle by Maya Swimwear, are a great choice for these types of designer bikinis - you’ll look radiant and dazzling without looking you like you put thought into it at all. 

Biarritz, France

Set in the Basque region, a gorgeous coast line land straddling northern Spain and France, Biarritz was the holiday destination du jour in the first half of the 20^th century. Lined with gorgeous art deco buildings and decorated walkways along the beach, an indefinable elegance still floats in the air. Indeed, Biarritz is still one of France’s most sophisticated beach destinations, but modern times and the discovery of some of Europe’s best surfing waves have attracted a younger crowd too, creating an electric vibe of old-world charm and youthful vibrancy.

The look: Venezia by Sauvage Swimwear / Spellbound by Beach Bunny

A touch of class is the call of the day in Biarritz. But a little fun and flirting is always on the agenda! Choose designer swimsuits, like the Venezia by Sauvage Swimwear or Spellbound by Beach Bunny, with beaded detailing or enamel adornments for a high class touch. But remember, for sophisticated yet sexy designer bikinis, less is more - don’t go overboard with lots of colors. Stick to one color swimsuits and let the detailing work their magic.

While we’ve enjoyed the black bikini bonanza we’ve had here at Azura Swimwear the last couple of weeks, we felt maybe it was time for a change.

But with such a wonderful lineup of black Bikinis of the Week, it was going to have to be a truly standout swimsuit to match the grade.But when our eyes fell on this swimsuit, the Cardozo by Maya Swimwear, the decision was made.  There was no doubt about it.

Cardozo by Maya Swimwear

When talking about Maya Swimwear, we’ve always felt compelled to talk about the Maya Swimwear signature cut. And there’s good reason for it. This sexy swimwear label knows what it’s doing when it comes to the female figure. In fact, it has mastered it - Maya Swimwear really only has a couple of different styles, with a few variations to the bikini tops and bottoms thrown in here and there. But with such strong signatures, they don’t have much need to experiment! And the Cardozo bikini, in all its Ruffle Cut glory, is no different…

Typically, we see Maya Swimwear in their stunning block colors, but they also do incredible prints, with the Cardozo bikini being a standout example. I think what I love most about Maya Swimwear’s choice of prints is that they really match the bikini they’re placed with. I know that sounds like something that is a given, but when you’re working with signature cuts, it’s easier said than done. For less quality and designer driven women’s swimwear labels, I’ve definitely seen the easy road taken, with both the signature cut and swimwear print design being great, but the two not matching up. Maya Swimwear always does a great job of creating a symbiosis between the two, and again the Cardozo serves as a shinning example of this.

We’re also seeing a lot of bikinis this season (and next season too… but I’ll tell you more about that another time!) come in the ‘mismatched’ bikini top and bottom print design. In our opinion, the look is incredibly hot! It also has a bohemian feel to it and came about when the whole trend of buying separate bikini tops and bottoms first came into fashion. And while it can look great doing it yourself, when you see a bikini like the Carodzo by Maya Swimwear, you understand why these swimwear designers are the experts!  The Cardozo bikini, in it tones of white, black and steel grey, is sizzling both upstairs and down…

The Cardozo bikini comes with a sliding triangle top with ties at both the neck and back. And let’s not forget the adorable ruffle trim, which you’ll also find on the bikini bottoms. Speaking of which, the bottoms also have an alluring hipster shape at the front along with Maya Swimwear’s gorgeous, and ulter-flattering, ruched inner seam at the back.

So until next week, we leave you with this beautiful bikini, the Cardozo by Maya Swimwear. It’s a hot number this season, so if you’re looking for something with a bohemian temperament, but is still sleek and sexy, than the Cardozo is definitely the bikini for you…

  Click here now to purchase Cardozo by Maya Swimwear!

Ok, I’m not going to deny it. We are indeed in the midst of a black bikini frenzy here at Azura Swimwear! But with so many beautiful offerings, and each so unique, it was hard to pass them by. While we’ve seen some stunning black numbers by Sauvage Swimwear and Birdie Jo, this week is all about Beach Bunny Swimwear and a little Hanky Panky…

Hanky Panky by Beach Bunny Swimwear

You have to give it to Beach Bunny and designer Angela Chittenden - not only are the swimsuits gorgeous, but they come with such creative, and fitting, names. With silver nail-head detailing, reminiscent of a biker’s jacket, highlighting the ultra sexy keyhole sides, this black bikini can’t help but evoke images of a little Hanky Panky. But in true Beach Bunny style, this bikini is all class, perfectly straddling that fine mix of sophistication and sex appeal.

I might also even be tempted to describe the bikini as a little girly. Bandeau tops always ooze femininity, and with large tie sides, the school girl look is complete. No wonder she called it Hanky Panky…

But while this designer swimsuit follows the Beach Bunny mould - bikinis that are super sexy and one of a kind - it’s definitely one that you could wear more regularly. Like anything black - your favorite black shoes or your little black dress - you can wear black bikinis on any occasion.

Hanky Panky comes fully lined, but unlike most bandeau style bikinis, the top has adjustable eyehooks ensuring a perfect fit and superior shape for the bust. On the bottom, the bikini is Brazilian cut at the back and low rise hipster shaped at the front. There are also fixed side ties which elongate the figure and create a more flattering look for the body. When it comes to swimwear, those added touches can mean a world of difference.

And while I may have already mentioned the silver nail-head detailing, it’s worth bringing it up again. These make the swimsuit. When combined with the hint of skin seen through the striking keyhole sides and the black of the fabric, the look is seriously smouldering.

So if you’re on the search for a beautiful black bikini, or a bikini in general, then take a look at the Hanky Panky. It’s sexy, sweet and rock ‘n’ roll at its very best!

  Click here now to buy Hanky Panky by Beach Bunny Swimwear!