How To Pack the Perfect Beach Bag

Like anything in life, it takes planning.  From something as large as a wedding to something as small as a beach bag, it takes planning or your experience may be less than you expected.  What you bring to the beach is not simply a grab and go business. The idea is to get there and whatever happens, you do not need to leave your spot or cut your beach time short because you have what you need in your bag.

First, you need to buy a beach bag.  Make sure it is big enough for all your things because you don't want to look like a bellhop.  Keep it simple...one bag.  A good beach bag can be found at most department stores and specialty shops. Make sure the bag is tough enough to carry all your things and do the job many times over, meaning it is durable and is not going kaput after one use.

Put the following items in the bag: beach towels, cover-up or light jacket, swimsuit (or put it on before you get there), flip-flops or sandals, books or magazines, sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher), aloe vera (you just never know), sunglasses, hat, snacks, beverages, MP3 player (ipod or whatever you have for music), cell phone (fully charged), wallet or purse with cash/credit cards, a change of clothes (including underwear). Optional items to bring to make the day extra awesome include, a beach chair, beach umbrella, and beach toys or sporting goods.  This is a basic list of things to bring.  You can add whatever else you feel is necessary.

You need to remember to bring more than one towel because one is for sitting on and the other is to dry yourself off with. Nothing worse than not having enough towels...it is very inconvenient.  Don't forget to include an insulated bag to keep your food and snacks cool if refrigeration is necessary. Insulated bottles are good too to keep your beverages cold.

This is why the beach bag needs to be big.  Here is a tip...if you put the towels at the bottom of the bag it will help you get everything else in a little easier.  Now you are ready to go!

Summary of Fall 2013 Fashion Trends

So you didn't make it to New York, London, Milan or Paris for any of the Fashion Week big reveals. Don't worry, you can still be fashion forward, in style, fashion fierce, trendy, you name it. This is a quick run down of what is trending this fall.  Most of us don't have thousands to spend, but that does not mean you can't look good still.

Now, get your note pad out.... Get yourself some nice outerwear.  A cool parka, nice leather, just to name a few, are all good.  Different lengths, colors, fabrics are great to experiment with, so have fun.  A great coat will be the focus of your look.  Be careful! If you put on a striking coat, don't go crazy with the outfit underneath.  Keep it simple. The coat is the article of clothing you want to emphasize, not compete with.

Next, get yourself a cute hat.  Didn't think you had the head for it?  Well, this is the year and season to try it.  A beanie goes with everything! If you want to experiment, try a cool fedora, knit, or even a baseball cap.  There is a hat for every occasion!

Classic prints are back!  Put away the florals, and crazy designs.  Houndstooth is the print to have. It adds a chic and professional look to your wardrobe, so wear it to work. It goes with everything, so you cannot go wrong.  You thought you had to put the leopard print away?  You can keep it for fall. You can jazz it up with different colors of leopard...pink or red are options.

Let's talk about colors now.  If green is your favorite color, you are in luck. It is the color to have. Emerald green is perfect for the fall.   Heels and bags are other ways to wear this fabulous color.  The military inspired look is trending this fall, so that means khaki green is also going to be a popular color pick.  Good news! You can still wear white after Labor Day.  It is called winter white! This will be great against all the dark fall colors. 

Layering is also a hot trend this fall.  Mixing different textures with bottoms and tops is a definite do.  However, do not put so many layers on that you look bulky. Sheer is good for this and keeping the pieces looking streamlined is key.  Don't go crazy with too many different colors and patterns and end up looking like an eyesore.

Peplums are still here.  If you have not tried this type of top, you may be surprised.  It can help add curves and define your waist.  It can look great depending on what you select, so take the time to find the right one for you.

Finally, leather is great to have this fall, so invest in a nice piece or two. Just don't wear it from head to toe, unless you want to look like you belong on the back of a Harley.

So, ready to go shopping to jump start your fall wardrobe and look fashion forward?

Making More Sense of Sun Protection Products | The Ingredients

You put your bikini on, you know what SPF is and that you need to select a product with a level of at least 30, but higher is better in this case. You know the sun emits radiation in the form of UVA and UVB. You know how each kind can harm your skin. That's a great start! Now what?

There are lots and lots of sun protection products out on the market which means lots of different ingredients as well.  To best help you understand what to look for, we are going to point out two basic ingredients to look for and why.  We will also list the ingredients you do not want to put on your skin.  Everything else in between can be considered at your own discretion and preference.

First we need to discuss the two types of sunscreens: physical barriers and chemical barriers.  Physical barriers are what they say they are.  They prevent the sun's rays from penetrating your skin and cause them to scatter instead. Chemical barriers are different because they are absorbed into your skin and from there they absorb the sun's rays before they can cause damage to your skin.  Although effective, there is a question of safety that surrounds them.

There are three ingredients in sunscreen products that should be avoided:  oxybenzone, octyl methoxcycinnamate (OCC), and retinyl palmitate (a form of vitamin A). Oxybenzone is a common ingredient found in a lot of products and it may well be in the product you are using right now. It has a reputation of being a potential hormone disruptor, can cause allergic reactions and penetrates the skin in large amounts. Sunlight can cause oxybenzone to form free radicals which means it will cause skin to prematurely age.  Who wants that? OCC is commonly found in products as well and it is toxic when exposed to sunlight. Great! The last thing to avoid is retinyl palmitate. Yes, it can help slow the skin's aging process, but once exposed to sunlight in a sunscreen, it also forms free radicals and can harm you. 

So what's left to use?  Good old zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are your best bets.  They are also safe to use on children as recommended by pediatricians.  The new formulations that are available now are not heavy feeling and provide the protection you need. 

The next time you go shopping for sunscreen just keep these ingredients in mind and hopefully it will help you make the best choice possible for yourself. We want you to stay safe in the sun while you look beautiful in your swimwear.

We are not health experts, but we want to pass along information that we feel is helpful to our fellow readers and followers to help you start your own research. 

How To Pick the Right Color Swimsuit

Now that you have decided on what cut and style of swimwear suits your body, you have to make a second decision. What color??? Print or solid?

The most difficult task is already done, so take a breather and relax.

Black is an easy color to go with. If in doubt, go dark.  It helps minimize the parts that you do not want to emphasize.  It is safe. However, be careful because as much as black helps conceal and minimize, you may want to emphasize what you have instead.  For instance if you have a smaller bust, black will not help, so black is not for everyone all the time.

Color helps emphasize or create the illusion of having more. If you want to look like you have a larger bust or a more round bottom, a colored swimwear piece will help. A splash of color will draw attention and play up whatever curves you want to put emphasis on.

Now, just because you have a large bust, does not mean you always have to wear black on top. Color is still your friend, but just not the bright ones.  Stick with a  pastel color or less intense hue, such as a creamy hue. They will actually help de-emphasize that area.  Just make sure whatever bikini top you pick provides you plenty of support. That is first and foremost the most important decision that precedes color selection.

Who gets to wear stripes? Stripes are for ladies who want to help add emphasis on body length.  Like all stripes, they help elongate. Wear it if you want to look taller or stretch out your trunk or legs. The bikini cut you wear can help do this, so it's not entirely necessary to wear stripes.

Who gets to wear prints? If a two piece bikini is not for you or you are not quite sure about it, a one piece swimsuit with a darker print can help and will give you a slimmed down appearance. How? Simply by drawing the focus to the print pattern and not on curves or bulges that you don't want attention on. Unlike stripes which are only

for a select number of women, a print can be for anyone! It just makes things a little extra exciting if the swimsuit cut or style doesn't accomplish that already by itself.

Don't forget, it is okay to mix and match! There is no rule that says you have to have the same color for the top and bottom. A print on top and solid color on bottom or color on top and black on bottom, etc..

We hope this helps you get a better sense of how to approach the task of swimsuit shopping. It can be super fun! Surprise yourself!

Making Sense of Sun Protection Products | What is SPF?

You want to spend a fabulous day out on the beach in your beautiful swimwear, but you don't want to get burned.  Do you get confused looking at all those products made to help protect you from the sun's harmful rays?  Well, it's not easy and plenty confusing with all those choices out on the skincare aisle.  I can go on and on about this subject such as the different ingredients, spray, lotion, UVA, UVB, etc..

Today, we begin the first part of a blog series to help you make sense of it all. Before we can even talk about SPF, we need to know what UVA/UVB is. UVA and UVB are the types of ultraviolet rays that come from the sun. UVA rays are the type that go deep into your skin and contribute to aging ("A" for aging!). UVB rays are the ones that give you a sunburn when you get too much ("B" for burn!).

You got it! Now let's move on to SPF and what number to pick. SPF is short for sun protection factor. This is a measurement of how well a sunscreen can protect you from a burn. Yes, this is ONLY a measurement of UVB ray protection, so that is why when selecting a product it is critical to make sure it says "UVA/UVB protection" OR "broad spectrum coverage" on there.

So what does the SPF measurement mean for you? Multiplying the SPF number by 10 will tell you how long you can be safe in the sun in an ideal or perfect situation before burning. "Ideal" means no sweating or water involved here, which is not realistic. 

Example: SPF 20 x 10 = 200 minutes of sun protection

So how high of an SPF is necessary? The fairer or more sensitive your skin the higher the better. Everyone should use at least a minimum SPF of 30.  I prefer higher because there is no perfect situation in real life and there is no reversal once the damage is done. I'd rather see everyone have fun for a greater span over the course of their lives. Sunscreen will still allow you to get color while out in the sun. Do not be mislead. Always reapply and use liberally.

I hope this has helped you understand SPF better and will help you stay safe in the sun especially on days that you venture out in your bikini.

Visit us on Pinterest to see what sun protection products we like and to get more information about sun protection.

How To Find the Right Swimwear For Your Body Type

You often find information out there referring to at least 5 different body shapes: pear, apple, hourglass, rectangle and cone. We all know that this is simply a generalization because we are not made from basic molds. Every body is going to have some variation. 

Here at Deja Soleil Swimwear we think it is more helpful to recognize that women come in different combinations of these body shapes.  We do use the term pear shaped, but we also recognize that women fall into the following categories as well: smaller bust, larger bust, larger belly, straight body, athletic body, and narrow hips/small behind.
With that in mind we think it is best to mix and match in most situations. An off the rack matching bikini set may not give a woman the perfect fit both on the top and the bottom.  Customization is key in this type of situation.

So, the first thing you need to do, based on this body guide, is to decide what best describes your body shape. Be honest now.  It's important to wear the appropriate cut for your body because in order to really "rock it", you have to be wearing the right swimsuit. There really is a swimsuit out there for every woman.

Women who have a smaller bust should consider a halter top because it will help lift or enhance what is there. Find one with a little extra padding or one that has a design that will help give extra support below the bust line like padding would. Similarly, if you have a larger bust, support is essential and a halter top is the best choice as well. 

For someone with a larger belly, a well cut one piece can be very flattering to the curves that you want to accentuate while at the same time redirecting the focus from the mid area.

On the flip side, someone who has a straight body figure would want to try a string bikini.  The more that is covered up, the straighter and less curvy the body is going to appear. Less is more in this case.  A string bikini will show off the body shape and add curves. The bikini is also a great choice for a pear shaped woman for the same reasons it works for the straight body type. Excess coverage will only emphasize the body shape, but a string bikini will help add curves.

 

Athletic body typed women look great in detailed bikini tops because they help draw attention away from broad shoulders. Next pair it with a sexy bottom to add femininity to a boyish shape.

Finally, women who have narrow hips/small behind should focus on getting a bottom piece that will help give the illusion of fullness. Decorative side ties will add curves and look for bottom pieces with detail such as a ruched look in the back will make your bottom appear less flat as well.

Do not buy something that you are not comfortable in, but at the same time, be brave.  You may not think you will look good in it, but you don't know that for sure until you try it on. Women do this to themselves all the time. You will be amazed!

Okay, now you have your swimwear. You look good in it. Let's hit the beach!

If you would like more tips and ideas on this topic come visit us on Pinterest.

Welcome To Our Deja Soleil Swimwear Blog

Hello Fashion and Sunshine Enthusiasts,

Bookmark this page as we hope it will be a frequent site for you to visit! Not only will we be talking about swimwear topics, but we will reach out to topics that most modern women are interested in as well. We encourage everyone to also visit us on Pinterest to get a good look at our areas of interest and how they may relate to you.  Besides our latest swimwear collection, we often post recipes, fitness ideas, great product finds, swimwear tips, and eye catching fashion finds. Our primary goal is to share our ideas on how to be fit and healthy and stay looking good, so you can look fabulous everyday in and out of the water. We are not experts in every field, but the one area we DO know is how to have fun in the sun and to do it in style. Be sure to join us weekly on our blog and for our daily thoughts come see us on Twitter.

Thanks for joining us!