It's a 4th of July Celebration!

What better way to celebrate our independence this 4th of July than by spending time with friends and family. The 4th is the quintessential summer time holiday. As one of the Senior Editors here at AWB I am more than excited to be heading off to the lake to celebrate. There is nothing more classic than celebrating the holiday floating in a lake, barbecuing, having a few beers, and enjoying some fireworks.

But like all of our editors I am constantly plagued by the thought that I will get there only to find out that I forgot to pack one of my essential items. So this year I created a checklist to ensure that my vacation goes off without a hitch. I plan to spend every moment I can hanging out in the sun, which makes light weight essentials that easily fit in my bag key.

1.) First, and most importantly, don't forget a bathing suit. If you remember nothing else remember this. Have fun with your suit this 4th of July. Wear a patriotic color, or try out a fun, fresh print.

2.) Next up, grab a bright and colorful towel. It will help you to stand out on the sand and you will be able to easily locate where you are when coming back out of the water.

3.) SUNSCREEN! Yes I am yelling because it is so important for a long weekend in the sun to make sure you are constantly applying sunscreen. Don't let a sunburn get in the way of your fun.

4.) Sunglasses are a must. Besides allowing you to people watch without being caught, they protect your eyes from the suns harmful rays. They also make reading out on the beach so much easier.

5.) Reading materials. Whether you are an old school traditionalist and prefer the comforts of books and magazines, or you are high tech and love the endless library of your tablet, bringing something to read is always a great idea.

6.) Water, water, water. It's important to stay hydrated while spending the day at the beach. That is not to say that having a few beers in between isn't an awesome plan, because it is, but just be sure to drink plenty of water while having fun in the sun.

7.) A great shade of nail polish. I don't generally carry my nail polish to the beach with me but I do count it as an essential because nothing says summer fun like a bright bold nail! So change up your regular nail polish before your trip and see what a great color can really do for you!

8.) Last but certainly not least is a beach bag. Find something that you love and make sure it is large enough to carry all of your essential items.

No matter what you decide to bring on your trip this holiday weekend, we here at AWB want to wish you a Happy 4th of July and look forward to hearing how you spent your holiday!

Shop for the 4th of July HERE!

Bikini Outfit of the Day: Little Black Bikini

It has been a well known secret of women that black makes us look thinner, and for all intents and purposes this is true. The concept that all black, or all dark colors, makes us appear thinner is for a multitude of reasons. It creates a monochromatic streamline for the eye which isn't broken up by other colors, making you appear longer and thinner. Dark colors also help to hide any bunching or curves in the fabric which would be more visible in lighter colors. When wearing black these imperfections are more difficult to see and therefore creates a more slimming look. The same is true when it comes to a Little Black Bikini (LBB). It helps to hide some of our flaws and always creates a sophisticated, put together look. Below we have selected our favorite LBB for each body shape. By selecting a style that flatters your body type and adds in the slimming effect of dark solid colors, these looks are sure to become your go to LBB.   

Hourglass

Apple

Pear

Rectangle

Find your perfect Little Black Bikini and more HERE

Straight From the Runway: Monokini Madness

Caitlin Kelly Swimwear, Aquarella Swimwear, Gottex, Aquaclara

One of our favorite runway trends at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Swim 2014 in Miami were monokinis. The monokini was originally designed as a topless one piece suit with a wide array of cutouts. Some styles have side or front cutouts or a combination of both. Others have sheer fabric connecting the top piece to the bottom, and some even wrap the fabric around in a unique design to create gaps and openings. Another great feature we loved seeing on the runway was all of the vivid colors, fresh prints, and amazing hardware.

There is a monokini for practically all body shapes. Most are best suited for hourglass figures as they provide additional support at the bust and show off a slim waist with cutouts along the side. Apples and fuller figured shapes may want to look for styles with more coverage around the waist and look more for plunging neckline cutouts. Pears want to look for suits with more detailing along the top half to draw the eye up and create a more proportionate appearance. Lastly, rectangles want to look for styles that create a well defined waist line. Look for suits with side cutouts or ones that have wrap around detailing around the waist. With so many options it's no surprise that the monokini has quickly become the perfect summer must have!

Shop the look and more HERE

Almost Happy Hour Drink of the Day...Mai Tai

Nothing welcomes the weekend better than Happy Hour! Unfortunately for many of us, myself included, it's not quite quittin' time yet.  In an attempt to help you prepare, we are rolling out cocktails inspired by some of our favorite suits. So let us help you relax, unwind, and escape until you can make it to the real thing.  Don't worry there are plenty of tiny umbrellas left for everyone!!

Clementine Indie Shorts

www.liquor.com

      

Mai Tai Ingredients:

• .75 oz Fresh lime juice
• .25 oz Rock candy syrup (2 parts sugar, 1 part water)
• .25 oz Orgeat almond syrup
• .5 oz Orange Curaçao
• 2 oz Premium aged rum (Appleton Estate 12-Year-Old, El Dorado 12- Year-Old)

Garnish: Lime rind and fresh mint sprig

Glass: Double Old Fashioned

Add all the ingredients to a shaker and fill with crushed ice. Shake vigorously until the shaker is well-chilled and frosty on the outside. Pour (unstrained) into a double Old Fashioned glass. Garnish with half of a juiced lime and a fresh mint sprig.

For our inspirational suit of the day and many more click HERE

For this drink and many more check out http://liquor.com/recipes/traditional-mai-tai/

The Many Bikinis of Kim Kardashian

We are beginning our Many Bikinis Series just in time for Spring/Summer 2014! We’ll be bringing you all the best bikinis from our favorite celebrities. What better way to start than with one of our favorites, Kim Kardashian!

Kim certainly knows how to work all of her curves! She has found what works for her and is sticking to it. As someone who wholeheartedly believes in this concept, perhaps Kim will inspire me to find my perfect suit. Her go to swimsuit style is the triangle top bikini. This classic style of top provides more support and is very flattering on a variety of body shapes. She also looks for a bottom that has moderate to full coverage with side ties. Any suit that's adjustable is a great option for ladies with a little more junk in the trunk! She keeps the same style suit fresh by rocking great solids, fun prints, exotic textures, and exciting hardware.

Shop Kim's look and more HERE with these similar styles!

 

DESIGNERS WE LOVE: CA BY VITAMIN A

 

It's all about fun and fresh from The New CA by Vitamin A line. With exciting new prints and reversible styles, it's never been easier to mix and match.  Want even more good news, these suits are super affordable starting around $100 and up! How do you embrace your carefree beach style? What is your favorite suit? Let us know.

For styles like these and many more click here.

ALL TIED UP

Move over florals, make way bright colors, and get ready for something a bit more exciting.
Cut outs and bandage suits are a fun and sexy way to enjoy your time in the sun. Looking to
add a little edge to your style? This is a great way to mix your feminine side with your wild side. There’s a suit for all adventure levels and whether it’s just a little something extra or a full, tie me up look, there is something for everyone.

Find your style, shop the look: