It is always a treat to see Karen Nielsen’s swimwear designs on parade. And although the same collection was presented earlier in the year, the pieces at Rosemount Sydney Fashion Festival made a splendid opening to the Splash event. Examining the vintage inspired one-pieces or the high-waisted black bikinis, it is clear that every woman, no-matter their size or shape, will be looking good in a design by Karen Nielsen.

In the only parade at Rosemount Sydney Fashion Festival that was totally dedicated to swimwear, the designs of Lisa Maree were sure to make an appearance. Lisa Maree is no stranger to the runways of Australian fashion weeks, but this label is not a fashion veteran yet. The design innovation in the colours and shapes of this swimwear demonstrates that Lisa Maree is a designer on the way up.

Daughter Of The Gods was third onto the runway, but it was the first time most members of the audience had heard of them. The bronzed models were adorned with feathers and fluros. The way the models strutted confidently reflects the mantra of the label. Daughter of The Gods was named after the movie made to tell the story of the first woman who demanded the right to wear comfortable and revealing swimwear.

Hotel Bondi Swim’s collections were oh-so-very Sydney. Within each piece the sights and sounds of Sydney’s world famous beachs and nightspots were echoed loudly.

While Hotel Bondi Swim echoed the sights and sounds of Sydney, Bond-Eye shouted them. The colourful prints on the Bond-Eye fabric sung praises of the hot and floral Australian Summer and the way it is celebrated in Bondi.

Sol Bellow is not a widely known about brand, but, with the way each piece has been designed to flatter every body shape, it will soon be a well known brand to beach-goers. Sol Below spreads design inspiration slink black one-pieces to micro-sized scorching red bikinis. The result of the different colours and shapes made a stimulating catwalk show that got the crowd excited for the Summer ahead.

On a boiling day, there is no better feeling than to drape the body with silk and rest poolside. Colin Heaney’s silk kaftans catored for this desire. There were rain-forrest greens and sunburnt reds flowing down the catwalk. For every different emotion evoked by Summer, Colin Heaney catored with a design.

After seeing the models strut the newest swimwear designs, it became clear that skimpy bikinis are the way to go. For Spring/Summer 2010, modesty comes in the form of a kaftan – to be stripped off in moments of heat. The look to-die-for this season is the same as every summer: a perfectly toned and tanned body with just a whisper of colour to complement the natural physique.

BLK1 Article: ELLEN CROSLEY BLK1 Photographer: www.petersollner.com

Images and Article: © BLK1 2008-2010. All Rights Reserved.

I’ve been struggling to write a review about Australia’s Next Top Model over the past weeks. Now the Rift-Raff have gone and the girls have had their much needed hair make overs, exposed in episode three, it’s clear who the front runners are. Over the past few episodes the girls have strutted their stuff at Rosemount Australian Fashion Week and posed to show their natural beauty in front of a camera.

Here is BLK1′s Top Four girls (this will change weekly).

First Place: Kelsey - She is my favourite so far even though she’s 172cm. Alex Perry calls her a midget but don’t forget she’s taller then Kate Moss and Australia’s current ‘it’ model, Bambi. A Byron Bay beauty with an inner cool chic edge.Her photos are flawless and like Harper Bazaar’s Claudia Navone said, “there’s something special about her”. I don’t think she will win but I hope she goes far.

Second Place: Jessica - A leggy 5Ft 11 stunner. I don’t know what it is about this girl but she has it. Keep an eye out for this one.

Third: Kathryn – She’s an international model in the making. Why hasn’t she been working as a model already??? Kathryn on a catwalk??? It’s a no brainer. Can’t wait to watch her grow.

Fourth: Amanda - I like her. Her personality is sweet and she would make a good commercial model. She reminds me of previous Next Top Model contestant, Kristy Coulcher.

Other models (or reality stars in the making) still in the running include Kimberly (who needs to stop trying to copy off girls from previous seasons. You’re no Cassi Van Den Dungen ) and Paris Hilton look-a-like Sophie. Both girls need a day with June Dally-Watkins. Judges favourite Joanna is interesting but just not sold yet.

Now for the worst models of this year’s season. Please note: I will not be kind. The reality of the modelling industry certainly isn’t.

First: Ashlea – Thank god they got rid of her. She had no model material. Much more like Lindsay Lohan stomping down a catwalk.

Second: Claire – enough said.

Third: Ashton – She may have the measurements and the look but she is a magical flop in front of the camera and really didn’t have the heart for it.

I’m predicting ineloquent sounding Chantal to go in next weeks elimination. She is so boring.

The girls have a long way to go to measure to the likes of the very dull but sensational Alice Burdeu, the superb Clare Venema ( who should be modelling around the world but choose the boring school life of Adelaide) and of course could-be Supermodel Cassi Van Den Dungen.

More to come in following weeks…

Catch Australia’s Next Top Model on Fox 8 every Tuesday from 7.30pm.

Article: SUNNY BURNS

Samantha Harris for Seafolly

Samantha Harris will follow the path of many Australia supermodels and join forces with iconic swimwear and lifestyle brand, Seafolly. After appearing on the cover of Vogue Australia, Harris will join top model Jessica Hart, to help launch the Seafolly Summer 2010 campaign.

Seafolly has launched many successful Australian models including Miranda Kerr, Catherine McNeil, Kristy Hinze and Alyssa Sutherland. The campaign was shot on Queensland’s Brampton Island in June by photographer, Max Doyle.

Seafolly is available at major department stores, Seafolly Concept stores and selected boutiques around the world. For further information or to find your nearest Seafolly stockist, phone 1300130 715 or visit www.seafolly.com.au

BLK1 Article: SUNNY BURNS

Images and Article: © BLK1 2008-2010. All Rights Reserved.

The 2009-2010 USA Swimming Grand Prix concluded in Los Angeles on July 11, with Chloe Sutton crowned the overall Grand Prix Series High Point winner, collecting a total of $20, 000 in prize money. 

The Grand Prix series consists of eight meets, beginning in Minneapolis on November 13, 2009, with the Los Angeles meet added to the calendar for the first time this year.

The Los Angeles meet was held at the University of Southern California from July 8-11.

Ms Sutton, who was a member of 2008 USA Olympic swimming team, put in an overwhelmingly dominant performance throughout this Grand Prix series, winning a total of sixteen gold medals, six silver and one bronze, earning a total of 99 points.

Her win is even more remarkable considering Ms Sutton did not compete in the Santa Clara meet of the Grand Prix series.

The race for second and third place in the Grand Prix series was much tighter, with Dagny Knuston coming in second place with a total of six gold medals and seven silver, earning 52 points and managing to narrowly defeat Dana Vollmer, who came in third place with a total of nine gold medals as well as one silver and bronze, earning 49 points.

Three meet records fell on day four of competition in Los Angeles, with Dana Vollmer setting a new record in the women’s 100m butterfly with a time of 57.39.

Rebecca Soni set a new record in the women’s 100m butterfly with a time of 1:06.23 and Kosuke Kitajima also established a new record for the men’s 100m butterfly, finishing the event with a time of 1:00.02.

Mr Kitajima also set a new meet record in day three of the meet in the men’s 200m breaststroke with a time of 2:11.14

On Day 3 of the Los Angeles meet, Katie Hoff shattered a ten year record in the women’s 400m freestyle, which had been set by Claudia Poll in 2000.

Ms Hoff completed the women’s 400m freestyle with a time of 4:06.21, which was almost three seconds faster than the record set by Poll, which was 4:09.04

And finallykick-started the Los Angeles meet with a bang by setting a new meet record (8:31.05) in the prelims of the women’s 800m freestyle

On day two, Ziegler followed up this performance by managing to shatter her own record in the finals of the women’s 800m freestyle, with a time of 8:25.89, which beat the record she had just set on day one by five seconds

BLK1 Article: [Justin Macdonald] BLK1 Photographer: [PETER SOLLNER OR OTHER PHOTOGRAPHER]

Images and Article:

Anna & Boy’s Spring/Summer 2010/11 collection was comprised of the binary ideas: tight and skimpy or loose and covering-all.

Bikini’s were made up of small squares of fabric with blocks of colour.

The rest of the collection features bright, flowing maxi dresses, again with blocked colours. There were also a few nature inspired modesty tops which would be perfect for slapping on over a bikini at a day at the beach.

The overall tone from the runway at Anna & Boy was casual. Everything that was paraded is highly wearable and can be expected to sell well in stores. There also seemed to be a cutesy undertone running down the catwalk, with the models sweet smiles expressing the attitude of the designers very clearly. Anna & Boy’s Spring/Summer 2010/11 collection is all about pure and simple beachy fun.

BLK1 Photographer: Victoria Rika-Heke

Images: © BLK1 2008-2010. All Rights Reserved.

White Sands, as always, put on a show that made audiences sigh for the absence of Summer in May. The Cargo Theatre at Rosemount Australian Fashion Week was bathed in warm, yellow light to show the swimwear and resort wear in the same way that it would appear if it was seen in the sunshine.

The collection featured white one-piece swimwear, which wrapped around the female curves to demonstrate the wearers feminine beauty.

The white tight swimwear was contrasted with black maxi dresses that were fanned to show what the wearer would look like if they were walking through a Summer breeze.

High waists featured prominently in White Sands Spring/Summer 2010/2011 collection. Bikinis were designed to flatter the female chest and draw attention in a subtle way.

White Sands offers a swimwear collection which features something for everybody with all kinds of cuts and colours.

BLK1 Photographer: Michael Greves

Zimmermann are famed for their bright colours and frilly cuts. It was a shock to audiences when models wearing white faces with vampish black lips were sent down the runway in monochromatic prints. Everything for the first few minutes of the Zimmerman show was black and white. These shades were contrasted through geometric, psychedelic patterns on long wavy pants and tight, high waisted shorts.