Under My Skin

CEBU, Philippines -  There are the retro-style bikinis which are God’s gift to sun worshippers who wish to conceal some midsection imperfections here and there and then there are the more classic cut maillots and bikinis which are considered to be the bane of the bunch for those who have less than perfect bodies and for those who are deprived of ripped abs.

Sad to say, this article will not be one for the everyday, average built Pinay. Instead, this will be dedicated to the goddesses whose only mission in life is to make the rest of us mere mortals question why all the extra cellulite and flabs have been thrown at us. Never fear though, I guarantee that this will also be a source of inspiration for most of us to eat right, move more, and finally get all those curves in all the right places. Pinky swear.

Many of you probably haven’t heard of her before but one thing is for sure, Lisa Maree Boersma who’s fresh from the Australian Fashion Week will make you reconsider eating that extra Krispy Kreme if you wish to rock her summer collection.

Lisa Maree dared to go a different path for this summer’s threads. Instead of riding on to the popularity of the 60s and 70s vintage swimwear fashion trend (which sprang from the retro street trend as well), this Australian swimwear label chose to push for the more daring and seductive side, making it a mission to raise temperatures to fever pitch this summer. So if you’re into looking all cutesy and girly at the beach this summer, Lisa Maree’s 2011 swimwear line is definitely not for you.

The collection is aptly named “Under My Skin”, highlighting the African milieu, making this line a cross between the tropics and great African wild. Lisa Maree draws inspiration from wildlife, overlaying reptile prints over the boldness of zebra strips against a sizzling one piece number. Expect the jungle’s flora and fauna over cutaway bikini tops and bottoms. Bask in the beach in a strapless monokini strapped with the famous Serengeti sunset all over.

Having been a graphic designer before venturing into the world of fashion, all prints were crafted by the label’s designer from scratch making every piece a work of art and a work of heart. 

Crochet swimwear is another option to take for those who are not that keen on prints. The timing is actually quite perfect. As the trend for crochet swimwear died down last year, and I admit, this wasn’t my most favourite 2010 swimwear trend given the tacky interpretations by some fly by night designers, Lisa Maree’s take definitely did this trend some justice, transforming it from blah to bombshell in a matter of color choice and cuts. The pieces that come in white are a favourite, making it a clean and classy canvass for statement jewelry in puffs of feather and a string of wooden beads.

The final cap on her collection is a delish resort wear line that’s sure to put any beach side party on top of your agenda. Perfect for sunset yacht cruises or lounging by the poolside with a mojito in hand, the 100 percent silk jumpsuits and playsuits that make up her resort wear line are, to a certain extent, a tad bit forgiving of those slight midsection quirks that even the best of us are bound to have.

Lisa Maree is bound to make this summer season wilder than the African wild side. (FREEMAN)