Neptune’s bikini code

You know that feeling? The closer you get to the sea, the stronger the urge to undress. But you don’t need to lose yourself completely..

“Go on, you don’t need all these clothes,” Neptune, the god of the sea, whispers in your ear with each wave. Hypnotised, you start to undress..
At the same time, you can feel quite vulnerable on the beach; you’re laying on your back, surrounded by strangers, and you’re wearing something miniscule that, just a few hundred meters down, on the boulevard, you wouldn’t be caught dead in!

Simply put: the beach has its own set of rules. So when I started designing swimwear, I felt I needed to crack that code. Off I went, on a tour of different beaches in different countries, trying out different states of undress. (And yes, that included an exciting afternoon on a nudist beach.) I was observing how people reacted, but more importantly, analysing how it made me feel.

First of all, I realised that the closer we are to the actual water, the less we wear. Literally! We might swim topless, but put on a bikini-top when we walk over to see a friend. Then, when we decide to get some ice cream on the boulevard, we throw on a shirt or a pareo.

Secondly, I learned that what works as lingerie, might not make us feel strong and sexy on the beach. Personally, I want to look good on the beach, but not too sexy. More than anything, I want to feel confident. A sensual lace strap or a naughty cut-out – so empowering under a skirt suit- is not going to give me that when I’m strutting through the sand.

How does that affect my designs? As a lingerie-designer, I stand behind you when you wear one of my creations, admiring yourself in the mirror. I trace your curves and whisper in your ear: ‘Look at your breasts, aren’t they amazing? Check out your beautiful bottom!’ My goal is to make to make your reflection shudder and push you out of your comfort zone.

But when it comes to swimwear, I want you right there smack in the middle of your comfort zone! So I came up with a game plan. I know most women worry about very speficic areas: the breasts, belly and bottom. That’s exactly where I offer security with my designs. Also, I play with lines and graphics so it feels like body armour, but it looks like a sexy bikini. (how that works exactly, I’ll explain in my next blog). I can’t tell you how wonderful it is when someone comes up to me to tell me that because of my designs, they have the courage to wear a bikini for the first time in their lives!

So when Neptune calls, go! Let that bearded hunk and his sexy triton seduce you, let him bewitch you with the electric energy of his waves.
With my swimwear, you’ll be ready…

Imagine you are standing at the windswept shore.

It is the ocean’s presence – salt, sea , sand , sound, air – that touches…uptlifts…seduces…redeems you…salt, sea, sand, sound, air….
This is sensuality.

You are ocean. I am touched by you
(from my own book, ‘33 Propositions’)

The collections Holi Vintage, Holi Glamour and Holi Gypsy fits every body.