Shopping: Marysia Swim’s classic swimsuit designs
Icons Marilyn Monroe and Brigitte Bardot famously posed in fuller-cut swimwear and came off sexier than any bikini-clad Sports Illustrated cover girl could. If you want to channel that retro style at the beach, try posing this summer in something from Marysia Swim.
Marysia is only three seasons old, but the line’s classic looks are a fresh breeze in a sea of body-baring bikinis. Designer Maria Dobrzanska Reeves draws inspiration from swimsuits from the 1940s through 1970s and from her childhood ballerina training in Warsaw — hence the tutus and leotard shapes.
Oddly, Reeves is not based in the swimwear hubs of Orange County or Miami but in a town not renowned for bikinis — Charleston, S.C. But Marysia has a City of Angels connection: Reeves received her design training at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles and the swim collection is manufactured here.
“People with great bodies can wear the swimwear and so can normal women who have kids,” explains Reeves, 29, mother of a 3-year-old daughter. “Marysia” is Reeves’ family nickname in Polish. After ballet school, she immigrated to the U.S. from Poland as a teenager to join her parents in Delaware.
Among Marysia’s selection of mix-and-match bikini styles are the Ballerina high-waist ruffled bikini bottoms ($98) and Tutu halter ($102) in vintage shades such as “buff champagne.” The Relevé ($149) is a one-piece suit in reversible fabric, featuring a plunging neckline that evokes the French Riviera jet-set style of the 1960s and 1970s. For après soleil, Marysia offers a collection of cover-ups like the Jeté ($238), a one-shoulder short mesh dress that can be worn on or off the beach.
For summer 2011, Reeves is updating her high-waist bottom with side buttons to unbutton and fold-over when sunbathing.
In the fall, Marysia will add a girl’s swimwear collection called Bumby — after Ernest Hemingway’s nickname for his first son — for ages 2 to 8. Reeves launched Bumby because she was frustrated trying to find swimwear that wasn’t a “miniature version of an adult suit” for her daughter.
“I didn’t want my daughter to wear a string bikini,” says Reeves, whose husband, Nathaniel, is in charge of sales for Marysia. “I also wanted mother-daughter swim pieces that were similar but not matchy matchy.”
Marysia retails online at https://www.marysiaswim.com.
SALES
A.P.C. Thursday through July 14: Jean Touitou’s Paris-based casual cult label begins its end-of-spring/summer season sale by discounting current styles from 30% to 50% off.
619 N. Croft Ave., West Hollywood. (323) 297-0414. 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday; noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.
SAMPLE SALES
Rock & Republic Friday through June 20: L.A.-based luxury denim brand throws a gigantic sample sale at Sony Studios offering goods for men, women and kids including denim, tops, outerwear and accessories. Buy 10 pairs of jeans and take an additional 15% off. Look for deals on new fashions such as $30 tops (reg. $218), $80 skinny jeans (reg. $228) and $200 leather jackets (reg. $660). Credit cards accepted. No handbags or totes will be allowed at the sale.
10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City (entrance on Overland). 1 to 9 p.m. Friday; 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
https://www.rockandrepublic.com
Multi-designer Sample Sale Saturday: L.A.-based designer Corey Lynn Calter encouraged more than 20 other local labels including Trina Turk, Monrow, BB Dakota and Isabel Lu to donate clothing for a Los Angeles Family School fundraiser in Silver Lake (all profits go to the institution). The sale will have a last-call section featuring looks for under $20. Child care provided for shoppers.
2646 Griffith Park Blvd., Los Angeles. (323) 663-8049. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
https://www.lafamilyschool.org
EVENTS
Hurley’s Art Shack Sunday, June 13, through Oct. 3: Surf brand Hurley, headquartered in Costa Mesa, presents “Art Shack” at the Laguna Art Museum. The show, curated by Greg Escalante, features more than two dozen California artists’ takes on the “shack” concept, including some three-dimensional ones that patrons can enter. The artists include Kenny Scharf, Shag, Sandow Birk, Travis Somerville, Paul Frank and the original Don Ed Hardy. The admission fee — $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and students (children younger than 12 free) — buys an “Art Shack Summer Pass,” which gives you free return admission through the summer. The nearby 225 Forest concept space for art, where customers can customize Hurley board shorts, Converse Chuck Taylors and Nike 6.0 sneakers, will be open to the public too.
307 Cliff Drive, Laguna Beach. (949) 494-8971. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday and Friday; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday and Saturday.
https://www.lagunaartmuseum.org
Freak City Summer Street Sale Today: Fashion, beauty, music and art team up for this shopping party hosted by legendary record label Delicious Vinyl. The apparel selection ranges from new styles to vintage finds. Free entry.
6613 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles. (323) 465-2700. Noon to 8 p.m.
https://www.deliciousvinyl.com/freakcityLA
