Embellish Your Bikini - How to make last season's swimwear this season's trend.

Because of my constant, craft obsessive ticks, I haven't personally found myself in the hell-on-earth predicament (at least not since I was like 13) of being caught in the same swim suit as another girl. I do know, however, that the risk of realizing you are standing in the fruity drink line on your Carribean Cruise boat next to a girl who is dawning the same bikini that you blew last months bonus on because it looked "totally unique" is nightmare enough for you to want to throw your fruity drink on...YOURSELF, in attempt to achieve your one-of-a-kind look...at last! In truth, the only way to really achieve that elusive one-of-a-kind summer guise, is to take what you have to Gem Class. I've got all kinds of options for turning last season's, worn-out duds into this year's must-have, flair.

LET IT RIP

Cutting slits into a lycra swimsuit can really edge it up. Just make sure the suit you want to destroy has lining or be EXTRA strategic when making those cuts! Nothing's worse than getting scissors deep into a project and realizing you've made some brain-lapsing mistake and there's no recovery button.
Lay your swimsuit flat on the ground or surface. I choose the ironing board b/c its height is perfect for this project and it reminds me to cut CAREFULLY as to not disrupt the swimsuit's lining OR the ironing board's padding. Use scissors, but only use one of the blades, to GENTLY and LIGHTLY make slits in the lycra part of your swimwear by pushing the end of the scissor blade into the fabric and SLOWLY dragging it accross. You will probably have to use a LIGHT "sawing" motion to get the blade to slice through the fabric without pulling or snagging it. I also find you can use the end of the scissor blade to start the slit and then cut through it using scissors normally. Horizontal slits only. (It is impossible to make them slanted or any other way as the cut won't be straight and you will probably just end up with a hole.) Refer to the photos in this post to know how far apart or close together you can make the cuts.

JUST A TRIM

Adding trim is one of the simplest and most transforming tactic in embellishing swimwear. The major cause for error you want to note is when you choose your trimming. If you plan on actually wetting the finished project, you need to keep that in mind and avoid trim made of fabric that could alter when water is added. The funny thing, I've found out, after lots and lots of swimwear embellishing and lots and lots of wearing my creations, is that there are trimmings you would think are unfit for this project and they actually hold up with wear, time and water perfectly. So I've made a list of suggested trims that I've tested in the elements involved with swimwear as well as some definite no no choices and added it to the end of this segment.
You will need to measure the areas of the suit you want to cover with trim so you know how much to buy and add on some extra to be safe. When shopping for your trimming for this project, I bypass the "sold-by-the-spool" section and find the area of the hobby shop that displays all trimmings sold by the yard. I like to inspect the trims to see if they compliment my suit and make sure they can easily be attached to it. The two techniques I use to adhere my trim to swimwear is hot glue or needle and thread (using stretchable thread). And YES hot glue works fantastically for this project AND does not pose problems if wet or over time. BUT, as always with hot glued items, hand wash or machine wash COLD and DO NOT PUT IN THE DRYER.
Trimming Suitable for Swimwear:
Rope - as long as the ropes are held together permanently and not just twined around eachother
Lace - preferably lace attached to piping or some sort of
Pleated Fabric - Not cotton
Don't Try it Trims:
Rinestones - Snags, dulls, falls apart
Fringe - Like Carrot Top's fro when wet
Beads - Too heavy for trimming makes for unavoidable nip slips and plumber's crack.

CLIP ONS

Anything with a pin or a clip can be attached to almost anything. This is my mentality when embellishing. I don't limit myself to the obvious. There is a fantastic store in my hometown Dallas called "Sam Moon". It houses tons of fun accessories at really fun bargain prices. During my summertime wardrobe remake sessions, Sam Moon's hair accessory/brooch section is off particular interest to me. There are big silk flowers with gems on them and colorful brooches. A few of these at $2-$3 a piece attached to the hip of a bikini bottom or in between the triangles on your triangle top and it's so simplictically genius I can't take it!

PUT A BELT AROUND ITPretty cut and dry here. Throw a belt over a plain suit and you've got bond-girl worthy beachwear. And unless you find a belt made of material fit to get wet, you should probably plan to take it off before going for a dip. 

STRAPPED IN

Oh the things you can do with a trim. When the Monokini became the hottest trend in wet wear, I decided to follow "suit". The problem I encountered was the fit. I cannot just go buy a medium bikini...I have to have a different size for top and bottom. So naturally, the one sized mono's were a no-go for me. If I wanted to achieve this trend, I had to take matters into my own hands...

While my photo shows how I connected the top of my animal print bikini to my bottom with what looks like a strap material, there are lots of stranding materials you can use. You basically want to thread the strand into your bikini. Try lace trim that's flat and sold by the yard or spool.

ZIP THE LIP

When I'm at a fabric/hobby shop, I always pick up some zippers in different sizes, colors, lengths.  They are a great wardrobe embellishment and the summer wardrobe is no exception. Adding zippers to a swimsuit it such a sexy illusion. I say "illusion" because you do not attach it as a working zipper and that is why you can attach it ANYWHERE. As with most of my craft ideas, I use hot glue to adhere the zipper. A paper bag or piece of cardboard placed under the part of the swimsuit you are working on will ensure your glue doesn't go through the garment or leak onto another piece of the garment or area of your working station. As with any garment that you use hot glue on, wash with cold water and do not put in dryer.Add a bit of lace for a "peek-a-boo" lingerie look.