2011 Summer Swimsuit Issue

It’s that time of year again for MidWeek‘s annual Swimsuit Issue featuring some of the season’s hottest styles in swimwear for men and women.

Yu Shing Ting
Wednesday - May 11, 2011
By .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
E-mail this story | Print this page | Archive | RSS | Del.icio.us

It’s that time of year again for MidWeek‘s annual Swimsuit Issue featuring some of the season’s hottest styles in swimwear for men and women. Photographed by glamour photographer Russell Tanoue at the new luxe, yet simple and modern Waikiki EDITION hotel, local brands Tori Praver Swimwear, Acacia Swimwear, Hula-la!, Pualani Hawaii and Letarte, as well as retailers Allure in Royal Hawaiian Center, Nordstrom at Ala Moana Center and Hawaiian Island Creations supplied the fashions for our stunning models.

“I want this issue to be naturally sexy,” says Tanoue. “Not too much hard-core, edgy looks, more simple and relatable to the readers.”


Living on an island, it’s no surprise that some of the top swimsuit companies in the world are created by Hawaii’s own bikini-wearing ladies. Tori Praver grew up on Maui and became a successful model as the face of Guess? and appeared on the cover and inside pages of national magazines including Vogue, Elle, Marie Claire and Glamour, among others. She also appeared three times in the coveted Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition.

Acacia Swimwear by Naomi Newirth and Lyndie Irons (wife of the late Andy Irons) is inspired by the love of travel and exotic beaches. Newirth, who grew up on Maui, and Irons, who lives on Kauai, design suits that fuse the low-cut Italian bikini and the flirty Brazilian fit. Their collection caters to “that cute and classy but daring girl who isn’t afraid to stand out.”

Hula-la! is designed by Erika Ireland, a former swimsuit model who has a background in business and law. She grew up in La Jolla, Calif., and on Maui, and resides in Kailua. Her swimwear has been featured in the swimsuit issues of Sports Illustrated and Surfing Magazine, on the cover of Women’s Health, and photographed on Britney Spears in People, In Touch, Life & Style and US Weekly. In 2009, Ireland opened a Hula-la! boutique in The Royal Hawaiian hotel.


Pualani Hawaii, now celebrating its 10th year, is founded by big-wave surfer and watersport stuntwoman Iwalani Isbell. Isbell, who was born and raised on the Big Island, now lives on Oahu where she has two stores, Pualani Honolulu at The New Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel and Pualani Kailua at 111 Hekili St. Her suits are worn by celebrities Cameron Diaz, Julia Roberts and lingerie model Jessica Michibata.

Letarte, a Maui-based swim and coverup label founded by sisters Lisa Letarte Cabrinha and Michele Letarte Ross, is a multimillion-dollar brand sold in more than 400 retail outlets worldwide. Recently, Letarte celebrated its 11th year in a row being featured in the popular Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue with six bikinis in the 2011 issue. Over the years, celebrities P!nk, Kim Kardashian, Paris Hilton, Minka Kelly, Brooklyn Decker and Camille Gram-mer have been photographed wearing Letarte.

(back)Yvonne Midkiff, Angela Byrd,  Kyle Smigielski, (front) Jesse McCleary and Deanna Elerick

(back, from left)
Model: Yvonne Midkiff
Agency: Niche Models and Talent
Hula-la! white lace maillot $72, Hula-la!
Boutique in the Royal Hawaiian Hotel

Model: Angela Byrd
Agency: Premier
Models and Talent
Letarte by Lisa Cabrinha solid white halter bikini $168, letarteswimwear.com

Model: Kyle Smigielski
Agency: Wilhelmina Hawaii
Volcom white boardshorts $45 from Nordstrom

(front, from left)
Model: Jesse McCleary
Agency: Premier Models and Talent
True Religion white swim shorts $86 from Nordstrom

Model: Deanna Elerick
Agency: Kathy Muller Talent &
Modeling Agency
Letarte by Lisa Cabrinha lace underwire bikini with skirted bottom $180, letarteswimwear.com





Page 1 of 3 pages for this story  1 2 3 >

E-mail this story | Print this page | Comments (0) | Archive | RSS


Most Recent Comment(s):

Posting a comment on MidWeek.com requires a free registration.

Username

Password

Auto Login

Forgot Password

Sign Up for MidWeek newsletter Times Supermarket
Foodland

 

 



Hawaii Luxury
Magazine


Tiare Asia and Alex Bing
were spotted at the Sugar Ray's Bar Lounge