Lifestyle Mirror

“Women should try to embrace the sensual experience of being in a bikini,” says swimwear designer Matthew Zink, who launched the line Charlie by Matthew Zink in July 2010. “Celebrate what you love about your body, not what you don’t,” he explains. When it came to designing the line’s resort collection he looked to style icons like Jerry Hall and Cher as well as the idea of 1970s denim, Biba’s Rainbow Room, and Walton Ford paintings. “Jerry Hall had a timeless, charismatic beauty, while Cher possessed such an exotic originality,” says Zink. This translated to a collection full of swimwear and separates you’ll want to keep around for summers to come: zigzag prints, ’70s-inflected polkadots, as well as loose-fitting cover ups of various lengths and even high-waisted leggings. If you find the idea of a print all too intimidating Zink suggests keeping it simple: “a perfectly fit black suit will always make you feel beautiful and confident,” he adds. —Nandita Khanna