By Kate Lauren Stephens

Swimwear is being rewritten. In an interesting turn, the defining lines between conventional swimwear – beachwear, that is – and outerwear have blurred, crossed and, in places, fused for SS09. Designers’ styling imperative to us all is make a statement and dress it up… that tired old two-piece just won’t cut it this season.

On the catwalks, bandaged one-pieces with bondage undertones slashed as much as they swathed the body. Stella McCartney, Danielle Scutt and, of course, Hervé Léger – the label most synonymous with body-con figure-wrapping – all went for this look and sent their models out immaculately groomed and hip-swingingly accessorised with vertiginous heels. The look was strong, sharp and confident.

And, ok, this is not the first time we have seen intricate one-pieces parading the catwalks – the essentials of the look have been around for seasons, if not years. The real move-on here is all in the styling. Towering, bold shoes? Check. Bag, jewellery, striking shades? Check. Sculpted blazer? Ermmm…

But think about it. As the media continues to go goo goo over Gaga and her body-rocking, leg- (and butt) baring one-pieces worn with sculpted jackets, it was only a matter of time before the look started filtering through into the designer mainstream and on to the pages of magazines. It doesn’t matter who really pioneered the look - designer or celebrity - this is about how that look has entered into our fashion consciousness.
 
Chanel got in on the act combining a black wet-look swimsuit with an intricately beaded bib-necklace and a hip-skimming hooded leather jacket (there was the small addition of the trademark Lagerfeld fingerless gloves, but we’ll skip over that). It was tough, it was edgy, but it was also decidedly glamorous, refined and, well, very Chanel.

In contrast Alexander Wang took the look down and dirty. The essential elements were all there, but this time it was a waist-slashed one-piece combined with a pseudo-eighties trash leather and denim jacket and heavy, studded cuff boots. Emilio Pucci opted for a sharper take on the look with a cropped leather jacket, whilst Iceberg went rounded and puff-shouldered. Whatever the shape, it was all about contrast and structure.

So, I hear you ask, how does all this translate in to my summer wardrobe? Well, put simply, it doesn’t. But then again, it does too. Let me explain. The likelihood of any non-celeb venturing out on the town in a swimsuit and jacket combo is, well, let’s say fairly limited. As is the reverse option of wearing said combo to the beach (sand/ heels, sun/ leather – oh the problems…). However, what this look does do is set a new, and refreshing, tone.

Make no mistake, this summer’s swimwear story is clear: gone is the boho beach babe of seasons past- she’s too frivolous and girly to make the ’09 cut. This summer’s beach girl is strong, sharp and groomed. She’s wearing the Léger slashed one-piece, with angular, oversized shades and hair slicked back. And as for the jacket, well, she might add a pair of trousers into the mix there. Maybe…