Remembrance of Bikinis Past

Fast Times at Ridgemont High was on HBO (in the olde days kids, before Tivo and Netflix, hell, before the average family even had a VCR) about four times a week one summer when I was little. And though I had difficulty relating to the film’s risqué plot lines at a time in my life when risky behavior meant making prank phone calls, one thing did register indelibly in my young mind: Linda Barrett’s (as played by Phoebe Cates) red bikini. (This bikini is burned onto my boyfriend’s brain too, as it turns out, though apparently for entirely different reasons.)

Not just a bathing suit, this bikini symbolized the incredibly sophisticated lifestyle I imagined all teenage girls led, girls like my babysitter who laid out in the backyard wearing coconut scented suntan oil and drinking diet soda. I’ve had a thing for ‘80s-looking red bikinis ever since. My favorite Linda Barrett-inspired styles? Check out this Lisa Curran, this Lauren Moffatt, and this Rosa Cha.

Summer Music Festival Chic

Find yourself clicking through pictures from Coachella and Bonnaroo in your cube longingly, overcome with that missed-out-on-the-best-party-of-the-year feeling? Me, too. And then this comforting thought occurred to me: just because I wasn’t there doesn’t mean I can’t crib the summer music festival look. My EZ Coachella-inspired look involves a bikini and short-shorts, loads of long necklaces (and perhaps a bracelet or two for good measure), a floppy hat, gladiator sandals, and, of course, statement sunglasses. The final touch? A scruffy-cute drummer on your arm. (We’ll leave finding one of those up to you.) Photo courtesy of elle.com.

Beach Bunny Chic

Salty air, seashells, waves crashing on sandy beaches. This year you've vowed to spend more time in a beachy paradise, and Bop Basics has a few good reasons to keep that promise. With a gauzy new collection of dresses, tops, and scarves, you'll be as perfectly outfitted for the sandy shores as you are for the boardwalk. The bikinis to match these bits of beachwear brilliance? They're coming from the likes of Rosa Cha, Rachel Pally, and Malia Mills. It's the beach bunny chic you need to make this summer shine. Find it, at shopbop.

Signs of Spring: Warm Up to Fresh Styles

Spring Fever? It's nearing epidemic proportions. Fortunately, we've found the cure: fresh fashion. And whether you're boarding a plane for warmer climes or shopping with the promise of summer in mind, we've got scores of styles to satisfy your yen for all things spring. Start with a brilliant bikini and a floaty frock, add strappy sandals, statement sunglasses, and a signature scarf for a look that lets Mother Nature know you're all ready for her to raise the temperature. Get set for a new season, right here, at shopbop.