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A woman who's in fabulous shape can wear any old tank suit and look terrific. Those in need of a little lifting and compressing, however, owe a debt of gratitude to Gottex.
The Israeli swimwear company takes credit for pioneering hard-cup bras, and is exceedingly generous with the Lycra (20% Lycra as opposed to the 13% to 15% used by competitors) in its fabric. Those reasons alone might easily explain why Gottex is America's top swimsuit import.
But it is the company's innovative styling and patterns-said to influence other swimwear manufacturers and even fashion designers-that have earned Gottex a loyal following among ordinary women, celebrities and fashion insiders.
"They have some of the most beautiful prints of any swimwear I've ever seen," says Denise Scher, fashion director of the California Mart in Los Angeles.
Gottex is the top-selling bathing suit at Saks Fifth Avenue stores nationwide, according to Lynn Modrak, manager of swimwear at the Beverly Hills store. "They last forever-I see old ladies who say they've had their Gottex for years."
And very young and beautiful women, such as Princess Diana, Brooke Shields and some of the models in Sports Illustrated's celebrated swimwear issue, wear Gottex.
This year's line of 600 styles includes ornate red and gold Chinese-looking pieces, rosebud-covered bodices with tutu-style skirts, pseudo-suede Western-style bikinis with beaded tassels, and vivid, swirling sea-green and blue Neptune designs.
But Gottex advantages don't come cheap. Premium pieces run $88 to $150, while coordinated cover-ups, such as bicycle shorts, oversize shirts and sarongs, are priced from $100 to $250. Suits from the less expensive Viewpoint line, which is manufactured in America, sell for about $50, cover-ups for about $65.
Much of the credit for the company's...