Funkita Swimwear

Read The Sign Swimsuit by Funkita

At the beginning of January, Funkita launched its latest collection, We The People, and asked me to pick a piece to road test and share on the blog. I did, they sent it and it went missing. Months later, the package was found somewhere in my workplace (I had everyone looking!), now passed the summer expiration date and long passed the collection launch. Incidentally I did not wish to go back on my word, so decided to go ahead and shoot the story. Luckily it coincided with a warm afternoon while I was staying at a hotel with a decent pool. 

I previously talked about Funkita on the blog back here. This suit is a sporty one piece perfect for lap swimming, and general training. The print is a sailor inspired design, complete with anchors, an octopus, a walrus or two and all sorts of themed type. As with the last pair from Funkita, I find the print a little too busy (I am not much of a print person), but love the blue and white and quality of the suit. This is certainly an excellently made and designed suit perfect for swimming workouts. It is modestly cut and an excellent suit for wearing to a gym pool. 

Designed for full support and no fuss training, the cut is higher across the chest, with double bind shoulder straps, and modest rear coverage. The fabric is chlorine resistant, and feels soft- almost like a cotton. This classic cut is available in a huge range of prints and colours. This one is $84.95, and is obviously designed to be worn regularly and last for a long time. I would suggest going one size up, as the Funkita pieces are on the smaller side. 

As I said with my last swimsuit blog post- find that one here, these shots were taken with the same respect to the garment and treatment as I would my regular outfit shoots. The images are only altered to enhance the lighting, not to shrink my size (which I have no doubt you can tell, I am 30 after all!) and similarly not intended to simply 'show off' my skin. As someone who had previously relied on my genes for a slim figure, I regularly work out and am noticing muscle tone developing as well as strength. At the moment I am working with a personal trainer and spending time using power plates- which I love. I could not stress enough how much better I feel for the effort, or how much fun it can be. Our bodies are meant to move after all. I have also revisited figure skating of late, something I spent a lot of time doing growing up, and love it. I think I will have to share a story about the type of training I have been doing (with JP Active- find them here), and perhaps may shoot some of the ice rink fun. 

xx Jenelle

Shots by Mario Recchia

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Gypsea

Gypsea Cockatoo Cross Back One Piece, Sussan Denim Shirt (both gifted)

Months ago I kept coming across WA based swimwear brand Gypsea via Instagram. With stunning unique prints taken from collaborations with local and international artists, it is no wonder the brand has done so well on the social media site. The label, born out of a love of fashion, photography and the vastly inspiring elements of nature, is the brainchild of designer Emma Jones and Surf Photographer Scott Bauer. Based out of a costal town in Western Australia's South West (and one of my fave getaway destinations) there is a clear influence throughout each collection of the laid back coastal lifestyle. However, Gypsea are not to be mistaken with drippy-hippy styles -the brand is high quality and fashion forward. Their Natural History Collection showed at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week last April capturing nation-wide attention and establishing themselves as a strong new player in the Australian swimwear market.

With many of my readers headed back and forth to Bali and South East Asia, enjoying the last of our Australian heat or planning European holidays mid-year, I have had many questions asking which swimwear brands to recommend that will have them turning heads poolside. I engaged with Gypsea as I wanted to find and share stylish, well cut and made, fashionable Australian swimwear that didn't blind you with neon. Gypsea's prints remain beautiful and bold, and will guarantee to drive envy from friends back at the office when you share it up on Instagram. The piece I chose to road test and share is fully reversible, so can go from this stunning Cockatoo print to an elegant black one piece flawlessly. The cut comes in at the sides of the bust- creating an elegant modern neckline and unique shape. The cockatoo print is taken from Wildlife photographer Alex Cearns, who collaborated with Gypsea as a part of their Artist Program to produce pieces for the Natural History Collection. Alex is a highly regarded animal photographer, who along with her freelance work, is the official photographer for the RSPCA.

Gypsea are stocked online here, and have a recommendable style and size guide to help you find the right style for your shape. Each two-piece comes in a variety of cuts to accommodate small or larger busts, and bottoms which can provide generous or Brazilian style coverage. These are either sold as a set or separately so you can mix and match. At the moment a lot of the pieces are on sale (including the Cockatoo one piece I am wearing- down from $130 to $90) with stunning cloud, rainbow, kitten and chameleon prints to choose from. If you do have a trip planned, or aim to soak up the last of our Australian sun, now is a great time to snap up a one of a kind piece.

I would like to extend a special thank you to Scott for kindly sending this suit to me, we shot these images just in time to catch a heavenly sunset, as the night chill and breeze rolled in. As there has been a lot of quiet chatter amongst Perth bloggers of late regarding bloggers getting their gear off online, we aimed to shoot these with respect to the beautiful natural surroundings and stunning Gypsea piece somewhat candidly without coming across as 'trying to be too model-like' instead keeping it light, real and fun. After all, dancing around watching the sun set is a great way to send off a long week. As I do with all of my blog images, they have been edited to brighten up the lighting, but not to alter my appearance. Honestly, even if I knew how to nip in a bit of my thighs I wouldn't even bother! 

xx Jenelle

Shots by Mario Recchia

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Funkita Pixel Mix

Quite a while ago the guys from Funkita Swimwear kindly sent me a piece from their latest Pixel Mix collection. Funkita are a sportswear swim brand sponsoring competitive athletes and swimmers all over. Based in Collingwood, the Way Funky Group are an Australian born company creating highly durable swimwear with brands Funky Trunks for men, Funkita for Women and Kiargo, a fashion separates range for women. Although not heavily into advertising, the company prefer to put their energy back into the customer, creating the best quality products. The Funkita range is designed for strong, fun-loving women who care for their health and fitness, reflecting in the comfortable and bold printed designs. 

The Razor Blast two piece sports bikini (with pieces sold separately at under $45.00) they kindly sent me is probably a little brighter than my normal stay-away-from-prints rule, but I love the blue hues. The range tend to be on the smaller side, so go one size up when you order, this is most likely for durability for their athletes (the fabric is super strong!!). Made from C-Infinity Polyester exclusive to Funkita, a colour intense and chlorine resistant fabric made for long wear and regular use. 

I love the racer back, so that was the winner for me, it is sporty, comfortable and modern. While I would normally stick to swim wear in black, grey or white, Funkita carry all of these as well as all kinds of bright happy prints, and a HUGE range of sizes for all shapes and ages. They also do kids, toddler and mens ranges featuring that long wear fabric. I love that this is a company I could recommend to my family members of all shapes ages and sizes, knowing that the quality will last them for years. 

This is a little more skin than I have normally shown on the blog, but if it is a product I can recommend I will go for it, and hope not to offend. At the moment I am working on my own fitness, as I have literally survived off of being blessed with a slim body and have always eaten healthily, but of late have recognised how important developing core strength and general fitness is for going into my older age. I know that sounds obvious, but I want to live right, and not exercising doesn't aid your wellbeing! As I haven't really exercised much over the past few years I am trying a bunch of different things to do, to see what works for me, (namely which I find the most fun) and will be chatting about them here, so stay tuned, and please share any suggestions! 

You can tell that this sporty bikini gave me the excuse to run around jumping and cartwheeling like a kid as we watched the sun setting, happy days. :) 

xx Jenelle

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