ále by Alessandra Hat and Bag Spring/Summer Collection Now in the Shop!

ále by Alessandra Hat and Bag Collection for Spring/Summer
Bahia Straw Hat | Vela Crochet Bag | Bel Air Fedora | La Pluma Clutch | Solana Fedora

We’re absolutely thrilled to welcome the new ále by Alessandra hat and bag collection! 

ále by Alessandra is the collection created by supermodel Alessandra Ambrosio.  Alessandra’s beauty is undeniable, as are her chic sensibilities.  Like her clothing and swimwear lines, the new hat and bags collection reflects her colorful, earthy, sensual style. 

ále by Alessandra Spring/Summer Hat and Bags Collection

Here are just a few favorites from the collection:

Bahia Straw Hat: The rounded lines and intricate weave of the Bahia result in a sun hat that is both charming and exotic.  Made of straw, it comes in Black, Cocoa and Natural.

Vela Crochet Bag: This crocheted bag is boho chic; it's the perfectly stylish go-anywhere bag.  It is 17" high by 14" wide and has an 11" drop.  It comes in black and white.

Bel Air Wide Brimmed Fedora: The classic fedora gets a glamorous wide brim, resulting in the ideal resort hat.  It comes in Tan, Black or Green.

La Pluma Clutch: Stunning feather details and a tassel to boot; this clutch is ideal for going out.  You'll want it for special evenings - whether you're on vacation or not!  It comes in Metallic Gold, White and Black.

Solana Fedora: Take a basic fedora and add a whimsical black and white weave, and you have one fun hat!  This one's vacation friendly; it will instantly perk up any outfit.  

Vaquera Western Hat: This cowgirl hat in gorgeously woven straw can go from cute and playful to downright seductive.  It has a headband made of natural turquoise, and its brim can be shaped up or down.


Check out the ále by Alessandra bags and hats collection as well as our wide selection of stylish sun hats for women.

Alessandra Ambrosio wearing the Vaquera hat from the ále by Alessandra Collection

Just In: Glamourpuss NYC Sun Protection Tunics and Resort Bags

We just got in some great new pieces from Glamourpuss NYC!  Their Spring/Summer collection is here, and it is so fabulous!  With a combination of Madison Avenue style and sun smart practical features, these pieces are going to be a fantastic addition to your warm weather wardrobe.

Glamourpuss NYC is a design firm based in, well, NYC.  The two founders bonded over their shared need for fashionable clothing that would take them through the wildly varied parts of their days.  They started with furry winter accessories and have since expanded to a large selection of stylish clothing, shoes and accessories fit for all seasons.

We love what they’ve done with sun protective wear in the Spring/Summer 2015 line.  Their prints are super fun, and the fabric has our favorite feature – it’s sun protective!  The cuts are fashionable, fun, and flattering too.  

Fitting with their original plan of versatile, stylish clothing, Glamourpuss NYC’s sun protective tunics and dresses can fill many roles.  Their UPF fabric makes them ideal as a swimsuit cover-up; they would be right at home at the resort pool, or on the beach.  Wear one as a top – pair with pants, a skirt or leggings – so cute and comfy.  Several styles can even be worn as a dress; just add a long necklace and a pair of wedges and you’ve got the perfect dinner outfit.  And of course, any of these pieces would pair beautifully with our women's swimwear.

In addition to the wonderful tunic cover-ups, we also have some really fun Glamourpuss NYC resort tote bags.  You know we had to have the “ETE SOLEIL” print!  We’ve got the see-through chic of the St. Tropez tote, it’s the perfect day bag (whether your day is at the pool, out to lunch, or out shopping).  Then there’s the playful, packable fun of neoprene Pampelonne tote.  That removable inner bag will be so useful for wet swimsuits after a day of fun at the beach or pool!

Your next sunny vacation just got even better with these gorgeous products from Glamourpuss NYC!

Women’s Swimwear for Resort, Cruise, Beach and Summertime: Now in the Shop!

Women's Swimwear at SolEscapes.com

We’re so excited to introduce our new Women’s Swimwear!  A shipment of gorgeous swimsuit styles have just arrived, and we’re dying to introduce them to you.
 
With a variety of swimwear styles, we have a swimsuit to suit everyone: from poolside vixen to playful Moms.  What our swimsuits have in common are delightful details, flattering fit and top-notch quality.

A Sampling of SolEscapes Swimwear

1. The classic black swimsuit is akin to the LBD: everyone needs one.  Gottex Dreamweaver Shaped Bandeau one piece is the perfect LB…S.  The woven detail crisscrosses the body, creating a flattering silhouette and gorgeous styling.  The bandeau neckline is elegant as can be, and straps can be added if desired!
2. The stunning print of jewel tones and snakeskin makes this Emerald Boa Bandeau Swimsuit by Gottex a knockout.  The clever piecing helps whittle your middle and enhance your assets.  Internal tummy control and soft cups provide support, and optional straps can be added.
3. Dream Weaver Cut Out Halter Swimsuit from Gottex is pretty much guaranteed to cause double-takes.  The dramatically plunging halter neckline and striking side cut-outs are all about looking gorgeous and turning heads.  This monokini style swimsuit ties at the back of the neck and has removable soft cups for support.
4. If a swimsuit could talk, the Gold Rush Bandeau Swimsuit by Gottex would say (or perhaps, scream) “let’s take a vacation!”  It would be happy with a Caribbean cruise, all-inclusive resort, or anywhere that includes poolside service.  The classic combination of black and gold is as luxurious as it is flattering, and would look even better paired with a glamorous wide brimmed sun hat.
5. Play hard and look adorable in the Dolce Vita Swim Dress by Profile by Gottex.  The halter style keeps everything secure up top while the skirted bottom gives lots of flirty coverage.  The polka dot print is not only fun, but also clever in drawing the eye upwards.  This swim dress is just the thing for someone that wants to play all day.

Women's Swimwear at SolEscapes.com

 
We hope you love our Women’s Swimsuits as much we do.  Please don’t hesitate to contact an associate if you have questions!


p.s. Speaking of swimwear... remember when we talked about its wild and wooly history?  That was fun!  Check out The History of Women's Swimwear for a refresher!

Coming Soon: Must Have Swimwear for Beach, Resort, Cruise and Beyond

Swimwear is coming to SolEscapes!

We're preparing for a very exciting addition to our Beach & Resort Wear lineup: swimwear!  Our swimwear will be in the shop soon... and it's going to be amazing.  We can't wait to share more details!

Coming Soon: SolEscapes' Swimwear Shop.

Just In: Grand Cayman Raffia Totes, Right in Time for Your Warm Weather Winter Getaways.

Check out this fabulous new tote bag!  It’s Grand Cayman, and it’s perfect for your warm weather winter getaway!  It’s super stylish and big enough to carry all of your necessities, whether you’re heading to the pool, beach or a shore excursion. 

Grand Cayman is made of raffia, shot with metallic thread for a subtle metallic shimmer.  The handles are made of genuine leather in metallic colors, adding a lux touch.  It comes in a natural color with gold accents or a rosy pink, with silver accents.  Its generous size (22”w X 12”h X 5.5”d), means it can tote everything you need for a pool day or afternoon at the beach.  The handles are the right length for carrying on your shoulder (10.5” long).  Inside, you’ll find two pockets for added organization, and the top zips up, keeping your valuables on the inside. 

The Grand Cayman raffia tote hits that intersection of form and function – it’s going to haul your stuff with no sacrifice to style.  The metallic accents lend it that touch of glamour, so it will fit in beautifully with your vacation wardrobe.  Grand Cayman would also make a great carry-on, for a plane flight, or while navigating the cruise ship terminal.  Or – take advantage of its flexible material, and pack it flat in your luggage; it will be ready for your adventures once you’ve arrived at your tropical destination.

The Grand Cayman raffia tote coordinates with the Little Cayman sun hat, which also comes in natural and rose pink.  SolEscapes has a wide variety of stylish sun hats and vacation-ready apparel and accessories that will get you set for your winter getaway in style.      

 

Fun Facts: Panama Straw Hats – Classic, Trendy and Sophisticated Style

The panama hat: a beautiful hat with a long tradition.  The iconic white hat with the black band has been a symbol of cool, sophisticated style for decades.  Panama straw hats have graced famous heads from Theodore Roosevelt to Cameron Diaz… from Sean Connery to Rihanna.  Timeless and smart, panama style hats are still as fashionable as ever.  Let’s explore their past, and look at some great modern options for sun-protective panama inspired hats.  

First, let’s clear up the name confusion: panama hats are not from Panama!  They have been made in Ecuador for hundreds of years, since, perhaps, the 17^th century.  Their move northward began in the 19^th century, and in 1904, President Theodore Roosevelt was photographed wearing a panama hat, while visiting the Panama Canal construction site.  That clinched their popularity, and they became a common accessory, seen in films and worn by movie stars.  The classic profile, cool comfort, and sun protective qualities have remained popular through the decades, and panama style hats remain a favorite hat choice today.

Left: Theodore Roosevelt wears a panama hat (Image from Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons)
Center: panama hat under construction (Image by Superbass CC-BY-SA-3.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
Right: panama hats in Cuenca, Ecuador (Image by Theodore Scott CC-BY-2.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

The creation of an authentic panama hat is performed by skilled artisans using techniques that have been passed from generation to generation.  It all starts with the toquilla palm tree, whose leaves are harvested, then separated into long, fine straws.  The straws are boiled, then baked with sulfur, to bleach the material to a cool white.  Then the weavers begin the meticulous process of weaving the slim straw into a gorgeous hat.  Once the basic form of the hat is complete, it is washed, beaten with mallets, and shaped with hat forms and irons.  A specialty weaver completes the hat by weaving in the ends in such a way that they will never unravel.  Though a basic hat may take a day or two, for the finest panama hats, the process can take as long as several months!  These works of art, known as “Montecristis”, or “superfinos” are made from the finest straw by master weavers.

We love the look of panama hats – they’re effortlessly cool… and they’re literally cool!  The woven straw make for breathability, and they’re trademark white color reflects the sunlight.  In addition to striking good looks, a panama style hat provides fantastic sun protection.  Considering where they originated – Ecuador – we can only imagine that those original weavers were eager to protect their heads from the intense equatorial sun.  They certainly knew a thing or two about good sun protection!  SolEscapes carries many hats that carry on the tradition of sun protection teamed with gorgeous, panama-inspired looks.

Havana takes the classic panama details in a very playful direction!  The 3” brim has a black contrast stitch, and the ends end in a fun fringe.  The classic black band and pinched crown provide classy balance to this stylish, sun protecting champ.

Alhambra The pale Triton straw along with the wide black band set the Panama hat mood.  Alhambra is packable, plus the 4” brim and 40+ UPF rating make for excellent sun protection. 

Belize is about as suave as they come.  Made of panama straw, Belize has a gorgeous diamond pattern woven into the front of the crown.  The black band and black contrast stitching around the brim add classy details. 

Santana is a beautiful option for a feminine hat with a panama vibe.  The creamy white straw is woven into a structured crown and 4” brim.  The brim can fold up or down, giving two different looks.  The wide black band is finished with a subtle bow.
  

Brookline – though made of 100% cotton, Brookline has the cool, crisp look of a panama hat.  Its belted hat band is a chic detail that belies the comfort and functionality of an all-cotton, packable sun hat.