Hot Body Swimwear in Newmarket, proudly home to New Zealand’s most extensive range of swim and resort wear, has been helping women find the perfect swimsuit for over 32 years. Catering to women of all ages, with sizing 6-18 and cup sizes ranging from A to G, they truly do have something for everyone. Verve recently caught up with directors Kelly Acland and Helen Rigden who shared some useful insights.
Searching for swimsuit brands can leave a person drowning in a sea of options. Can you give a quick rundown of label recommendations?
We completely understand the feeling of walking into a swimwear shop and feeling overwhelmed! At Hot Body, we work hard to make the process easy and painless. Our staff really listen to our customers’ individual needs. We all have things we love and don’t love about our bodies, so finding the perfect swimwear for you as an individual isn’t necessarily connected to one specific brand. We believe that the fit and the way a swimsuit makes you feel is the most important thing, and sometimes that means a collection of brands might be the best option. We really want women to embrace their curves, flaunt their best assets, and feel gorgeous and confident when they hit the beach or the pool. No more hiding behind that towel!
Do you have any tips on finding the right fit or features that make a great swimsuit?
We have four main mantras when it comes to picking out swimwear:
1. Love what you’ve got – Embrace your favourite features and draw attention to those rather than areas you don’t feel as confident about. Love your cleavage? Try a plunging one piece or a supportive bra with a playful print. Love your legs? Try high-cut bottoms to really show them off.
2. Never be afraid to go up a size – Swimwear size can differ between brands so ignore the numbers and instead go with what fits right and looks the best.
3. Mix ‘n’ match – Tops and bottoms don’t have to match. Mix up your look with different styles and colours, or try our reversible options for when you’re going on holiday and want to pack light.
4. Don’t be too critical – We know that swimwear shopping can be nerve wracking, but it’s so important to tone down that little critical voice in your head before you come in. Feel free to bring in a trusted friend to help you with the whole experience. We also have some great blogs on our website (hotbodyswimwear.co.nz) with more swimwear tips, and if you’re still feeling unsure you can always book a free one-on-one consultation so you can have one of our swimsuit specialists all to yourself.
How does your outlook on sustainability impact your choice of brands or fabrics?
Hugely! We care about our planet and we analyse our supply chain and the brands that we stock to help reduce waste and minimise our impact. Specifically, we look for brands that use biodegradable bags and packaging to transport our products – rather than plastics that clog up our precious oceans – and we also look for labels that use sustainable practices. Brands like Monte & Lou and Bound create swimwear from incredible quick-dry fabric made from recycled nylon which helps to reduce pre- and post-consumer waste. Cinnamon Swan is another of our favourite brands, crafting their swimwear from plastic bottles – tidying up our beaches one swimsuit at a time.
We hear that you’re expanding your range of resort wear, cover-ups and accessories. Tell us more about this.
Yes we are! We’re very excited to be expanding our range and introducing some fabulous new overseas brands in the coming months. We’ve spent a lot of time sourcing the very best sustainable fabrics, handwoven patterns, vibrant colour combinations and stunning new styles and we can’t wait to show you.
These pieces are not only great for throwing over your favourite swimwear when you go from the beach to the bach, but they can also be styled up for special occasions or worn as everyday wear. Our mailing list subscribers will be the first to know when everything arrives, so make sure you’ve signed up via our website so you don’t miss the launch.
24 Nuffield street, Newmarket | 09 529 2040
Our opening hours: Mon – Sat 10:00-5:00, Sun: 10:00-4:00
Instagram: @hotbodyswimwear
