Birthday & Brunch

 If you follow me on social media, you'll know that my birthday was last week! I turned 19 years old. To celebrate on one of my last days in California, I hit the beach with some friends. We went to Santa Cruz, about an hour and a half south of Berkeley. Between the tanning, swimming, and boardwalk rides, it was a really fun time. I wore one of my favourite brands of bikinis- Triangl Swimwear. If you don't know about Triangl, they are an Australian company who sells neoprene bikinis, the material that wetsuits are made of. I do a full review on another style of their bikinis here. Here, I am wearing the Chloe top in Malibu Blue and the Ollie Penny Wanderlust bottoms both in size small. I chose to wear the Ollie bottoms because they fit snugly and securely, don't gape at all, and were not likely to come off in the waves. I love the bright colour of this bikini, and how sturdy the material is. I never once worried about a wardrobe malfunction. One thing that has to be noted is that the bottoms kind of collect water in the bum, and you have to let it out every time you get out of the water. It wasn't a huge hassle, but definitely something to think about.

The next day, I met up with one of my sorority sisters in the city (San Francisco) for an extended birthday brunch. It was such a beautiful day and warm in SF so I decided to go sleeveless. Here, I'm wearing a dress that was a birthday present from Francesca's. I absolutely love the colour. It's kind of a periwinkle colour and is quite unique. The lace layers make it look so delicate and sophisticated, while not being over the top. I feel like I could wear this dress casually, or to a more semi-formal event if I paired it with some heels and pearls. For shoes, I'm wearing a pair of gladiator snakeskin patterned sandals from Vince Camuto. They are really comfy and I thought the white colour would brighten up my look for summer. Finally, I grabbed my favourite Longchamp Le Pliage small tote. This bag is the perfect size for me to carry my camera, wallet, phone, and a light sweater. It has quickly become a staple in my wardrobe and is definitely a good investment. 

Get the look:

Chloe Malibu Blue Top- Triangl Swimwear

Ollie Penny Wanderlust Bottoms- Triangl Swimwear

 Mulberry Lace Dress- Francesca's Collections

Snakeskin Gladiator Sandals- Vince Camuto (similar)

Le Pliage Small Tote in Navy- Longchamp

Triangl Swimwear Review- Poppy

 In the past year, Triangl Swimwear has become one of the most iconic and popular swimsuit brands in the world. Everyone wants to get their hands on one of their brightly colored neoprene bikinis. Since they are quite pricey, I did a lot of research before buying one and fretted incessantly about the size, style and fit of the bikini I was going to get. I finally settled on the Poppy style in the color Flamingo Fling.

Let me start off by saying that I am no model. Obviously the bikinis look amazing on bronzed, toned, tall bodies lounging on the beach like they haven't a care in the world and eat nothing but celery. I am not 5'10" with legs that go on for days and wanted to show what the swimwear looks like on a normal girl. I'm a little on the short side but have pretty normal proportions and fit in standard size small or size 4 clothing.

The style:

First off, I love this bikini. The colors really are as vibrant as they look on the website, and help bring out your tan. The bikini is also really comfortable. I was skeptical that the neoprene might be too thick and stiff for a bikini, but it is surprisingly soft and easy to move around in. I like how sturdy the material is, it won't ever sag or stretch out like some other swimsuits, so it is a good investment. I love the color scheme of mint, pink, and white in this bikini. I was concerned that the colors would be overwhelming, but they really work well together. I was also not sure how I would like the mesh detailing on this version of the Poppy and almost went with another color, but I'm glad I didn't. The mesh is hardly noticeable but does give an extra dimension and texture which I like, it doesn't look cheap at all.

The fit: 

My main concern was the fit of the top. Since I was getting the Poppy bikini which has under wire cups, it had to fit perfectly to prevent gaping. I feel with the other Triangl bikinis that have triangle shaped tops like the Chloe or Ollie styles, there is a bit more flexibility in fit. For reference, I am a 32A sometimes B and I ended up getting a size small. The top does fit pretty well, the band length is just right. The cup size is fine for me, but I feel like I could have gotten an XS if I wanted a more push up effect. There is no padding in the bikini, although the under wire does a good job of lifting, and the neoprene is thick enough to essentially be padded. Triangl has recently updated the style to have adjustable straps which helps the fit.

Another thing I was worried about was that the bottoms would fit like a diaper, as some other reviews said that the bottoms often would have a bit of a roomy fit in the bum, but I don't have this problem at all. The bottoms fit perfectly around my hips and provide good coverage in the back without looking like granny panties. I wear a size 26 in jeans and shorts for reference and I got the bottoms in size small too. If you need a larger top and a smaller bottom, or vice versa, you can mix and match sizes on the Triangl website which is super helpful since I know a lot of girls have to wear different sized bottoms and tops. If you are worried about sizing, Triangl has a live chat on their website 24/7 and they will give you advice on what is best for you.

Overall:

This bikini is beautiful. Hands down my favorite bikini I have ever owned. It is high maintenance though, you need to hand wash it after every use and always keep it laying flat, or else the neoprene will crease. I would splurge and buy an original Triangl and not a dupe. The fakes that I have seen do not fit as well, do not hold their shape, and simply are not as good quality.

Hope you're having a great summer!

Get the look:
Poppy Flamingo Fling Bikini- Triangl Swimwear