Make a splash: What Katie Did swimsuits

If, like me, you loved the swimsuits from For Luna that Siany posted about last year, you may also want to ... er ... splash out on one of the new designs from retro lingerie retailers, What Katie Did. They've put their expertise into a couple of swimsuits that are perfect for wannabe '50s starlets, or girls who want to wear something a bit more substantial but still flattering when they go for a swim (I'm putting my hand up for both those categories).

First up is this black tie number. If I spend a lot of money on a swimsuit, I expect it to work just as well in the Crystal Palace pool as in Crete and in everywhere in the world in between. This one piece looks like it will securely hold it all in and still manage to look quite cute, all courtesy of that cheeky black bow. 

I like the lower cut on the legs and the very pretty tie at the back. Admittedly the £75 price tag is off-putting - I'm just hoping that price is justified by their retro lingerie engineering skills. You can also get this design as a very appealing two piece...

... just as this second design, shown here as a bikini, is also available as an all-in-one. This offers a more classic look (though they rightly point out that it would probably have been considered scandalous sixty years ago) in plain black with a blue piping detail. The top and the bottoms are sold separately, for £35 each, a godsend to those who are a bit larger on top or on bottom. I am also hugely in awe of the potential tummy sucking-in potential of those bottoms, even if they do slightly remind me of my school gym knickers.

And that's it. A small but perfectly formed collection of smalls for your swim, that are virtually guaranteed to make waves on the beach or in your local pool. More please What Katie Did!