Evolution Of The Bikini

BIKINITHE EVOLUTION OF THE By Tanya Rabe

In early 2022, Gold Coasters farewelled the spirited woman who introduced to Australians, one of fashion’s most iconic and controversial swimwear designs: the bikini.

Paula Stafford was born in 1920 and having studied maths, chemistry, and physics at Melbourne Girls Grammar with a dream to become an architect, she was advised by the headmistress to choose a ‘more feminine career’. It was then that Paula applied her creative flair to fashion design.

Stafford and her husband moved to the Gold Coast after marrying in 1943. At that time, the fledgling fashion designer began cutting her swimsuits in half to wear on Surfers Paradise Beach where the couple were running their family business. To Stafford’s surprise, her new two-piece caught the attention of other women who approached her with a request to purchase.

The Stafford bikini rose to prominence over the next couple of decades, but not without controversy. In 1952, a woman wearing a Stafford bikini drew a great deal of attention when she was barred from a beach for being immodest. In response, Stafford sent five women wearing her design back to the same beach in what became an unintended yet prosperous PR coup for her brand.

To locals and tourists alike, we are drawn to the Gold Coast for its year-round summery vibe and beach culture. Surfing, SUPing, boating, kayaking, swimming and sunbathing are synonymous with our Gold Coast lifestyle, and we dress accordingly. The bikini has been the summer uniform of choice for many Gold Coast women, and at times the occasional bloke as well.

It wasn’t until the 1980s that it was revealed our well-oiled, sun worshiping, bikini clad bodies were starting to suffer from overexposure to UV radiation from the sun. Skin cancer was rising and for those of us who can remember, the SlipSlop-Slap campaign was developed to increase the awareness of skin cancer and melanoma and how we could prevent this insidious disease.

Australia has the highest melanoma rates in the world, with Queensland taking the title as the "Skin Cancer Capital of the World". A whopping 95% of melanomas are caused by overexposure to UV radiation from the sun. The Cancer Council estimates 16,800 Australians will be diagnosed with melanoma by the end of this year.

This data was enough for local swimwear designer, Ally Delaney to rethink swimwear design for herself and her beach loving Sisterhood. Her brand Wet Leopard has a purpose to make sunconscious swimwear, glamorous and functional for women. Her extensive research and development coupled with innovative design have transformed the traditional bikini for sun smart, sexy women around the world.

The swimwear range is made from UPF50+ sun protection fabric with inbuilt bust support using patented underwire technology. Wet Leopard swimwear are tailored with French seams in a corset-like design giving women of all shapes and sizes a feminine, flattering look. Most sun protective swimwear have basic elastic shelf bras, offering no real support. Ally says, ‘They’re uncomfortable and squash the bust all together to give an unflattering mono-boob.’

Gone are the days of sunbaking and alongside them, we say au revoir to ugly rash guards and box-cut one-pieces. Wet Leopard have revolutionised the swimwear market where women can feel fully supported running along the beach or going for a surf in a sexy range of beautiful, sustainable fabrics. ‘Our swimwear is ethically made in Australia, designed to last for as long as possible, not just one or two summers like some swimwear’, explains Ally passionately. We have grown a lot since Paula Stafford introduced her bikini. We now understand the importance of a sun smart approach to the way we dress for the beach to protect ourselves from cancer and we have discovered the detrimental impact the fashion industry has on our planet. This is an industry responsible for being one of the largest polluters in the world and the second greatest polluter of local freshwater. Ally wanted to make swimwear to promote a positive change in sun protection, but she was adamant Wet Leopard would only do this by being environmentally friendly. ‘All our swimwear is made from recycled plastic bottles. Our black one-piece swimsuits are made from REPREVE®, an eco-friendly green fibre made from the recycling of discarded single use plastic bottles that were destined for landfill or ocean bound.’ Using recycled instead of virgin polyester produces fewer carbon emissions and gives plastic bottles a second life. Perfect for boating, paddle boarding, surfing, kite surfing, swimming, Ally, a water baby herself, has tested her range and stands by her creations. Acknowledging the wonderful woman, Paula Stafford, for her courage to empower women’s personal choice in swimwear, Ally is leading the next generation of designers doing the same thing as her predecessor, just in a different way. See the website for the full range of Wet Leopard swimwear https://www.wetleopard.com/

LEIGH-SMITH YACHTS Superyacht Sales

Located in the yachting hub of Sanctuary Cove on the Stunning Gold Coast in Queensland Australia, contact the professional sales team at Leigh-Smith Yachts to arrange a viewing. sales@lsyachts.com.au

ASKING PRICE

$8,490,000

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$9,950,000

2018 PRESIDENT 115 SUPERYACHT

President 115 Tri-Deck Superyacht (35.05 m), Semi-Custom built for the first owner in 2018 to exacting standards under the Lloyds A1 offshore certification. (Extensive maintenance recently carried out.) KAYCEE boasts volume, style, sophistication, and pedigree. A design brief was implemented for reliable, efficient long range cruising. The demands of a large family or dual owners are exceeded as KAYCEE boasts two equally impressive master cabins. One on the upper helm deck with its own aft deck enclosed and air-conditioned acting as a luxury private retreat, close to the ship's bridge making it easy to monitor voyage progress in absolute comfort. A full beam master is below deck with walk in robe and bathroom with a full size bath. This master cabin is what one would expect of a vessel in this category. The VIP guest cabin is located forward and the guest twin cabins are configured with a queen bed in one and two singles in the other. KAYCEE has an elegant interior that was designed around an elevator that travels up and down all three levels from the full beam master cabin through the saloon to the top cabin located behind the bridge. Entertaining is a breeze with a large open saloon featuring a functional cocktail bar opening out onto the expansive relaxed enclosed aft deck. The yacht is purposeful in design with easy access to water activities via a multipurpose hydraulic submersible swim platform and large tender garage that easily turns into a beach club arrangement. Powered by twin Caterpillar C18 Acert 1050hp diesel engines KAYCEE is capable of a top speed of 17 knots, and comfortably cruises at 9 - 10 Knots burning 78 LPH. Kaycee has a significant cruising range diesel capacity of 20,818 Litres and 2,650 litres of fresh water. If you are in the market for a large volume near new Superyacht with timeless styling and an interior ready for a personal touch to be added then you need to view KAYCEE.

THREE-LEVEL ELEVATOR 2009 MONTE FINO 122 SUPERYACHT

MASTEKA 2 has just completed her 10 year survey with Bureau Veritas in July 2020. There is an opportunity for a new owner to benefit from her recent significant survey work and extended certificates of compliance. She has completed a full rebuild of the generators which are back to zero hours & a top-end overhaul of the main engines to manufacturers specifications. The Ed Dubois designed yacht is in impressive condition. MASTEKA 2 is in commercial survey to accommodate 110 guests onboard for events (1D) and 12 guests internationally (under 2A). She has proven to be a successful charter yacht in Australia and the South Pacific and presents as a highly certified commercial vessel.

The 122ft / 37.1m MASTEKA 2 has been constructed with a grp hull and is powered by 2x 1675hp Caterpillar C32s with a cruising speed of 10 knots and a top speed of 12 knots. MASTEKA 2 has been designed to comfortably accommodate up to 12 charter guests in 5 suites. The guest cabins comprise a primary suite with a king size bed and en-suite bathroom facilities located on the main deck, 2 cabins with a double bed and en-suite bathroom facilities and 2 cabins with a twin bed and a pullman bed and ensuite bathroom facilities. The crew have their own separate crew quarters located below the aft deck allowing guests to enjoy increased levels of privacy.

Recently undergoing a multimillion-dollar refit including full paintwork, the 2009 122' Monte Fino MASTEKA 2 is an elegant superyacht with classic lines. Nominated for Superyacht of the year in the 30-40m category 2009, her Ed Dubois styling shines in every aspect of her yacht design. MASTEKA 2's expansive deck space, sleek appearance, and generous layout create a sophisticated and functional yacht. Currently, with her second owner, the 2009 Monte Fino superyacht MASTEKA 2 is an established product on the Australian and International charter market

The 2009 Monte Fino motor yacht MASTEKA 2 is available for immediate delivery, Contact Ryan Leigh-Smith 0408 758 886 to arrange an inspection

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MELFI DESIGNS

AWARD WINNING UPHOLSTERY & HELM CHAIRS By Tanya Rabe

With 40 years upholstery experience, Michel (Michelangelo) Melfi is highly regarded in the marine, commercial, film and television industries for offering a diverse range of custom upholstery manufacturing. Everything from interiors, lounges and helm chairs are sold within Australia and exported to Canada, New Zealand and the United States. During these four decades and with a lot of devotion, Michel has built a reputation based on offering the highest quality craftsmanship. Some might say that Michel is at the pinnacle of his career but I’m sure he would disagree. Here we have a man, a true creative with an insatiable curiosity who loves to pull things apart to understand how they work and then put them back together in a new and improved way. His inquisitive nature means there are always new discoveries which in turn means the way he does things is always evolving. ‘I am constantly researching and growing ideas,’says Michel. To research a problem for one customer can often refine a whole process. Melfi Designs are a dedicated team of five, which are more like extended family, each with their own special niche. Forget production line in this business. No two products are ever the same. Everything is customized to suit the customer. Whether you are ordering a brand new custom made helm chair or restoring a 100-yearold chaise, your project receives complete attention from beginning to end. ‘It’s much more than throwing some foam cushions together,’ jokes Michel. His passion is undisguisable as he handles a piece of leather and talks about its origin and the process it will undergo onsite before he molds it into a stylish custom-made piece. The attention to detail is beyond expectations from the perfect stitching and embroidery to the inner mechanisms of the product – the combination of foam, springs and runners. Michel is not just creating custom chairs, he is creating a quality of life for his buyer. Remembering back to when he started out, Michel tells the story of his 16-year-old self living in Abbotsford, Sydney above an upholstery shop. Enticed by the idea of making some extra cash, Michel would make buttons for the upholsterer. It wasn’t long before he actually fell in love with the art. ‘I was intrigued that you can take certain materials and create something special.’ Michel has advanced from button maker to upholsterer on 18 films and television shows, his latest gig being Baz Luhrmann’s blockbuster, ELVIS. Michel’s work also features in other famous movies including THOR, Pirates of the Caribbean and Aqua Man. Michel is proud to acknowledge being the recipient of the Best Marine Upholstery Manufacturing Award Queensland in 2021 and 2022. He says it’s not so much about the award but more about being recognised for the hard work you do. Despite his success, Michel is a humble gentleman who would love to see more young people involved in the art of upholstery. The demand for high quality custom made products is there, as not everyone wants mass produced items. For someone with a creative, inquisitive mind and willing to work hard, the world is their oyster in this game. www.mmelfidesigns.com

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