Bikini

N ews item: Skier Lindsey Vonn, one of the United States' top medal contenders in the Winter Olympics, is not sure she will be able to compete in Vancouver after suffering a deep shin bruise in a Feb. 2 training accident. My take: This is the same young woman who appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated's Olympic Preview Issue and also is prominent in this year's SI Swimsuit Issue. Talk about tempting fate - and the SI jinx. I'm surprised she hasn't been run over by a truck.

Michael Phelps' latest love interest is 22-year-old Sarah Herndon, according to an interview with the waitress/model from California (the same description as his previous flame, Megan Rossee, whom he dumped just after Christmas). He and Herndon met in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, just before Christmas; fished for lobster in the Bahamas after the holidays and had an evening of sushi and "Zero Dark Thirty" back in Baltimore. Here's a report. By Hugo Daniel For Coleman-Rayner Michael Phelps charmed his latest love interest on a romantic lobster fishing trip - jumping into the water and joking, "This is my home, too, you know.” Sarah Herndon was whisked to the Bahamas by the Oympic champion for a romantic five-day break of fishing, snorkeling and tropical sunsets.

What's inflatable, not a toy, but could be fun on the beach?An inflatable swimsuit, of course.In early September, Cole of California will introduce Top Secret swimwear, which includes an inflatable bikini top with a pump-you-up system, a new "breath of air" on the ever-present quest toward breast enhancement.Priced at $72, the suit operates similarly to air-pump sneakers. A small rubber "bladder" sits between two padded wedges on the side of the breast."Pump it a little to turn heads. Pump it a lot to cause a frenzy," scream the promotional campaign brochures.

A persistent drizzle that occasionally morphed into a driving rain helped China retain its bikini parade crown Saturday, as only 325 women – out of the thousand-plus needed — answered Ocean City 's call to stage its own parade of world-record proportions. Still, spirits were high during the parade, which ran from the Princess Royale on 91st Street north to the Carousel Resort Hotel, a total of some 25 blocks. The weather even cooperated at least a bit when the rain let up just in time for the start at 3:15 p.m. Scores of bikini-clad infants, girls and women, ranging in age from a few weeks to well into their 60s, began the march from beneath U.S. and Maryland flags, cheering and showing off their best beach struts.

Before we were married my husband loved me to wear sexy bathing suits. Now, five years later, he has become conservative and insists I dress like a "respectable businessman's wife."This June we will celebrate our fifth anniversary with a vacation to St. Tropez. I want to surprise him by wearing a slinky swimsuit that will show I still have my great figure. What do you suggest?Try a bikini. It will not only show off your figure, but look right in HTC trendy St. Tropez. The bikini had its 50th anniversary recently so you'll find lots of different styles in the stores.

The girlie bikini has reached a milestone.She's hit the Big 5-0 this year, the very birthday that many consider to be the start of some cosmic downward spiral, but which has apparently done nothing to tarnish this gal's hotsy-totsy status.Once thought to be too risque to be worn on American beaches and later considered proper attire only for "easy girls," the birthday bikini has since earned a place in the hearts of many, from those who can no longer wiggle their way into one to others -- mostly men -- who admire them from afar.

If what designers say is true, bikini days are back again. They tout the return of the classic string ` those triangles of fabric arranged in all the right places. They've introduced the tankini, a tank top and bikini bottom that's quickly become the season's hottest look. And they're offering more choices than ever in two-piece swimwear, trying to lure the modest and slightly misshapen into baring a bit of midriff this season."There's been a complete resurgence in the two-piece ` from the young who wear them for volleyball on the beach to the not-so-young who wear them ... to revisit their youth," says swimwear designer Anne Cole, who now devotes roughly 40 percent of her line to two-pieces, double that of previous years.

FOR DECADES, THE BIKINI has been the one-piece bathing suit's prettier, sexier and more-popular younger sister. But lately, the tried-and-true one-piece has gotten a bit of a makeover -- shedding a few inches in some key areas, adding some key accessories and ramping up its sex appeal. Strategically placed cut-outs, hardware and daring shapes and colors all have made the new and improved one-piece hipper and more desirable, sparking a noticeable resurgence in the swimwear staple. "The one-piece swimsuit has been an iconic fashion statement for decades," says Michael Fink, vice president of women's fashion for Saks Fifth Avenue, adding that the company is "seeing an increase in the demand for one-piece swimsuits."

Lulu, a pleasantly plump pole dancer from Hanover, Md., made quite the splash last night on "America's Got Talent," shimmying and writhing up her pole and eventually landing in a jaw-dropping split. The 27-year-old contestant, who works as an accounting and title clerk, had "a big goal, and that's to dance," she told the cameras. She's been dancing for as long as she could remember, though having two kids sidelined her for a time. Lulu strutted out onto the stage in a teeny aqua-colored bikini, introduced herself, and began her routine.

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, unless it involves a mayor in a bikini and a county executive with his foot in his mouth. At a fancy reception for Maryland politicos attending the International Council of Shopping Centers Convention, Harford County Executive David Craig stepped up to say a few words. There were plenty of bigwigs gathered at Wynn Las Vegas, from other county execs to Gov. Martin O'Malley. Craig gave Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon a special shout-out. Sadly, no one was taking notes, but I'm told this is the gist of what Craig said: "I've seen a lot of Sheila Dixon this week, specifically this morning out by the pool when she was in her bikini."

The beach and bikinis go hand in hand. Knowing that, the North Ocean City Business Alliance and Spark Productions were inspired to plan Ocean City's first bikini parade - and they hoped to make it world-record sized. But since those initial plans, which called for more than 450 participants, China has set a new world record with 1,085 women on parade in bikinis. With just days to go, Brad Hoffman of Spark Productions said about 200 women have pre-registered for the event, which originally required a $10 donation but now is free.

This weekend's world record attempt in Ocean City will really need to bring on the bikinis. By the thousands. The centerpiece of the town's first-ever Uptown Bash set for this weekend is a bikini parade where O.C. planned to break a record set by Panama City Beach this spring. That would have required about 450 women marching in their two-piece best. Easy peasy, right? Not so fast. Just this week the town learned that China had broken Panama City's record earlier this month by parading 1,085 bikini-clad women in Huludao City in the Liaoning Province.

Advance registration is now open for those who want to help Ocean City set a record for the world's longest bikini parade. The Guinness World Record is now held by Panama City Beach, Fla., which stole it from Australia back in the spring. The folks Down Under plan to recapture the record with an event in October, so O.C. will really have to bring it. For the win, the town needs more than 450 women, teens and girls to show up in their two-piece swimsuits for the Aug. 25 event, part of the Uptown Beach Bash, a newly launched three-day festival feature art shows, music, food, a paddleboard regatta and a bike stunt show.

Women planning to visit the beach in late August will have the opportunity to make their vacation like no other by participating in what Ocean City hopes will be the world's largest bikini parade. The bikini parade is the highlight of a planned Uptown Beach Bash, an event made to boost activity uptown in late August, drawing attention to an under utilized area during a slow part of the summer season. To break the Guinness World Record, set back in March by Panama City Beach, Fla., more than 450 women will need to participate in the parade, said Brad Hoffman of Spark Productions, the company organizing the event.

Lulu, a pleasantly plump pole dancer from Hanover, Md., made quite the splash last night on "America's Got Talent," shimmying and writhing up her pole and eventually landing in a jaw-dropping split. The 27-year-old contestant, who works as an accounting and title clerk, had "a big goal, and that's to dance," she told the cameras. She's been dancing for as long as she could remember, though having two kids sidelined her for a time. Lulu strutted out onto the stage in a teeny aqua-colored bikini, introduced herself, and began her routine.

News Roundup •••• Some extremely juicy details about the exciting “God of War: Ascension” have surfaced, with some nuts and bolts of how the new multiplayer mode will function. Add this to your list of “reasons I own a PS3.” [ USA Today ] ••••  Evidence is pointing to the first bit of long-awaited “Skyrim” DLC being a) not far off and b) having something to do with Snow Elves and crossbows. Let's be honest, the “Skyrim” DLC could be anything and we'd all buy it sight unseen.

Swimsuit trauma. Surely every woman has experienced that horrible, sinking feeling when some cute little bikini or maillot suddenly became a magnifying glass for figure flaws. Even if she'd successfully struggled to lose that last 10 pounds, high-cut leg lines or too-skimpy two-pieces meant that when she looked in the dressing room mirror, she was confronted with lumps and bulges she never knew she had."It had gotten to the point where you almost had to have what they call a 'hardbody' to wear a suit," says June Wylie, publicity director for the popular swimwear manufacturer Catalina.

There once was a time when a woman's bosom was queen in the art of the tease. But then came Britney and her short baby-tees, making the midriff fashion's new must-see zone. And when low-slung pants became the rage, cleavage was nothing. A hint of derriere? Everything. Recently, however, there have been signs of a bosom renaissance. But the latest incarnation is not your grandmother's cleavage. Instead of tantalizing with glimpses of deep valleys nestled in plunging necklines, the focus has shifted south.

You guys are not even ready for this episode. I mean, did you eat today? Then you can't handle it, come back tomorrow. [/internet time swoosh] Okay, let's just dive in. First up: the teams are still in Copenhagen. They taxi to a statue of Hans Christian Andersen. Hans has a plaque on his statue with a short poem on it, and a Roadblocking team member must memorize the poem, bike to a theater and perform the poem for a drama critic. If they mess up, or if they don't infuse it with enough drama, they must bike back to the statue and try again.

I have four ideas for how to control the out of control crowd tubing on the Gunpowder River ("Taming the river," Aug 3). I certainly agree that it has been a very enjoyable activity. It used to be a way to teach the young to respect and enjoy nature. It is, for sure, not a place for anyone who does not respect nature. One: At least limit the shuttle companies to one. Two: Prohibit anyone from taking coolers on the river or in the tubes. Three: Prohibit possession or drinking of alcoholic beverages on the river.