Bathing Suits 2002: no limits
by Alessandra Mazzola

Every year the summer returns, bringing with it a literally burning desire to strip off as much of our clothing as is publicly possible. We are driven, decked out in a whole look, scanty but intriguing.
Dolcevita has paid a visit to some of the season's chicest beaches, where a new swimsuit can cost as much as a night in a 4-star hotel. What did we discover? The rule for beachwear in summer 2002 is … no rules!
It all just depends on where you take the sun, and just how much of you you'd like to expose.
The watchword of the day seems to be "dare to share." The latest suits are not only a voyeur's delight, they also allow all of us to rediscover the joys of body freedom; clever styling hides a variety of tiny imperfections which we normally keep under wrap.
That roll around the middle left over from Christmas? It won't be as noticeable if you wear a low-slung bottom like the ones put out by La Perla, which dip down, attractively grazing the bikini line, and don't accentuate the waist.

This is not to say that summer 2002 is just about luxury: the glamour of the "evening bikini" can be easily combined with culottes (super-sexy, of course) that closely wrap the thighs.
On the beach as in the trenches, the warrior-girl wears military boots instead of thongs and a gun belt slung across the bottoms. The flattering top isn't going to let anybody forget she's a woman before she picks up the spear gun...

Laura Urbinati's got something interesting to offer. The simple design of her striped bikini is reminiscent of the 70's and somewhat stark, hence the clever use of black and white film for the publicity campaign
In any case, there's something for everyone here, with unlimited possibilities of self-expression and a thousand ways to bare or wrap your summer best in creations by Italy's finest designers.