Obviously people have been making clothing from animals since the dawn of time, so -- unless you're a member of PETA -- the idea of wearing the reworked hide of some creature shouldn't be a big deal. But somehow the thought of wearing fish seems just a little ... slimy.

According to one woman, however -- who recently modeled one of the new leather bikinis made entirely from talapia fish -- they're surprisingly comfortable, "especially inside." And, while she thought the bikini was "a bit strange because it's new and it's not elasticized," the fact that the leather was waterproof was very appealing (which makes sense, seeing as it's a swimsuit).

In addition to being easy to wear, the entrepreneurs behind the new fish leather bikinis say they're exceptionally durable, which, especially if you're the sort of person who holds on to the same suit for years at a time, is a real bonus.

But let's talk about what's really important -- namely, how does it look? The major downside is that the suit won't cling to your body, so the shape (at least from this photo), looks a little weird. That said, however, the style and color are fantastic -- so maybe, especially if really is that comfortable, the new fish suit is worth a shot.

As you know, we at Styledash love sharing style blogs with our readers as we come across them in our daily (hourly?) jaunts through the fashionweb, so we could hardly contain ourselves when we found out that design blog NOTCOT had branched out into fashion with Notcouture (excellent play on their original name!).

Not quite a blog, not quite a social site, Notcouture allows fashionistas to sign-up and submit images that link to sites, blog posts, and stores. The result is a gorgeous gallery of clothes, handbags, jewelry, and just about anything else that looks good. Because they launched recently, they've partnered with various stores and brands for discounts and giveaways, so it's definitely worth a peek.

Why succomb to skimpy swimwear that shows off your body, when you can instead opt for full-body water suits that "highlight the face."

Like these fashion-forward garments from your friends at WholesomeWear!

Nothing says "I never plan to have sex" like a conservatively-cut, knee-length dress -- complete with a "spandex undergarment [that] fits like a bodysuit." The best part is -- these might even be easier to swim in than the floor-length black potato sack you wear when you're not "kickin' back poolside."

Just when you thought no one in the world would ever design clothing suited to your modest personal tastes, along comes WholesomeWear to save the day. So come on, gang, let's hit the beach!

[via ParentDish]

Mandy Moore is in desperate need of a new stylist, because whoever let her out of the house in that tiny little bikini needs to be taken into a dark alley for a long and violent beating. It's not like Mandy is fat (although some would argue with me on that), but girlfriend certainly isn't skinny.

String bikinis need to be set aside for models, and people who are made of skin and bones; real women, like Mandy, need to cover that junk up in a tankini or if you want to get a little sun on that tummy -- a nice supportive halter style top paired with boy shorts would work. A visit to Mystic Tan wouldn't hurt either; fat rolls look best tanned rather than a shade of glowing white.

The real tragedy is the lack of makeup and her unkempt hair. Sure celebrities have the right to "let themselves go" a little, but geeze Mandy... you are promoting an album aren't you? Clean yourself up (for goodness' sake, there are photographers around).

Mandy Moore is currently rumored to be dating Nicole Richie's ex DJ AM, and if his dating history of Richie and some not-so-famous models are any indication of his taste, Mandy could be entering the celebrity skeleton club in a matter of months.

Like it or not summer is coming and there is nothing you can do to stop it. You have worked all winter long at the gym to get your body in beach ready shape but for some reason you are still cowering at the thought of wearing your bikini on the sandy beaches. Fear not you are only a few beauty tips and tricks away from showing that swimsuit who's boss.

There's no escaping it now. The sun is shining and you're going to look pretty silly out on the patio covered up in heavy jeans and long-sleeve t-shirts. You're going to have to show off that body at some point.

Though I haven't swum a lap since I was on the San Antonio Swim Team in elementary school, I do know that swimming is great way to get into shape. Unfortunately, I've always associated fitness swimming wear with "ugly." Suits are one-piece, one color, and usually some weird shape.

ThisNext.com user Alyson is an avid swimmer, and has put together a list of products, Swimmingly, for swimmer that are still stylish. Gotta love those pink goggles!

The unofficial start of summer is almost here and what better way to prepare for the occasion than to hunt for hot summer fashions. In true fashionista form, I "surf" the high end designers' inventory to find out who is trying to make a quick buck in honor of summer. You know -- over priced beach towels, sunglasses, designer beach bags, and of course brand stamped surf gear.

Some of my summer favorites include a $450 Louis Vuitton beach towel, (seriously no one is going to hijack your beach chair with this baby laying on it). Another summer staple is a pricey pair of sunglasses to make the other beach bunnies jealous, pretty sure these $700 Gucci rimless studded shades will do the trick.

If spending the summer on the beach is not the way you envision your summer... try camping. Ralph Lauren has you covered with a camp chair that costs nearly $5,000 -- just try not to get it dirty, okay?

Or forget about camping and spend your five grand on something a little more practical, like a Chanel Surfboard. Chanel doesn't sell the surfboard to just anyone so call your local Chanel boutique for more information. Surf's up dude!

Sure, it might look like an ordinary swimsuit, but this green product from Patagonia is incredibly cool. The Minimalist II board shorts -- just released for this summer -- are made out of 100% polyester fiber recycled from soda bottles.

Not only that, but they're available in a variety of colors, so even if you're not into blue, you can still do the straightforward look this season -- all the while comforted by the knowledge that you're doing your part for the environment.

The only drawback is the price, which is a little high for a pair of swimming trunks. In fact, at $55, you'll be doing your part for Patagonia as well as Mother Earth (not that I have anything against the company, but -- even for a good cause -- it's expensive).

Who knows, maybe they'll even make for an interesting conversation starter when you're trying to make friends at the beach. "Hey, do you come here often? My shorts are made from plastic. Yes, you can touch them."

Or maybe not.

Unfortunately for us guys, if our physique isn't "beach ready," there's not much we can do about it. Or, at least, the style of swimsuit we wear won't make any difference -- our guts will be hanging out just the same.

I gather that the process of preparing for summer is even worse for women -- but there's a plus side, in that you can find a swimsuit that will be flattering to your body type.

Need to draw attention away from your bust -- or maybe you have the opposite dilemma? Want to minimize your tummy, or looking to wear a one-piece suit even though you're long-waisted?

Check out this recent post on Second City Style for everything you need to know about what suit will compliment your body. There's so many options and things to consider that -- honestly -- it makes my head hurt, but, chances are, you'll know what this lady is talking about.

People seem quite content to wear Juicy slapped across their behinds but would you wear Incredible over your front regions? Fashion Week Daily reports that Project Red Emporio Armani is expanding the Red campaign. New items include a plan to distribute fragrances and jewelry and new products as swimwear, beach towels, tank tops, Bermuda shorts, and baseball caps. The Red project hasn't been a rousing success so far but perhaps this rather cheeky beachwear will help.

In spite of their much-hyped, but ultimately disappointing collaboration with Madonna, H&M is teaming up with another celebrity to bring a little pizazz into their summer collection. This time they're turning to Kylie Minogue, working with the pop star to create a new swimsuit line called H&M loves Kylie.

While I'm not exactly an authority on women's swimwear, let's just say the looks aren't exactly inspiring.

This has been a rough year for Minogue, who's been though an embarrassing break-up with one lover, and learned that another is writing a tell-all book about their relationship.

Fortunately, the lackluster H&M line isn't entirely her fault. Says the company's marketing director, "Kylie met with our designers and gave us ideas that we then further developed."

My guess: Kylie's major input was wearing the suits for the photo shoot.

[via FashionIQ]

My butterfly fever started when Marsha over at Luxist posted the most adorable butterly flats from Alexander McQueen. The simple little ballet flats adorned with fluttery beauties sent me on the quest for other butterfly-themed fashions for spring.

1) My favorite butterfly creation is this dress by Mary L. Couture, a graceful, empire-waisted halter dress emboldened by large, dramatic butterflies.
2) Nannette Lepore uses butterflies as one of her signature themes and they are also on her airy spring tunic.
3) Walk on butterflies with Juicy Couture's pink thong sandals decorated with scattered clusters of bright butterflies.
4) Another plus for butterflies, they make great figure camouflage as in this halter bathing suit from Be Creative.
5) Fashion on the cheap, a cute black and white striped tank from Target gets an added kick from the addition of butterflies.

Good news for those looking for a little more coverage on the beach, The Daily Telegraph says that big-bottomed bikinis are in. Clare Coulson reports that when the larger bottomed bikinis made their appearance on runways a few years back they didn't catch on with fashion editors who thought they were a bit too close to the infamous granny panties seen in the Bridget Jones movies. But now that Miucca Prada showed high-waisted bikini bottoms on the runway the retro-styled suits might truly get their day in the sun. The flesh-covering suits are selling like mad over in England. The suit shown here, the Haiti Bikini from Sage Sarong sells for £69 and is just one of several high-waisted options. But where are they in the U.S.? I've seen plenty of tankinis and boy short bikinis but the ultra-high waisted bikinis don't seem to be making a big impact here yet. Has anyone seen these in stores yet?

Summer is coming. And with the warmer weather comes the opportunity to ditch you shoes for the ultimate in laid-back, lazy-day footwear: the flip-flop sandal.

But why be content with a normal sandal, when you can have one that distributes booze? Seriously. How else are you going to sneak your favorite whiskey onto that alcohol-free beach than by cleverly concealing it inside the polyurethane encapsulated flask in the heel of your new pair of Reefs? (Not that I would do that -- just sayin'.)

Even if you frequent a beach where drinking is condoned, isn't it worth drinking like this just to impress your friends?

Plus, while I've never owned a pair of Reef sandals, word on the street is they're pretty comfortable. Although, as Uncrate notes: "after drinking all the Beam you've hidden in the heels, we doubt that will even be an issue."

[via BoingBoing]

It's as if there just aren't enough seasons in the year for Target's International Go Collection. Before Proenza Schouler is even off the current racks, we're already hearing that Libertine is in the pipeline. Hold up. Wait a minute. Before we even get that far, Patrick Robinson is actually on deck for Summer 2007 and the preview of the collection is available in the Target online press room.

Now i have to admit that it was nice to see the previous designers, but Paul+Joe was too young, Behnaz was closer to my personal style, but the actual collection for Target was disappointing, and Proenza Schouler was too aggressively colorful for me. Patrick Robinson, though, definitely works for the casual side of me in summer, especially the dirt cheap swimwear.

Shown: Shift Dress in Brown Medallion Print $34.99, Navy Blue Strapless Tie Dress $34.99, and Khaki Linen Jacket $44.99 with Empire V-Neck Tank with Ruffle Detail in Rosette Print $22.99