My moth er always told me that if you were around when the style debuted, chances are you shouldn't wear it when it comes back around. Not to date myself but I remember begging my mom for a pair of iridescent jelly shoes back in the day. And she said, "No." So this would probably exempt me from her second-time-around rule. But still.

You know you've been thinking about it for the past six months. You knew swimsuit season was right around the corner. So why does it feel like it just crept up and caught you off-guard? It's okay. We're right there with you. Swimsuit styles are varied and flattering this season, with tons of 60s inspired bikinis and one pieces (Yes! One pieces are sexy and cool again!).

Here's a quick-hit list of some of my favorite suits with all the essential beach/pool gear for a red hot summer.

On April 17 the Gap introduced a new limited edition collection for women, designed exclusively for the Gap by Doo-Ri, Rodarte and Thakoon-three emerging design labels. The collection, simply called Gap Design Editions, is part of Gap's recently announced partnership with the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund (CVFF), an initiative established to support and encourage new American design talent.

                     Henri Bendel adds one more temptation to the shopping experience

If you're going to indulge, you should go all out. I mean if you're going to drop $950 on a pair of Christian Louboutin peep-toe platforms, why not give in to all material delights? For the ultimate Diva's Dream head to Henri Bendel in New York City for some decadent shopping and noshing.

Believe it or not, swimsuits have been around since the days of Ancient Rome, when public bathing was all the rage (hence the term bathing suit). What's interesting is that the suits women wore a millennia ago were shockingly similar to the suits women wear today. When the trend crossed the pond to America, conservative minds grabbed hold of the idea, turning functional lightweight swimsuits into bulky dresses made out of wool.

This summer is all about bright, playful colors and patterns. For women, everything is casual—even work clothes are lighter and brighter. The generational influences run the gamut of 50s glam to 70s bohemian to 80s rocker.

Tunics and free flowing tops rank high on the wish list for summer, like this fluid empire top from Nordstrom .

For tops, dresses and skirts it’s all about thick stripes, modern geometric patterns and nautical themes. For a re-interpretation of the bold stripes look, I like this Ella Moss dress.