You might know Geri Halliwell as one of the famous Spice Girls.  She’s also been a UN ambassador, children’s author and mother – and now, you can add swimwear designer to her list of accomplishments.  She recently announced her new swimwear collection, Geri by Next, which she is designing for British high street fashion chain, Next.

“I’ve been all sorts of different shapes and sizes over the years and I’ve constantly been seen – and scrutinized – in a bikini” says Geri.   “But whatever size I’ve been, I’ve never been able to find a bikini that fitted properly. If the top was ok, the bottom wasn’t. So the idea of doing a swimwear line was completely natural. It came out of necessity. As Next is part of my history (I used to be a Saturday girl at Next), it seemed a perfect fit for me to work with them.  On the beach, us women are at our most exposed – and therefore most vulnerable. As any woman deserves to look and feel good, she needs swimwear that pays proper attention to comfort and function. I wanted to give women an amazing fit, an inspirational look, at an affordable price."

“From my own experience, I was already aware of shapes that flatter – shapes that can look sexy or slimming. There are a lot of big-busted women out there who want to look sexy, not frumpy. So I looked at the structure of cups that could lift boobs but still feel comfortable. For a great bust-line, the contour at the top edge of a bikini has to be just right and for women who need a little help, I’ve done bikini tops with padding. A strapless bandeau shape makes a great choice as it means there's no strap marks. But most bandeaus have no uplift; they tend to flatten boobs, not flatter them. So I’ve created a bandeau that incorporates a great cup – I’m really proud of it. I also know the secret of how to make your bum look smaller. You actually need a much smaller shape than most women probably think. It has also got a lot to do with the size of the side straps and the cut of the leg – which should be high, but not too high!”

The collection features a range of beautiful designed bikinis in a range of designs and colors, as well as one-pieces, maxi dresses and beach accessories.  These swimsuits are a long way from Geri’s Union Jack outfits, and we’d say the designs certainly show off Geri’s curves quite nicely.  Perhaps Kate Middleton might consider one or two for her honeymoon?

You can find Geri by Next in Next stores, or online at http://www.next.co.uk/shopping/women/swimwear/1