We love to spoil our SI Swimsuit 2014 models

Swim Daily Staff | Feb 17, 2014

One bag's worth of goodies. That's right, ONE.

As you know, our models go through a lot for us, so we like to use launch week as an opportunity to show our gratitude in the form of our epic gift bags. Absolutely crammed with goodies from Swimsuit's favorite brands, we try to pick items that will call up memories of the models' Swimsuit shoots. This week Kate Bock and Ariel Meredith swung by the office to rifle through the goods. And there are a lot of goods.

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A Peace Treaty

Rise Deck Earrings | Pop Cuff

Heskura Ring | Tagant Ring

Watut Snake-Tail Earrings | Maat Ring

A Peace Treaty is a trio of women whose line of ethically-conscious and globally-inspired accessories are starting to get major notice in the fashion industry, but Swimsuit has been on the A.P.T. bandwagon for their scarves and jewelry alike since this shot of Lucia Dvorska from 2009.

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Acacia Swimwear

You can tell that a ton of thought goes into each of Acacia Swimwear's looks: fringe, corset-style lacing, prints, crocheted panels. The 2012 shoots used a couple of their looks on Jessica Gomesand Bar Refaeli.

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Alex and Ani

To compliment our boldest suits, we like to keep the jewelry sweet and simple, which often means Alex and Ani's stackable bangles and bohemian charm bracelets.

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American Apparel

When Swimsuit needs a sheer top or a trendy accessory we turn to American Apparel and the L.A.-based brand always delivers. But we also love the simple silhouettes of their swimsuits, like the one Hannah Teter wore in 2010, which come in every color of the rainbow.

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Barbie

Of course we had to make sure everyone got their own SI Swimsuit Barbie which is an updated take on the very first Barbie doll from 1959. Score your own little piece of Swim history at Target.com.

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Basta Surf

Basta Surf's minimalist designs are offset by vivid color blocking. Julie Henderson, who was on the 2011 Fiji shoot where Basta Surf made its Swimsuit debut, has since collaborated with Basta on a swimwear line.

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Beach Riot

You gotta love the way Beach Riot owner Nicole Hanriot (yes, Han-riot)describes her vision: "Beach Riot is a California beach babe swim brand. . . a mix between contemporary chic and surfer girl." But what's even better is the way Kate Upton completely turned that vision on its head when she wore the hell out of this gauzy little number while surfing the polar ice caps.

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Catbird

Threadbare ring

Mingnon Memory ring

We were on the search for perfect rings for a shoot—delicate simple and beautiful—when Brooklyn-based jeweler Catbird delivered. The "thin as a whisper" 14k gold Threadbare rings are great for stacking, and their mid-finger Mingnon Memory Rings are right on trend.

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Chan Luu

Chan Luu’s beaded leather wrap bracelets are perfect for stacking (or for you fashion bloggers, “arm parties”), and add that touch of earthy elegance on our boho-chic shoots.

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Cheeki

It's a good idea to carry an extra pair of underwear when on the go, and Cheeki accommodates this need in a way that isn't totally awkward. Each pairs comes in its own individual packet which makes them simple to stash in your purse, and keeps them safe from those errant Altoids.

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Citizens of Humanity

The popular high-end denim label gifted all our models with a pair of jeans. You didn’t think the girls spent all their time in swimsuits, did you?

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Cosabella

When we want to create a throwback look we usually call on Cosabella, who wowed us again this year with one retro look in particular. And if you haven't tried Cosabella lingerie, you are definitely missing out.

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Diageo spirits

At the end of a long day on set, cocktails are not an option—they're a given. Same goes for launch week. Recognizing this, Diageo sent over crates of Crown Royal Canadian whiskey and Captain Morgan rum, one of each for all the lucky (read: legal to drink) models. Captain's slogan “To Life, Love and Loot” are three things we can definitely get behind.

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Erno Laszlo New York

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Ettika

This L.A.-based jewelry line has adapted the friendship bracelet into something a little more grown up by adding gold-plated chains and other high-end elements which make for good stacking pieces. They're so eye-catching, in fact, that several passersby in the airport tried to buy a them off of us!

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Fresco Towels

You gotta have towels on a swimsuit shoot, so they may as well be pretty enough to shoot, like the one Kate Upton splayed out on during her 2012 shoot in the Florida Keys.

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Fujifilm INSTAX

We would cease to exist without the Fujifilm Instax Camera, which we always keep on hand during shoots to keep track of all the items we photographed. But your familiarity with the Instax may have more to do with our From the Vault series.

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Giorgio Armani Beauty

Second year Swimmer Emily DiDonato is the face of Giorgio Armani’s fragrance Acqua di Gioia. The eau de parfum's name means "water of joy," and is inspired by the shores of the Mediterranean with notes of sea breeze, mint, brown sugar, Italian lemon, jasmine and peony.

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H&M

H&M is where fashion-lovers of all incomes can score pieces from H&M's designer collabs, stock up on basics and find other of-the-moment pieces. Our models count themselves among H&M's legion fans, so these gift cards will no doubt go to good use.

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Happy Hearts Fund

Petra Nemcova founded H.H.F. in 2005, a year after living the horrors of the Indian Ocean Tsunami first-hand. The organization builds schools in regions affected by natural disaster the world. To date they have built more than 85 schools in seven countries, affecting more than 46,000 children and Swimsuit is beyond excited to partner with the charity.

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Heather Gardner

The vibrant colors and prints of the bohemian look translate well on glossy paper, and when we want boho-chic we go to Heather Gardner for jewelry. Last year her beaded strands worked double-duty as a necklace and a "top" for Anne V and Chrissy Teigen.

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Henri Bendel

Luxury specialty store Henri Bendel covered their bases with a pair of seasonal candles: "Beach," for those times a model finds herself somewhere other than the coast, and "Firewood" for brightening up those dreary winters—like, for example, this one.

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Indah

When we need a teeny, tiny, barely-there bikini we turn to Indah. So, we turn to Indah a lot.

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Kate Davis Jewelry

Kate Davis'sdelicate, girly pieces add a touch of subtle elegance to any outfit, and are ideal for layering, like this one Natasha Barnardwore in the 2013 issue.

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Kate Swim

It was a match made in a baby-naming book when Kate Upton appeared on the 2012 cover in an ombre suit (since christened “The Kate”) by Kate Swim; both Kates have been watching their stars rise ever since, and we love calling on the swimwear designer for her custom looks.

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Kelacala Q

Last year Kelacala Q crafted custom globes to celebrate our seven-continent epic. This year for our anniversary, the jewelry line started by Lara Kurtzman made individual necklaces for each girl, stamped with the coordinates of her specific shoot. We’re curious to see whether she fit all that info onto MJ Day‘s custom piece.

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Lands' End

At least three Lands' End totes can be seen on every Swimsuit set. Tasked with carrying, well, everything, these classic bags have accompanied us through deserts, up mountains and across oceans, and they have yet to fail us. They also donated cozy throw blankets, which is great because we firmly believe you can never have too many throws.

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Lindt Chocolate

Sure, we are a little bit partial to shooting on the beach, but we also love any opportunity to take Swimsuit across the pond. Swiss chocolatiers (like Lindt) may or may not have something to do with that.

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Lolli Swim

The work of self described girly-girl Vy Nguyen, Lolli Swim pieces can always be ID-ed by the candy-colored palette or the big bow embellishments, which add up to the perfect balance of sugar and spice.

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Luli Fama

Luli Fama's bright suits, inspired by designer Lourdes "Luli" Hanimian'sCuban background and Miami upbringing, have been a staple of the Swimsuit Issue since 2006. And, FWIW the face of Luli Fama, Hannah Davis, is all over their website.

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Malia Mills

Malia Mills and her designs are as as much a part of the Swimsuit tradition as any one person or photo, earning her first designer credit in 1993 Issue for thisKathy Ireland look. These Malia Mills gift cards gives our models a chance to sunbathe in a piece of Swimsuit history.

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Martha Rey for The La Boheme

Martha Rey for The La Boheme's romantic tie dyed prints really pop when photographed against the blue ocean water and white sands, and work like a charm for boho-themed shoots.

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MIKOH

Started by sisters Kalani and OleemaMiller, MIKOH's sporty silhouettes feature sophisticated details like a woven halter or peek-a-boo bandeau that are sexy without being flashy. We are so fortunate to have them regularly innovate custom suits for us that are undeniably MIKOH.

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Monster Products

Diamond Tears headphones (in black)

Diamond Tears headphones (in crystal)

Clarity HD Micro

iSport earphones

Music is crucial to our shoots—it keeps the vibe and energy up during an early morning, or at the end of a long day. Monster was kind enough to provide our models with two sets of headphones and a Bluetooth speaker to keep the music going long after the shoot is over.

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Mundial Impala

Natural, but manicured nails are a must on any swimsuit shoot. Mundial Impala sent the greatest nail care products complete with multiple nail polishes and a manicure kit.

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Netflix

Our models tend to travel long distances to reach Swimsuit's remote destinations, and what better way to pass the time than with one of those glorious Netflix binges.

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NEVA Wear

The Swimsuit Issue is one of the few chances a model has to appear in print next to her name, so to ensure you remember that name they are known to hit the gym hard before a shoot (#gomesfit, anyone?). NEVA’s comfortably chic activewear ensures they’ll love doing it.

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Ola Vida

Designer Cheryl Keel is a master of the one-of-a-kind suit and we always look forward to seeing what she comes up with when deadline rolls around, like this look on Michelle Vawer from 2012, and this Asian-inspired suit Hannah Davis wore last year in Guilin, China.

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Phelps Leather

On request, Phelps Leather was gracious enough to recreate the leather garment and rack bags Jule Campbell used in Swimsuit shoots of yore. They are what we use to transport the hundreds of swimsuits brought to every country. In that vein, they created these tote bags for the girls, as a piece of Swimsuit history.

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Red's Outfitters

When constantly shooting out in the sun, an excellent pair of sunglasses is a must. Red’s Outfitters handmakes updated takes on classic silhouettes, but the heart of the company is centered in its foundational story, which we recommend you read about here.

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Roxy

When you think of Roxy, you think of surfing. And Roxy graciously sent our girls the ideal sporty swimsuits to shred some waves, paddle board or just play in the ocean.

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Sarah Chloe

A model spends much of her time changing into and out of clothes and accessories that don’t belong to her. We love Sarah Chloe’s personalized jewelry and wanted to give our models something undeniably theirs, so she hooked us up with individual name plates for each girl.

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St. Tropez

This may be the most widely used product by the SI Swimsuit crew. To give our models that perfect sunkissed glow—without the sun—our makeup artists heavily favor St. Tropez.

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SPF Addict

Ida Bella Scarf in tan

Love Your Skin You're In tee

Poncho in taupe

Swimsuit is adamant that our models rely on bronzer and self-tanner, not the sun, to give them that beach babe tan, which is why SPF Addict is such a great find. Developed by R.N. Marina Arnold, SPF Addict offers a full line of clothes for women and men that are made from fabrics with a sun protective factor.

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Tarte Cosmetics

Cheek stain in all shades

Lights, camera, lashes 4-in-1 mascara; LipSurgence Skintuitive lip tint; Amazonian clay universal lip liner; Strike a pose lash curler and deluxe lights, camera, flashesâ„¢ statement mascara

Airbuki Bamboo Powder Foundation Brush

Bamboo brushes

SmolderEYESâ„¢ Amazonian Clay waterproof liner in all shades

When it comes to makeup, Swimsuit’s signature look is casual, understated, and natural, but we know our models don’t always want to rock that look on their own, so we trust Tarte to provide the stuff they need to let the girls create their own looks—whether they're recreating that sunkissed Swimsuit glow, or trying something bolder look for a night out.

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TAVIK Swimwear

TAVIK made these custom iPhone exclusively for Swimsuit's 50th, along with an assortment from their separate swimwear line known for details like mesh paneling, creative cutouts, and barely-there bottoms. You can thank TAVIK Swimwear for making that lacy number Joanne Gair recreated on Alyssa Miller in 2011.

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Theodora & Callum

We love a good gauzy scarf, particularly on windy days, and no one does it better than Theodora & Callum. In Namibia last year Emily DiDonato showed us how to wear a scarf as a top—or at least a very temporary one.

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Tori Praver Swimwear

Watching Tori Praver graduate from Swimsuit modeling to swimwear design was like seeing our daughter leave for college. But now we’d be lost without her luxury suits, which have become a favorite among staff and models alike.

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Tyler Rose Swimwear

Tyler Rose Swimwear has churned out tons of flattering suits for us since 2009. Especially their neon stuff. Oh, the things Tyler Rose can do with neon.

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UGG Australia

Mini Bailey Button (black)

Mini Bailey Button (chesnut)

Mini Bailey Button (gray)

You would be surprised how cold it can be in the morning even in the most tropical of places, so the classic UGG boots are used on location to keep our models feet warm in between shots, and, actually, they look kind of great with a swimsuit!

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Vanessa Mooney

Rocksteady Gold Handpiece

Vanessa Mooney's pieces are a favorite of celebrities and now a favorite of ours, thanks to her beautiful take on ethnic designs that we featured heavily on two of this year's shoots.

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VEGA Jewelry

Single Flame Cuff with Tibetan quartz crystal

All of of us at SI Swimsuit are obsessed with VEGA . She makes incredible pieces with crystals, that offer an instant spiritual factor to any outfit.

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Victorinox

Swimsuit travels with what you might describe as a “frightening” amount of luggage, so it follows that we want our gear to be sturdy; no surprise that Victorinox, maker of the classic Swiss Army Knife fulfills that need.

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We Are Handsome

Vagabond string bikini; Fragrance string bikini

Australian label We Are Handsome’s suits double as conversation pieces, with quirky and unexpected prints, like this one from Hannah Davis’s playful Jersey Shore suit.

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WILDFOX Couture

The label's fun graphic sweatshirts are a celebrity favorite, and we loved this floral number Kate Bock wore in Switzerland, but the self-described "vintage-inspired clothing for dreamers" hooked us up with these cozy pajama sets which will be clutch when it comes to post-launch week decompressing.

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For more Swimsuit-approved fashion, check out the Where to Buy section in the back of the 2014 SI Swimsuit Issue.

Published Feb 17, 2014

SWIM DAILY STAFF