Summer has taken its sweet time to get here, so we’re suiting up to pass the time poolside in suits that are sexy while leaving something to the imagination. Here are some of our favourite one-pieces for those of us who like to keep our goodies under wraps (all available online, so you don’t have to deal with evil store mirrors!).

You can’t keep sucking your tummy in forever, so let the magic of Spanx do it for you, with the oh-so-pretty-in-pink Sheer One Shoulder One Piece (US$106.80). www.spanx.com

For the more avant-garde backstroker, we love the geometric patterns and lace up front of the Rag & Bone Elizabeth suit ($210). At www.ssense.com

Our absolute fave? This quirky printed swimsuit by We Are Handsome (US$290) that will surely capture some attention. Exclusively at www.net-a-porter.com

For the elegant lady swimmer with strokes as smooth as Esther Williams, Norma Kamali’s Vogue Mio lace swimsuit (US$385) will look just as good as good in the pool as calling over the pool boy. Because there’s no point to a pool without a pool boy. At www.net-a-porter.com

—Jennifer Nachshen

They say clothes make the man. We say lingerie makes the woman.

Wearing sweet and sexy undergarments by Global Love not only increases your feminine mystique, it also helps empower women in developing countries, with five percent of proceeds going to FINCA, an organization that offers microfinance opportunities to women. Go adorably retro in the Moonlight in Moscow set ($36), or play it coy with the Paris 2 a.m. bodysuit. For those who like just a little bit of lace, we love the sweet and sexy Marion knickers.

As Elle (The Body) MacPherson once said: “If you’re wearing lingerie that makes you feel glamorous, you're halfway there to turning heads.” —Jennifer Nachshen

At www.globlove.com

Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, but if you’re not wearing your glasses, your eyes may be telling you lies.

We’re thinking of getting our vision checked just so we can get a pair of Kirk Originals fab frames. Not for the shrinking violet, these specs offer a wide array of bold colour and shape choices, with just a touch of audacity to reflect the inner you. We adored the shimmering Saturn glasses (starting at $400), featuring a laminated glitter interior that only you can see as you put them on. We’ll also be trading our man’s contact lenses in for this pair from the Kinetic collection (starting at $430), with a cool lenticular panel on the side.

We can see clearly now. —JN

At Bar à Lunettes, 401 McGill St., Montreal, 514-843-3466, www.kirkoriginals.com

If it's "early to bed, early to rise" for most people, then it's "never to bed, always to rise" for new moms.

You may not have the little one sleeping through the night quite yet, but Canadian-made sleep sacks by Big Fat Hen will at least keep them comfy while they learn to doze for more than two hours at a time. Made with eco-friendly fabrics, these sleeveless sacks unzip easily for diaper changes and are soft inside and out. Made for babie 0-18 months, they come in three cute designs (yellow chicks, pink piggies and green owls) and hold up well in the wash.

And one day soon, the sun will rise before you. We promise. —MT

$79.90 at www.bigfathen.ca

We loved ex-Vena Cava intern, Juliana Bennett’s ballet-inspired fall-winter 2011 collection at the most recent Montreal Fashion Week. But with only one point-of-purchase in Toronto, we didn’t want to have to leave the province to buy items from one of Montreal’s hottest new designers.

With just a click of our mouse we found Mulcair’s spring-summer line on their recently launched e-commerce site. Bennett’s draped dresses and figure-flattering cuts are just what we’re looking for to take us from our pencil-pushing days to patio soirées without missing a beat.

Now that’s surf-worthy style.

http://mulcair.com

Designing a nursery is easy. There is a ton of choice, and let’s face it, babies don’t really notice their rooms.

Decor gets more complicated for children and teens. Kids need a space that reflects their personality and style, but without compromising the taste of their parents. Which is why it came as great news that PB Teen now ships internationally.

The PB stands for Pottery Barn, and the stock reflects that: stylish and reasonably priced. The site sells great bedding and bathroom accessories but the study spaces are probably our favourite.

Now you won’t feel bad for sending them to their room. —ASI

www.pbteen.com

Picking toys up off the living room floor is inevitable, but aesthetically pleasing toys make the job much more enjoyable.

P’Kolino started as a project between two dads who wanted to improve play at home. Their design philosophy is “playfully smart,” which means all of their children’s toys are fun and engaging—and look good, too.

Our favourite is the multi-solution shape puzzle ($20, pictured), which is both challenging and entertaining because there are a multitude of solutions, unlike a standard puzzle. Even smarter is that each piece is non-toxic and durable.

Just don't try to pronounce the name. —ASI

From $12 at Crocodile Baby, www.crocodilebaby.com and www.qhousekids.com

We fell in love with by Thomas at Montreal Fashion Week, but had no idea where to purchase items by the talented new designer. Talk about shoppingus interruptus!

Now we can find a few key items from by Thomas and other progressive designers at the new online Trusst boutique. We have to admit that some of the items were a bit out of our world, but we loved the printed tank by Hartmann Nordenholz, the shredded knitwear by Nibelungen and even contemplated the padded Lady Gaga-esque bodysuits by Vilsbøl de Arce.

We’re nothing if not progressive shoppers.

www.trusststore.com

Our childhood discomfort in the dental chair has been replaced by slick offices with personal TVs and spa-like facilities—but it all starts with the daily brush.

Just in time for Earth Day we tested a sustainable, compostable, biodegradable dental line, Clean Idea. Designed in Vancouver and made from veggies like potatoes, corn, tapioca and wheat, the children's toothbrush ($3.99) has soft bristles and a handle designed especially for small hands, while the kid's ecoflosser is topped with a Mr. Molar cartoon.

We'll get over our headgear one day.

For national retailers, click here.

Imagine a family of Italian craftsman gathered around a wood stove carving toys in the mid 1800s.

That was the beginning of the Sevi toy brand, now known for their beautiful wooden toys, puzzles and games. Our favourites are the little helicopter (so cute and only $5!), the rattle butterfly (an infant toy that actually looks interesting, $10) and the incredible village train set ($84).

And yes, the paints are non-toxic and saliva resistant. What else would you expect from one of Europe’s oldest toy companies? —ASI

At www.goopandgoob.com