Get in the swim with a stylish Heidi Fish bathing suit

There's a swimsuit designer in West Seattle whose suits have been featured in the Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition. Who knew?

Perched on the second floor of an office building right in the thick of the Alaska Junction, designer Heidi Fish creates stylish suits that appeal to women of all sizes, shapes and even special needs.

Fish, whose grandmother was the head designer of couture hats for Saks Fifth Avenue in New York City from 1934 to 1948 and worked with many Hollywood actresses of that era, including Ethel Merman and Helen Hayes, has been designing swimwear since 1999, when she decided to turn what was just a hobby into a business.

Using high-end designer fabric and strong elastic to ensure a longer lasting swimsuit, Fish would sew the suits in her kitchen, and then sell them on the beach at Alki.

With persistence and a little creative marketing, her designs finally attracted interest from Sports Illustrated. "After getting nowhere with media kits, I finally just sent them a $1,500 swimsuit and that really got their attention!" explains Fish. Her suits have been featured in the last three swimsuit issues.

Of the many collections Fish designs, my favorite suits come from her Honey Bea Retro Pin-Up line, which is inspired by her mother, whose nickname was Honey Bea. (Fish's office is decorated with old photos of her mother looking slim and glamorous in vintage suits.)

Ranging from $98 to $198, these suits offer more coverage at the bust and the derriere than most suits, and would make Betty Grable proud. Put one on and you'll be posing like a Varga Girl at the beach this summer.

Another collection, the Anne Fanny line, is a labor of love and very close to Fish's heart. When her best friend was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006, Fish decided to design swimsuits for women who had undergone mastectomies. The Anne Fanny line features pockets for breast prosthesis, as well as a higher cut around the arm area for comfort.

Styles range in price from $48 for a swim skirt to $198 for a two-piece with double prosthesis pockets. Looks from the Anne Fanny line graced the runway at both Style '07 and Style '08, the annual fashion show put on by Northwest Hope and Healing, an organization that provides essentials for families living with breast cancer.

Fish's suits come in a variety of colors and are available in sizes small through extra large. Custom fitting is available for an additional $45. To purchase, visit her Web site.

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