Store

Tininha's bright, narrow Fremont storefront is like a secret beach hideaway. Hardwood floors and vibrant hues stand in for sand and salt. The place pulses with Bob Marley rhythms and the Portuguese conversations of Brazilian clerks. The main attraction? Orderly rows of bikini tops and bottoms. Geometric patterns (think '60s) hang next to bright turquoise and hot pink (think '80s).

Low tables display soaps, loofahs, hats, corded handbags, beaded jewelry and stylish flip-flops. Whether you like having lipstick icons collage-style across your butt, or turquoise stones resting in your décolleté, this is the place for sun-and-sand finery. Think cocktail party on the beach rather than a dip in the pool at the gym.

A good 90 percent of the bikinis sold at Tininha's come straight from Brazil (the CIA Maritima brand, for example), where body coverage is, well, "totally different," says owner Cristina Silva. She travels to Brazil twice a year, but imports new merchandise every month.

Tininha's also has a line of high-quality American styles and cuts, too. Or ditch the bikini entirely for a backless paisley maillot in pink and gray, or silky, Spanish-style dresses from Carmim in intoxicating mixes of red, orange, pink and gold. For the bashful, locally designed cover-ups offer a swirl of earth tones on flowing satin.

Tip: If you have a disproportionate top and bottom, stick to the Brazilian line, which can be mixed and matched, unlike the American styles.

By Alison Peacock
Special to NWsource