10 Swim-Season Essentials to Buy, According to a Victoria’s Secret Exec

The Expert Edit features interviews with specialists about the products they swear by in their chosen field. For the latest installment, we spoke to Kira Fisher, VP Brand Design, Victoria’s Secret & Co, about her top recommendations for swim season, from bikinis to beach day essentials.

Kira Fisher, VP Brand Design, VS&Co, has roots in Newport Beach, CA, where the swim and surf culture became embedded in her DNA while she was growing up as an athlete. A Bachelors in Fine Arts and Major in Fashion Design from the Academy of Art University led her to design stints at Abercrombie & Fitch, Aéropostale, and American Eagle — and she eventually landed at Victoria’s Secret, where she’s grown with the brand for over nine years.

Fisher is now a seasoned pro when it comes to doling out advice for swim season, largely thanks to her experience learning about the VS customer and what they seek during the summer. “[Swim]wear is all about balancing sexy and comfort. I truly believe when you’re comfortable, you’re at your best and that makes you feel sexy and confident,” she tells PS. “It really comes down to what you like to wear – if its full coverage or a thong, or a full coverage top to a small triangle bikini, a brand’s line should offer a breadth of frames and coverages across tops and bottoms so everyone can feel comfortable. What I love about VS Swim is that, given Victoria’s Secret’s expertise in bras, our swim collection has such great frames that offer lift and support.”

Given VS’s design history in intimates, Fisher explains that the same technology, craftsmanship, and fabric knowledge is leveraged into both the Swim and Sport categories, which is why they’ve become so popular. Customers have been gravitating toward the Archival collection recently, with their eyes on more fashion-forward pieces that incorporate, chains, splashy patterns, and silhouettes that contour the body.

Fisher’s biggest piece of advice for those shopping for swim season is that “you know your own body better than anyone else. The biggest thing is you have to try it on and see how it makes you feel! [The] trying on experience really evolves you from what you think you will be comfortable in. Think about the coverage you want in your collection and go from there!”

Fisher talked to PS about her own personal must haves for a summer vacation, including everything from travel essentials to her favorite VS bikini to real time beach day indulgences. Ahead, shop her expert picks as a swim connoisseur.