Material girls: Keep summer from slipping away with these fun, fashion finds

Shore style

As a surfer since her early 20s, Liz Chirles had trouble finding a suit that fit well -- and stayed on in the surf. Fed up with what the stores had to offer, Chirles started sewing her own in 2007. Soon friends were requesting the two-piece suits. Word spread with the help of follow surfers, Facebook and charity fashion shows. And Charleston-based Coral Custom Swimwear was born.

Popular at surf contests or for lounging at the pool, the wave-tested suits stand up to sun, salt and chlorine. An embellished top, paired with a solid blue or black bottom, are top choices, said Chirles, a graduate of James Madison University in Virginia, where she studied media arts and design. Custom suits are $140 to $160. The company, which made nearly 100 suits last year, also offers tankinis ($85). One-piece and board-style suits are in the works.

To order a suit, visit www.coralcustomswimwear.com. Choose your fabric and style and submit your measurements. Orders for small, medium and large ready-to-wear suits are also available. Also check Coral Swimwear Charleston on Facebook.

Wearable art

After college at the University of Washington and jobs as a product developer for a toy company in Seattle and teacher in China, Lillis Taylor switched careers. In 2010, the Birmingham native returned home to start Tre Lilli, a colorful clothing line.

The initial inspiration for fabric in a scarf or skirt came from her father's upbeat paintings. Taylor also was inspired by colors and patterns found in her worldwide travels — and in rural areas of her home state. Taylor's one-of-a-kind, made-to-order clothing includes: art dresses ($575), petal blouses ($128), mini and wrap skirts ($70 to $188) and her popular silk scarves ($60). She also offers pillows ($35 to $70) and bags ($30 to $125). See designs on www.trelilli.com or www.etsy.com/shop/trelilli