Hitting the Beach

The winter vacation has become so commonplace that the sting of the first sleet is likely to trigger automatic thoughts of palm trees and bathing suits --even for those who will have to fly-now-pay-later.

There will be plenty of bare-midriff two-piecers and, for girls who feel happier under wraps, the so-called blouson tops. Bikini wearers can cover up, too, with extra little button-on aprons and tops of the same material. But the pace setters will be more likely to show up in the strapless, wrapped-towel look--the suit that seems about to fall off any minute, but is so cleverly architected within as to be all but surf-proof. In materials, the newest notions seem to be the least aquatic: white kid, velvet, wool and suede.

To take the chill off apres-swim, there is always the all-encompassing shift. But Catalina has produced a rival that it calls the Sponge--a bright-colored, V-necked sweater of Antron, so stretchy that it slips easily down over the shoulders when the sun comes out --or the move seems desirable.

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