Be the envy on the beach and at every kids’ party, play date, swimming lesson or weekend braai, where ice cream in a cone by the pool is just par for the course. Lou Harvey has just launched oh-so-lovely cossies for little girls, where prints and frills bring out the best of summer, in a fanciful, functional way.

Lou is known for taking textile and interior design to the next level – with a range that runs the gauntlet from bags to towels, accessories to wallpaper. Being a print brand, Lou’s love for fashion – plus a gap in the market for kids’ costumes that are both functional and pretty − inspired her leap into clothing. Priced from R395, and available at all Lou Harvey stores – the costumes are made from lycra, which means they are easy to wear and easy to wash.

The costumes come in various designs: full costume with a frill, short sleeve rash and bottoms, or long sleeve rash and bottoms and are aptly given fun, memorable names such as Cockatoo and Rose.  “I love a frill and the grey and pink one-piece, Amazing Grace, is my favourite,” she says – but the long sleeve option is obviously best for sun protection.

Lou’s LH essentials for a day at the pool or beach? “A massive towel, big hats, brollie (watch this space) and obviously a Large Beach Bag and family cooler…. and a good SPF,” she says. Sounds good to us, as you can never have too much Lou inside or outside your home.

The swimming costumes are available in-store only