Greer's OC

When you’re surfing you want to be thinking about slipping into the barrel, not your bikini slipping off. To the rescue is swimwear designer, Amanda Chinchelli-Greer who founded Seea swimwear for women surfers who want function and style in the same package.

The San Clemente based line was conceived after Amanda, an avid surfer, grew frustrated with the limited selection of surf-friendly swimwear—she wanted feminine, comfortable and whimsical designs.

So she designed her own custom suits. After receiving attention and inquiries about her designs in the water, she created Seea (as an Italian she pronounces sea, “see-ah”), a collection of swimwear that blends retro-modern styling and contemporary colors and prints. Each design considers a female surfer’s needs, but are as sexy and elegant as can be.

Choose from a one-piece low-rise short design with sewn-in suspenders; a one-piece with a sexy low back and comfortable boy shorts; a low-rise flattering bikini; and a chic rashguard, minus the surf label logos. Seea supports the Slow Fashion movement by alleviatinge short and long-term impacts of the manufacturing process. All suits are locally made and the hangtags are vintage and multi-use, printed by letterpress, and complete with a hair band.

The collection is available online or locally at Icons of Surf At 710 N. El Camino Real in San Clemente. 949.429.7133; or at Thalia Surf Shop at 903 South Coast Highway in Laguna Beach. 949.497.3292.

Why not Wine Knot?

Celebrate with your Valentine early this year with plenty of wine and decadent chocolate at the 2nd annual Wine Knot tasting event on Saturday, Feb. 11 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Huntington Harbour Yacht Club in Huntington Beach. The popular event raises funds for the Huntington Beach Sailing Foundation which provides sailing school scholarships for underprivileged children and maritime instruction to the community.

A $50 passport to the tasting includes three tastings at each of the stations; live music provided by Eric Kufs; fine foods from Posh Productions; and chocolates from Gramma Betty’s Chocolates. You can bid on silent auction items that include packages ranging from hotel overnights, restaurant gift certificates, spa items, vacation getaways and more.

To reserve a passport, call 562.592.2186, or mail in a check to 3821 Warner Ave. Huntington Beach, CA 92649 (write "WINE KNOT" in note on check). For more information on Wine Knot, visit www.hhyc.org.

Participating wine partners include Pear Valley of Paso Robles; ONEHOPE Wine; The Other Guys of Sonoma Valley; Thompkin Cellars of Santa Barbara County; Taft Street Winery of Sonoma Valley; and local wine bars Brix of Sunset Beach; SeaLegs Wine Bar in Huntington Beach; and Brew Bakers in Huntington Beach.

The Huntington Harbour Yacht Club is at 3821 Warner Avenue in Huntington Beach.