Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Partners with Gilt.com With An Exclusive Sale to Benefit The Nature Conservancy

Pictured: Model Julie Henderson poses with a surfboard for Sports Illustrated.

Mark your calendars to shop Gilt Groupe on Feb. 14th if you are looking for a special swimsuit for this summer. The shopping site will be doing a special sale on swimwear and surfboards to benefit the Nature Conservancy. For example, if a swimsuit top costs $46, then all $46 goes to The Nature Conservancy (TNC.)  Julie Henderson, 6-time veteran Swimsuit model posed for the Gilt Group sale and we had the opportunity to ask her a few questions about the sale and posing for Sport Illustrated.

What are some tricks for looking good in a swimsuit?

Finding a suit that complements your body — every woman’s body is different. Whatever your favorite body part is, you should try to promote it. If it’s your chest, wear something that’s a little more, you know, va-va-voom! You gotta pick your thing. You know, is it a one-piece or a two? Is it shorts? What is the thing that’s going to make you feel your best?

Do you do anything differently to prepare for the Swimsuit issue?

I obviously work out a little bit more because some of the swimsuits are as small as a postage stamp. So you’re kind of like, Hmmm I won’t have the piece of chocolate cake tonight. But that’s really just right before, and it’s just to make me feel better –I’m sure the pictures look exactly the same! But if you feel better, that comes through too.

 Are you excited about this collaboration?

I think it’s great because the proceeds are going to the Nature Conservancy, and this is our first time collaborating with them. We’re a swimsuit issue and I think we need to be out there promoting cleaner beaches, cleaner water, and ocean life. And Gilt is such a powerhouse. So many people are on there all the time — as we were just discussing, I can’t even buy a book! — so it’s a good way to raise awareness for the Conversancy and get it to the people we’d like to target most.

What do you think readers?  Are you interested in swimsuits featured in Sports Illustrated, or do you prefer to spend your fashion dollars on other items?  As Julie says, some of the swimsuits are indeed as “small as a postage stamps” so hopefully the prices are also small.