East Hampton - On Saturday, May 29 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., Elie Tahari, is hosting a trunk show at the Elie Tahari East Hampton collection boutique to celebrate the debut of the veronica brett swimwear line created by Patricia Brett.

Ask any woman about swimsuit shopping, especially following a long, cold winter, and you're in for an endless diatribe. Now imagine this experience after a mastectomy.

In 2008, an online survey conducted by The Monogram Group, Chicago, found that of over 400 breast cancer survivors surveyed, 0 percent were satisfied with the mastectomy swimsuits presently available.

"The options currently on the market are geared to the previous face of breast cancer, a woman diagnosed in her mid-60s," said Patricia Brett, founder and designer of veronica brett, a new luxury collection of swimwear for breast cancer survivors and pre-vivors (women who have had risk-reducing surgeries). "Women are being diagnosed at ever younger ages, but the fashions available for these women have not kept up with this change in demographics."

"Wrap"

Patricia knows this firsthand, having had a prophylactic bilateral mastectomy at age 39, after testing positive for the BRCA1 gene. Her sister Regina, diagnosed at age 41, is a 12-year survivor, while Regina's daughter Gabe, who also carries the BRCA1 gene, opted for risk-reducing surgery at age 29. All three faced frustration after their surgeries at the absence of designer level options. And they are not alone.

Today in the U.S. alone, more than 250,000 women under age 40 are living with breast cancer, with 24,000 new cases diagnosed each year. In general, fewer than 20 percent of women who have a mastectomy have breast reconstruction, while in LA and New York City the reconstruction rate may be as high as 50 percent.

Armed with a determination to make a positive impact on women's lives, Patricia created veronica brett. "Named in honor of my beautiful, elegant and inspirational aunt we lost to breast cancer 35 years ago," Patricia hopes to give women a brand with which they can identify, that helps them feel confident and sexy all over again, that says "life never looked sexier."

"Breast surgery can be an emotionally and physically invasive experience," explained Brett. "The vast majority of swimwear for survivors is conservative and matronly, in floral prints and skirted bottoms. And often the smallest size is an 8, which doesn't help petite women like me. Worst of all, the suits are sold in medical apparel shops at the cancer hospitals. Who wants to buy a swimsuit at the same place you had chemo?!"

"Halter"

Targeted towards high-end boutiques and department stores, the goal is to offer the discerning fashion lover the ability to purchase her specialty swimwear in the same places she shopped prior to surgery.

The veronica brett collection features three (3) one-piece silhouettes, which will retail for $198: bandeau (size 2-14), front lacing halter (size 2-16) and a classic wrap (size 6-20) in red and black. Chic and sophisticated, they are meant for lounging on the beach or a little dip in the pool, not lap swimming or diving. New styles and colors will be introduced each year, and it is planned that a style will never go out of production and will always remain available, at a minimum, in basic black.

Sexy, classic and sophisticated, these figure-flattering suits accentuate all of a woman's beautiful features. Intricate interior construction of pockets can conceal a prosthetic breast as well as properly fit a reconstructed breast. The suits have been strategically designed to cover surgical scars while still giving a semblance of cleavage. In addition, veronica brett swimwear is perfect for women who may be naturally asymmetrical. Made from the finest Italian swim fabrics (80 percent polyamide, 20 percent elastane) the construction is durable without feeling heavy. All suits are fully lined with sumptuously soft Italian liner (90 percent polyamide, 10 percent elastane). All fabrics are made in conformance with "Öko-Tex Standard 100, Confidence in Textiles" and contain no harmful substances. Hooks are nickel-free so as not to irritate skin that has undergone radiation.

veronica brett will debut in Spring 2010, available at www.veronicabrett.com, and select boutiques. A percentage of annual sales are earmarked for breast cancer research and for organizations which provide support services.