SPORTS ILLUSTRATED SWIMSUIT ISSUE 2017

February brings Valentine's Day, either the continuation or lessening of snow, and the folks at Sports Illustrated abandoning sports in favor of sexy women in (or at least holding) swimwear.  The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue 2017 continues the latter tradition -- with a few changes.

This issue features several familiar models -- the most famous being Kate Upton (who appears on all three covers, though not wearing a full swimsuit on any of them) and Chrissy Teigen -- plus familiar faces from previous issues, new models, and even the return of Christie Brinkley (who may be the oldest model in the issue) and her daughters.  There are also international locations, body paint, and athletes like Serena Williams and some gymnasts.  And the issue also diversifies a bit with several plus-sized models, including in the body paint pictures.

As with every year, the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue is a joy to behold.  Sticklers may point out that many of the photos don't actually have the models wearing swimsuits -- or they may be none in the shot -- but I am not one of those people.  Instead, I just enjoy the sheer beauty of amazing models in exotic locations.

Reviewed by James Lynch

SPORTS ILLUSTRATED SWIMSUIT ISSUE 2015

Yes, it's that wonderful time of year when millions of people who don't care a thing about sports go out and buy a copy of Sports Illustrated.  The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue 2015 follows in the publication's annual traditions -- and, as always, they work damn well.

SISI 2015 features numerous famous and returning models, such as Chrissy Teigen, Hannah Davis (who landed this year's cover), Lily Aldridge, Emily Ratjakowski, Nina Agdal, and Irina Shayk.  (Conspicuously absent is Kate Upton; perhaps she was busy playing Game of War?)  The rookies include the likes of Erin Heatherton (going from Victoria's Secret lingerie to bikinis), Rose Betram, Ashley Smith, and others I'm sure we'll see more of as these issues keep coming out.  There are also the literally-painted-on "swimsuits," plus athletes Ronda Rousey and Caroline Wozniacki adding the slightest bit of sports to this issue.

Possibly the biggest change in SISI 2015 is the locations.  Previously, the Sports Illustrated folks traveled the world to shoot their models in exotic locations.  This time around everything happens in the U.S.: All the shooting took place across 17 states.  And while this may not be as exotic as faraway lands, the domestic beautiful beaches and natural backdrops still work just fine with the models.

The other big addition is: humor!  DirecTV has a print variant of its "I'm Rob Lowe, and I have DirecTV.  And I'm [silly] Rob Lowe and I have cable" campaign in the issue, as Chrissy Teigen, Hannah Davis, and Nina Adgal appear in swimsuits saying they have DirecTV, then on the next pages frumpier versions say they have cable.  And Snickers continues its "You're not you when you're hungry" with an ad on the back cover that several stores set facing the front.  I don't know how they thought this was the cover of the SISI 2015:

Overall, SISI 2015 is another great collection of hot women in bikinis in a magazine that mysteriously keeps the word "sports" in its title for this non-sports issue.  The models are sexy and beautiful as ever, the swimsuits are barely there (always in shot, but not always worn; lots of arm-bras here), and SISI 2015 carries on the great Sports Illustrated once-a-year tradition.

Overall gradeL Woot!  I mean, er, A
Reviewed by James Lynch

SPORTS ILLUSTRATED SWIMSUIT PORTFOLIO: IDYLLIC SHORES

When Sports Illustrated released its Idyllic Shores magazine special, it was a taste of what was coming.  Well, that day has arrived with the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Portfolio: Idyllic Shores -- and its very familiar to those who read the magazine special.

The Portfolio contains all the photographs of the models that were in the magazine special, plus the exact same introduction and comments that introduce each model's photographs.  So why go with the Portfolio instead or or in addition to the magazine special?  A couple of reasons, actually.

The Portfolio is a coffee table book, meaning the photos are larger -- and the beauty of the models and the locales are brought out more with the bigger area.  Also, there are additional photos for many of the models, giving something with the Portfolio that's not available in the magazine special.

The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Portfolio: Idyllic Shores might have been more exciting if so much of it wasn't already shown in its magazine preview.  But that's doesn't detract from the absolute beauty of these models and the locations -- or the extra photographs of this book.

Overall grade: A-
Reviewed by James Lynch

SPORTS ILLUSTRATED SWIMSUIT 2014 EXTRA: IDYLLIC SHORES

For several years, Sports Illustrated followed its no-sports, all-swimwear Swimsuit Issues with hardcover portfolios collecting photos that didn't make it into that year's issue.  These seemed to stop with the 2011 issue -- until now!  And to tide sports, er, sexy women in bikini fans over until the October 28th release of the hardcover portfolio book, a preview hit the magazine stands with Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2014 Extra: Idyllic Shores.

Idyllic Shores has photos that somehow didn't make it into the 2014 Swimsuit Issue, featuring nineteen models from that issue.  Each model gets eight pages of photos (except Kate Upton, who got ten pages), along with the names of the photographer and location, plus a few comments about the model.

As always, the photos are absolutely beautiful.: not just the models, but also the stunning locations.  This makes it easy to forgive them when the actual swimsuits are barely in the photos.

Loathe as I am to find fault with a collection of beauties wearing swimsuits or less, there are two slight problems with Idyllic Shores.  The first is that Sports Illustrated could and should have given a lot more pages to each model.  The second is that the first problem may be solved in the upcoming portfolio book (with about 50 more pages), but that book would effectively replace this magazine.  But while this may not be as many pages as the original or the upcoming, it's still quite lovely to look at.  To quote Troy McClure from The Simpsons, "If that's what they cut out, what they leave in must be pure gold!"  And these cut-outs are  pretty close to gold themselves.

Overall grade: A-

Reviewed by James Lynch

SPORTS ILLUSTRATED SWIMSUIT ISSUE 50th ANNIVERSARY

Every year the folks at Sports Illustrated forget about sports and focus on gorgeous women wearing skimpy swimwear.  I approve.  This year is the 50th anniversary of this wonderful tradition, and the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue 50th Anniversary issue pulled out all the stops to celebrate, starting with their flip covers (seen below).

 

The magazine always tries to have more than just great-looking women is great-looking swimwear, and this year they had a variety of new items.  Famed SISI photographer assembled past cover models (including Babette March (the first SISI cover model) to Christie Brinkley, Kathy Ireland, Heidi Klum, and Cheryl Tiegs) to discuss their experience with the magazine -- and get a photo of all of them.  The traditional body paint swimsuit tradition had new models painted in classic suits from the earlier issues.  Kate Upton added to her cover with a photo shoot done in zero gravity, and Barbie finally made it into the issue as well.

For an issue theoretically dedicated to swimsuits, quite a few of the photos have a conspicuous absence of them, choosing instead to focus instead on the hand-bra, topless shots from the back, and strategically placed arms or decorations:

With that in mind, the issue does manage some startlingly beautiful photography.  The models posed in such exotic locales as Madagascar, Switzerland, Brazil, the Cook Islands, and even the Jersey Shore.

The Sports Issue Swimsuit Issue has become Sports Illustrated's biggest-selling issue every year, and the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue 50th Anniversary is a fitting tribute to the simple joy of combining beautiful women, beautiful (if optional) swimsuits, and amazing scenic locations.

Overall grade: Yow!  Er, I mean A+.
Reviewed by James Lynch