Swim Week is back. But with so many designers, collections and runway shows, making the most of your time can be difficult. That’s especially true this year when production teams predict designers are looking to up the ante.
Natalija Stojanovic, chief creative officer of the fashion show production company, Funkshion, said designers are raising the bar so much this year that they will inspire Miami Beach Fashion for years to come.
“I’m excited for the shows that are thinking out of the box. This year we’ll have a few shows that I think are super creative,” Stojanovic said. “I think this is a new era for Swim Week, where after this one it will never be the same again.”
Fear not, fashion-forward swimwear enthusiasts! We did the leg work for you, picking some of this year’s most promising shows based on theme, model diversity and flare. Here are the shows you won’t want to miss:
Sinesia Karol
Collection: Spring/Summer 18
You’re a classic gal: You like your bathing suits without scandal to reflect your minimalist style. Brazilian designer Sinesia Karol’s line was made for women like you in mind. Karol, who is at Swim Week year after year, consistently delivers impeccable looks and patterns on a classic bikini or one-piece (the occasional tri-kini is a treat). She plays a lot with solid colors on a suit, though she sometimes mixes in bold tones and florals. Her style makes us think of a relaxing vacation on a breezy summer evening. We think the show will, too.
When: 9 p.m. Friday, July 21
Where: The Nautilus, 1825 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139
Hot-As-Hell
Collection: Paradis Trouve
Hot-As-Hell will forever be the show to break barriers. The most exciting thing about it is actually not the swimwear: It’s the woman who wears it down the runway. Though the designs vary between actual swim and lingerie, the show put on by the models is always a must-see, especially since we can all identify with them. Hot-As-Hell uses models of all ages — yes, some seniors too – heights, races and walks of life. You may see the typical young, thin supermodel strutting down the catwalk, but right behind her you might just catch a woman who is eighth months pregnant or a mother holding her two-yer-old’s hand while they wear matching bikinis. Get we get an “Awww!”
When: 9 p.m. Friday, July 21
Where: 22nd Street and Park Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33139
Beach Bunny
Collection: Heaven on Earth
Natalija Stojanovic, chief creative officer of the fashion show production company, Funkshion, says that Beach Bunny is “going all the way out” on social media platforms and with engagement during shows. As a brand, Beach Bunny has never failed to impress with its swimwear on the runway, and this year models will grace the catwalk to the theme of Heaven on Earth.
When: 10 p.m. Friday, July 21
Where: The Funkshion tent
Agua Bendita
Collection: Earth Story
Everything that is sexy and vibrant about Colombia goes into an Agua Bendita swimsuit, and each piece is a show on its own. The embroidery, detailed stitching and mixing of neons, bright colors, patterns and beading is signature to the style of an Agua Bendita piece. This year, designers Mariana Hinestroza and Catalina Alvarez return to Swim Week with their own runway show, after sharing the catwalk with various Colombian designers in 2015. If the show is as elaborate as the swimwear, then it’s definitely a must-see.
When: 9:30 p.m. Saturday, July 22
Where: The Setai, 2001 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139
Indah
Magic Carpet Ride
Indah is always elegant. It’s minimal, but the swimwear always has a dab of edge with either crocheted fabric or a slight geometric cut in the top. The bathing suits are sleek, minimal and feminine. This year sounds like a fashionable episode of “Aladdin,” so we’re expecting a Middle Eastern-themed show with a collection that shows us “a whole new world.”
When: 10:30 p.m. Sunday, July 23
Where: 22nd Street and Park Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33139
