Another Miami Swim Week for the books and the show continues to bring together a diverse group of designers that derive their inspiration from travel, their upbringing and the latest trends.
Here are the highlights of Miami Swim 2017 and the biggest takeaways.
The Trends
Marrakech is trending
Designers such as Sinesia Karol, Marie France Van-Damme and Audrina Patridge did collections inspired by their travels, particularly Morocco. But each brand uses the inspiration in distinct ways. While Sinesia Karol was inspired by the colors spices such as turmeric and ginger to give her pieces color and flare – deep oranges, yellows and warm tones mixed with pastels – Marie France Van-Damme stayed in the black and white hues but focused more on the striped-prints and metallics, paired with chiffon kaftans for layering. Patridge mixed her Malibu-girl tastes with 1960s and 1970s Marrakech vibes also focusing on color and texture for her brand Prey Swim.
Off the shoulder is here to stay
If you thought you’d seen every blogger in the city (and instagram) with an off-the-shoulder blouse by now, well get ready for more. Swimwear designers have doubled down on bare shoulders and ruffles.
One piece or bodysuit? Does it even matter anymore?
More designers are creating swim pieces that can be worn as both swimwear and bodysuits. While some focus on extremely elaborate bikinis, others such as Sports Illustrated, Gottex and Acacia are making it easier for those who enjoy wearing their swimsuits as bodysuits for a night out, or with a maxi-skirt. Versatility is what the swimwear industry should be all about.
The Best Shows
Peruvian brand, Aguaclara with phenomenally embroidered and perfectly sculpted suits in an array of oranges and bright yellows, but transitioning into baby blue and turquoise. Pieces included both those warm and cool tones contrasted via geometric shapes. The collection was one of the best of the week.
Hot-As-Hell threw its middle fingers up to society – literally. As always, the show included an array of eccentric, exotic and diverse models and children – so many children! The models danced, screamed and jumped down the catwalk. The collection mixes lingerie with swimwear, continuously influenced by Asian prints, flowers and fonts.
Sports Illustrated was the only show to include plus-sized women, and every time they came out the crowd at the W Hotel went wild. The collection presented an array of simpler pieces that – again – one could wear as a bodysuit, but also to the beach.
Beach Bunny really brought the angels down for their collection “Heaven on Earth.” Their flawless models brought the heat for a runway show full of excitement, bounce, fun poses, and props such as wings or bunny ears.
Luli Fama paid homage to Cuba. The show commenced with a presentation of men dancing while another played the drums, in a flow of rhythms that got the audience pumped and ready. Then an array of designs were seen on the runway, each divided by smaller collections with names such as “Me Voy pa Cuba,” in tribute to the towns and cities of the island, but also to those who left Cuba and never came back. The Luli Fama show was colorful, exciting, and the connection between the designer and her Cuban roots was seen throughout.
The Celebrities
Familiar faces made a splash on the front rows, many which include Nick Cannon, Tyson Beckford, who (we think) Snapchatted the shows he attended like a good millennial.
Real Housewives of Miami’s Lisa Hochstein and her husband Lenny also made an appearance at the Funkshion tent.
Model Chantel Jeffries, was also seen around town, and she was the official DJ for the Beach Bunny Swim show.
WAGS on the catwalk! L.A. cast member Nicole Williams, strutted her stuff for the Beach Bunny show, and other supermodels on the scene were Ariadna Gutierrez and Shannon de Lima, who walked the Agua Bendita show.
