Miami Swim Week: Indah Summer 2017

Boho girl at the beach? Indah Swimwear designers Libby DeSantis and Janelle Gauthier will take care of you. Their 2017 collection for summer has tassels and crochet details for the woman looking to express Bohemian chic near the water.

Lacy details and crochet adorned necklines, pelvic lines, straps, and bodices in relaxed cover-up dresses. Long straps were both functional and decorative to accent the simple, Hippie vibe. There were bold stripes and subtle patterns in some of the looks, but the strongest bikinis and one-piece suits were the styles that worked the cut-out details and sexy silhouettes. The curves of the leg openings or back thongs emphasized the butt (Miami is an ass-centric town). The peek-a-boo effect was suggestive without being vulgar.

The crochet look was further continued by the accessories from My Beachy Side. These were the perfect pairing with the Indah swimsuits. They were a great way to dress up a bikini when you still plan on being comfortable and barefoot at the beach. Turkish entrepreneur Gamze Ates conceived the collection of  hand-knitted barefoot beach accessories. They are hand-knitted by Turkish and Syrian refugees who negotiate fair pricing for their labor so they can obtain financial independence.

Indah Clothing was also socially conscious in the production of their show. Top designers often get a lot of sponsors for a runway presentation. The designers donated a portion of those dollars to benefit an organization called Haleleakeiki.org. The non-profit works to create programs like surfing and art initiative to inspire children of Kaua'i to live active, drug-free lives.

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Nautica Women's Swimwear Spring 2016

We are heading into the tail end of summer (boo). Nautica Women's Swimwear gave us a "City Meets Sea" themed evening at New York's Dream Hotel. Models wearing the label's bikinis and swimsuits posed on top of pedestals and giant inflatable swans in the hotel's tiny basin of a pool. The so-called beach club at the hotel was probably the best representation of an urban oasis NYC has to offer.

The swimwear was simple and sporty. The classic Nautica colors of navy, white and black were used. There was one print that was an abstract beach pattern. The City Meets Sea theme explains why the swimwear cuts look like sportswear. The one-shouldered suit could be worn under a skirt and jacket. Bikini separates could be layering pieces. While the V-necked one-piece suits had plunging necklines and high-cut legs, the swimwear looked like it was actually meant for swimming.

It is interesting to note that their male counterparts from New York Fashion Week Men's had a more flamboyant collection. Their swim shorts had a larger variety of graphics, prints and finishing details. Nautica's strength has always been menswear while their women's lines have been launched and re-launched multiple times.

Nautica Women's Swimwear gave my fellow writers and me a nice little escape from the concrete. If you need a momentary escape to the beach just for an hour, you know where to go.

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Miami Swim Week: Maaji 2016 Rhapsody Road

So who is ready to hit the road? Columbian label Maaji brought the most enticing mix of athleisure, active and swimwear to the Miami Swim Week Funkshion runway. I love watching their fashion shows, no other designers commit so fully to accessorizing their looks as this collection.

The designers include Juliana Londoño, Nani Valenzuela and Andrea Gomez. As sexy as the whimsically printed bikinis, shorts and activewear was, it really was meant to carry out a goat road trip. Men (yay!) and women strutted their tanned bodies to project activities like hiking, yoga, tennis, paddling in the cutest outfits you could want. Multi-pocketed vests (like my Dad would wear) helmets, rackets or a backpack bigger than the model were all a part of the Maaji look this season.

The color palette was a bunch of candy colors like floss pink, turquoise, lemon yellow, lime and orange.It was very much a traveller, hippie journey (complete with macrame details) with the quirkiest group of your friends. It all ended with a huge runway selfie with the design team.

The show reminded me of that last nostalgic summer with your buddies before everyone headed off to be an adult. Enjoy the Maaji 2016 road trip!

photos by Mariana Leung

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Miami Swim Week: Liliana Montoya Swim 2016

Columbia in the house! Designer Liliana Montoya presented a super-sexy "mermaid" collection for Miami Swim Week. It was bold bikini after bikini. If you like to play with your straps, this swimwear collection is for you. Liliana Montoya had every configuration of ties, straps and laces to frame the body in all sorts of artistic ways.

There were vivid, digitally printed botanical patterns that were mirrored to flattering effect. For sexy bikinis that are not meant for the water, there were sparkly sequined tops paired simple bottoms.

The most popular accessory by far was the shiny metallic Flash Tattoos that act as body jewelry. The stylists applied these in a complementary manner to highlight shapes of the bathing suits and accent parts of the body according to the model's signature poses.

Looking at the footwear, it was clear that the trick of wearing a nude colored heel to lengthen your legs must be true. This runway was a parade of glamazons in South Beach.

Liliana Montoya Swimwear was about feminine luxury conveyed through texture and design. This was the first show I shot this year in South Beach and it was a great start!

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MIAMI FASHION WEEK: Maaji Swimwear 2015

It was Derby time at the Maaji Swimwear show for Mercedes Fashion Week Swim.  Columbian esigners  Juliana Londoño and  Nani Valenzuela created a “Royal Riders” theme for their runway.  The collection featured a mix of swimwear and active wear with a preppy, equestrian aesthetic with a twist.

Gingham, plaids, detailed horse prints and florals were executed in neon and nude colors.  The bikinis were paired with tweed jackets, riding helmets, riding crops and platform heeled oxfords.  Jackets had variations of racing ribbons.  Skimpy suits were worn with traditional cardigans and houndstooth capes.  The tennis rackets, suspenders and jockey clubs all made for an adorable tongue-in-cheek take on stuffy country club style.

Elaborately printed rash guards would look great doing double duty as a fashion top.  Board shorts for men had corresponding prints with contrast waistbands.  This was the one show I attended that offered a few men’s styles and male models to present them.  The bit of beefcake was much appreciated by the female guests in attendance in the long sea of bikinis.  Celebrity guests included TV personalities Serinda Swan, Adriana de Moura and Luann de Lesseps.

Hell, I know I’m ready for a ride…

photos by Mariana Leung

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L*Space by Monica Wise Summer 2013

Can you show three swimwear collections down a runway and tell them apart? Designer Monica Wise and her L*Space runway show tried to prove that it could.  Last July's Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim in Miami hosted all three of the designers collections on the same catwalk to mixed results.

The main L*Space collection had happy colors in mixed zig zag prints and some interesting cutouts here and here.  Simple shapes and silhouettes with tie front or tie-side details on the bikini tops and bottoms.   

The second part of the runway show was "The Collection".  This was meant to be a group of resort wear for when you are not going to be around water I suppose.  The colors were mainly black and linen white.  The silhouettes were exceedingly simple and relaxed.  Why this couldn't be merchandised back to one of the original swimwear labels to expand the brand, I don't know.  

The Maio collection had some mixed color prints as well, along with some retro-inspired high-waisted bottoms or vintage bustier styled one piece suits.  However, the most distinguishing thing about this label on the runway was the horrible over-bronzing of the irritated models.  

If one of your collections is not distinguishable from another one of your collections, using terrible makeup is not the way to go.  I'm wondering, and would love some feedback, whether or not dividing your brand into separate identities like this is making too much work for yourself an if it isn't a much better strategy to consolidate and elevate a larger lifestyle brand with different looks around it.  

Almost a year later, that over-burnt tan look was what I most remember about this show, and not what the models were wearing.  If your product looks too much alike, you have to ask yourself if there is really a good reason to create another label?  This is a shame, because when I went through my archived photographs here, the swimwear really was quite pretty. whether your skin was crispy or not.

All photos by Mariana Leung

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Kooey Swimwear 2013

The temperature dropped last night and I froze my fishnetted butt off.  Meanwhile, Down Under, it's high beach season in Australia.  Kooey Swimwear is a hot Australian label that showed its 2013 collection in Miami Fashion Week.  I thought this was the perfect (flimsy) excuse to show some scantily clad eye candy.

The collection had simple silhouettes.  There were classic bikini styles, very basic cover-ups, a few flattering one-piece suits.  Men's styles consisted only of solid color drawstring shorts or briefs.  The colors were bold however, and the women's pieces and pretty prints in tropical florals or a pebble print that looked like it was inspired by sportswear.  That's all there really was to say about it.  Judging by the expressions of enthusiasm of the models, I didn't miss anything backstage either.

Well, enjoy the skin show everyone.

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MIAMI FASHION WEEK: Gottex Swimwear 2013

For the Gottex swimwear presentation at the SLS South Beach, I entered the land of electric Art Deco. Creative director Molly Grad purposely engineered and seamed the graphic patterns where they would most flatter the curves of the female body.  The stunning color palette of intense blue, green, red and black would be striking against any skin tone.  This is one swimsuit collection that truly screams luxury the minute you set your eyes upon it.

On a less classy note, my Hubby saw my photos and declared that as a man, he couldn't take his eyes off it either, noting that there were many men who would pay for the experience of watching a parade of models showcase bikinis in a private hotel suite.  Whatever.  Well, as a hetero female with an appreciation for design, I loved that Molly meticulously thought out the the design of each piece.  As elegant as each ensemble was, it was accessible to all ages and body types.  The interior construction was very supportive.  Here's to looking like a queen on the beach!

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