Miami Fashion Week Swim: Cia Maritima 2012

Cia Maritima's show at Miami Fashion Week drew the most enthusiastic response from the burly men of the photographer's pit.  How can you go wrong with a vintage Van Halen soundtrack and hot models in bikinis? For those of us actually studying actual fashion details of the collection, there were sexy animal prints to be found.  Leopard spots showed up in chiffon wraps and swim suits.  A sorbet color palette of raspberry, lemon and pops of turquoise came up in dip-dyed cover-ups and watercolor floral prints. 1980's rock and roll influence could be seen in the off-the-shoulder fringed...

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Miami Fashion Week Swim: Poko Pano 2012

Polo Pano led the first show of the Oasis tent Friday night in Miami Fashion week with a bold collection of tropical-chic.  The models on the runway were styled as strong, Amazonian women.  The hair was intertwined with tribal feathers like a warrior, the walk was strong and confident. The swimwear itself featured jungle-inspired prints like over-sized fronds, snakeskin and tiger silhouettes.  The color palette was simple.  White popped on the tanned bodies.  It was paired with olive, coral, black and tan.  Pops of bright turquoise was reminiscent of the ocean surrounding...

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Miami Fashion Week Swim: Caffe Swimwear 2012

Caffe Swimwear evoked continental jaunts to St. Tropez.  The resort and swimwear at this show had a more European flavor than other designers who presented in Miami Swimsuits consisted of simple silhouettes.  Twisted and shirred detailing popular in sportswear accented many of the styles for flattering effect in solid colors.  Bright organic prints occupied bikini bottoms and tops along with big billowy chiffon cover-ups. The story of the beach bags was as important as the clothing.  Big, oversized bags were reminiscent of styles popular in the 1960's and 1970's.  The...

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Miami Fashion Week Swim: Aqua Di Lara 2012

How do you bring city fashion into beach fashion?  Montreal-based Reyhan Sofraci. took elements of designer sportswear and incorporated them into swimwear for this season's Aqua Di Lara collection.  A dark, solid colored grouping used hardware trims, mesh cutouts, corset structure and piping for a cosmopolitan look.   Another grouping used variations on a rainbow stripe to showcase a bright color palette.  The rainbow stripe was paired with an updated placed paisley print in the same color palette.  A third collection showcased a subtle snakeskin print on...

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Miami Fashion Week Swim: Luli Fama 2012

Luli Fama put the show in "fashion show ". Their presentation started with a dramatic tropical storm hitting the tents, lightning flashes wrapping around the clear roof and guests praying in their seats it wouldn't collapse.  Eventually, the show opened with a bright feathered trio of Brazilian dancers to set the party tone. What followed was one of the most though out swimwear runways of the week. The festive use of color remained throughout with ruffled bikini tops and bottoms that emphasized the curves behind to maximum advantage. Prints had an updated Latin flair, mixing large roses...

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Miami Fashion Week Swim: Mara Hoffman 2012

Mara Hoffman's swimwear show was The hot ticket of Saturday night.  The stars of the runway were the great prints.  One group mixed a candy colored palette with Aztec inspired prints for a fresh fashion statement on the beach.  Another blended bright tribal motifs with textured animal prints. For this collection, the coverups are as important as the swimsuits. A huge range of options, dresses, tunics, wraps were designed to take you from the beach to more civilized destinations.  Bohemian caftans were reminiscent of Marrakesh in the 1970's with updated...

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Guess by Marciano Holiday 2012 - Amber Heard Campaign Launch

On a hot summer day, Guess, and Guess by Marciano presented their holiday offerings for the upcoming season.  The event took place in a hazy penthouse in Soho.  The company showed off their party clothes with a chic rooftop barbecue.    The guest of honor was Amber Heard, star of their Fall 2011 ad campaign.  The starlet unveiled ad images while guests sipped summer cocktails and nibbled on burgers with the hazy city skyline as a backdrop.The Marciano collection had plenty of highly stylized party frocks.  A variety of treatments embellished each dress.  One...

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Theia Resort 2012 - Helios Rising

Don O’Neill is the thinking woman’s designer.  He presented his collection for Theia Resort 2012 by making his entrance precisely at the moment of Summer Solstice.  Why? His collection was inspired by Helios, the God of Light.     Mr. O’Neill used his muse to interpret the mythical elements into the fabrics themselves.  There were cocktail dresses using a technologically advanced fabric that was cross woven with contrasting colors to reflect light brilliantly.  In blue, it conveyed the rippling of the ocean, in gold; it looked the rays of the sun.  He...

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Fashion Designers Open Call

Are you a fashion designer in need of a boost?  Here's a round-up of fashion shows, competitions and projects that can help get your buyers, publicity, fame, fortune, etc. Henri Bendel is legendary for it's open-see day for new designers.  Now they're having an online contest for accessories.  Enter your sketch and have it voted on by your peers.  Winner will have the piece produced and sold in the stores. Lower East Side Runway is a crowd-sourced project by husband and wife team Cheryl and Marc Maleh.  They conceived a way to give back to the fashion community...

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American-Made Designers

Happy Fourth of July! That's American Independence Day to everyone overseas.  While foodies are flocking to the "locavore" movement of consuming locally produced goods, I think it is important to do the same for fashion. Here is a spotlight to some of my favorite labels produced in New York: Nanette Lepore is a perfect duo of artist and entrepreneur.  Together with her husband/business partner Robert Savage, she counts poets, painters, celebs and fashion editors as fans.  She is one of the most vocal and visible designers in the mission to keep NYC's Garment Center thriving. Jennifer...

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