By KIMBERLY BERGER
Mid July brings the largest swimwear tradeshow in the world to Florida’s Miami Beach. The Swim Show is the official launch for over 2,500 of the industry’s leading lines. It is the unveiling of fashions to come for the upcoming year. The show lasts four days and is attended by over 3,000 buyers from across the world. I am one of those buyers.
This year’s show was my team’s most intense ever. We viewed 59 brands in four days. I am notorious for packing a lot into our quest to find the best of the best for our customers. In years past, the appointments have been repetitive with very few standing out from the crowd. This simplifies my selection process, but this was not the case for the 2016 season. We literally left each and every appointment with our heads swimming. The options for the upcoming season are phenomenal! This was by far the most exciting show I have attended to date.
2016 promises to take swimwear to the next level. Designs are no longer simply functional, focused on minimal tan lines and being water friendly. Swimwear for the coming season will step it up a notch and bring the catwalk to the boardwalk.
Swim attire will easily transcend from beach to club with a couple of adjustments and the addition of an accessorizing cover-up conveniently offered with each collection. The modern woman avoids excessive sun exposure and therefore tan lines no longer seem to be a cause for concern. One-piece suits are back in, as are retro cuts with rib-high waists, and the modest coverage of girl leg bottoms. We are headed back to an era of sexy sophistication. High neck halters and even optional cap sleeves on tops add a glamorous look to one-piece and tankini options. Jewelry-like metal and wire neck-pieces often accompany these high neck trends. Cut outs lined with mesh or lace lighten the feel and add breath-ability while still leaving a lot to the imagination.
Colors swing from being vibrant and bright to dark, muted neutrals with a vintage undertone. Shades of blue dominate the 2016 palette with saturated turquoise, rich cobalt and soft aqua. Butter and sunshine yellow make a cheerful entrance into the swimwear world offering warmth and youthfulness to floral and ikat prints. Shades of coral, lime and purple continue to be popular. Tie-dye, 70’s inspired paisley and prints with a watercolor influence utilize these vibrant colors in delightful combinations. Butterfly wings and feathers make lighthearted additions to the animal print trend. Leopard, zebra and snakeskin continue to be designer favorites.
Bold combinations of black and white, often with a pop of color, take their usual center stage. And this year offers the emergence of graphite as an alluring black alternative. Deeper shades of navy are also a common base. I regularly saw navy combined with washed out brick red in prints reminiscent of a much loved and well-worn bandana.
Texture, embellishment and fabrics not traditionally used in swimwear play a significant role in the 2016 season. Crochet continues to be fashionable, however it is now mesh and lace’s turn to take the spotlight. Overlays, peekaboo linings and draping add variety and interest to solids and color blocking. Neoprene and similar foam-like fabrics are trending in junior lines and pleather was spotted on more than one occasion. Multiple strings and fringes are still popular, as are ruffles. However, ruffles are becoming larger, stiffer and bolder and have graduated to being the focal point of the suit, rather than merely an accent.
Adjustability and convenience are features that have been long awaited in the swimwear world in regards to fit and practicality. Full coverage tops offer ideal containment for popular activities such as paddle boarding and yoga. Modest coverage also allows the addition of zippers and pockets to many styles. Convertible straps, drawstrings on tops and bottoms, and versatile swimsuits designs with multiple wear options, promise a better fit than ever before. Combine this to the expanded size ranges in both cup and plus sizes now offered by many companies and the common customer complaint of being “hard-to-fit” may soon become a thing of the past.
