BIG IDEASSwimwear themes this month centered around NorthAmerica, with sailor stripes and red, white and blueexpressing a patriotic attitude while poncho cover upsand Oaxacan dresses pulling inspiration from south ofthe border. The 70s continued to take shape inplunging halter maillots and tie dye prints, whiletropical motifs and tie-tops conveyed a kitschy 80sinfluence for Juniors and Contemporary.

Prints and assortments feature a rainbow ofbright tertiary colors.Sexy front notches and ties update bandeaus.Sarongs evolve into structured draped skirts.Tribal prints are modernized with bold color anddigitized motifs.

Zara

Nina Ricci Topshop Princess Tam Tam

La Perla Zara Topshop

Bright tertiary hues replace the primary and secondary palette.

Bubblegum pink, turquoise, tangerine, spring green / Blue, yellow and red remain as an accent color / Key updatefor Breton shirts / Range of colors represented in stripes, dip dyes and color-blocking

RAINBOW BRIGHTCOLOR

Forever 21

Le Bon Marche Topshop George V Boutique

H&M

Initial

Traditional Mexican dress details bring a crafty quality to beachwear.

Oaxacan-style dresses are a key cover up option / Blouson peasant tops / Ponchos emerge as an alternative tocaftans / Colorful embroidered florals / Serape stripes in various directions / Red, white and blue palette looksfresh / Feathers, tassels, beads and Day of the Dead skulls lend a festive feelRelated Report: S/S 11 Swimwear Runway & Trade Show Wrap > Mexican Riviera

ACAPULCO LOCOINSPIRATION

Printemps Galeries Lafayette Le Bon Marche Harrods

Show Room Fifi Chachnil Heaven Mango

Patriotic and nautical themes remain a popular inspiration for the season.

Red, white and blue dominates / Swimsuits cut in retro styles / Minimalist color-blocked maillots look fresh / Silkywoven panels update Breton tees / Stripes worked into 70s scarf prints have a subtle, sophisticated appeal / All-American madras / Fun, youthful details like bows, big buttons and candy cane stripes / Braided straps and ropedetails incorporate crafty dimension

PATRIOT ACTINSPIRATION

Printemps Laforet H&M Eres

The plunge suit materializes in various silhouettes.

Built-up halter emphasizes deep plunge / Lace-up plunge emerges as a more secure option / Center front cut-outs fastened with elastic bands / Strapless, blouson and monokini variations

POOL PLUNGEITEM

H&M

Printemps

Rip Curl Printemps

Reinforced center notches update bandeaus.

V- or U-shaped notches / Horseshoe shaped hardware / Gold and silver metal or dyed-to-match plasticreinforcements / Hardware covered with cup fabric or neck tie elastics

A NOTCH ABOVEITEM

Jets by Jessika Allen

Printemps

Emporio Armani Jets by Jessika Allen

Front ties allow bikini tops to be easily adjusted.

From push-up plunge bras to unlined bandeaus / Ties allow cleavage to be adjusted on padded styles / Both realand faux ties / Oversized bows evoke pin-up girl suits / Also key for one-piece suits

TIE, TIE AGAINITEM

Topshop H&M Zara

Boxy, cropped tops give way to snug tie-tops.

Important for Juniors / 80s Venice Beach influence / For tees, tanks and button-front shirts / Sailor stripes, preppyplaids, 90s florals and kitschy message graphics / Coordinate tops with swimsuits and beach shorts

TIE BREAKERITEM

Quiksilver

Bloomingdale's

H&M H&M

Sporty beach shorts are revamped with fashion details.

Board shorts updated in shorter lengths / Dolphin shorts are key / Cuffed French terry shorts are an alternative todenim cutoffs / Jersey rompers in easy strapless silhouettes / Hawaiian, pixilated, photographic and Aztec printsare on-trend / Ribbed or drawstring waistbands / Sheer fabrics show off bikini bottoms

SPORTS SHORTSITEM

Selfridges Topshop Fogal

New Look

Zara

Draped skirts and tube dresses are an all-in-one substitute for sarongs.

From jersey maxi skirts to nylon drawstring minis / Center front draping look fresh / Asymmetric hems mimic thenatural sarong silhouette / Elastic waistbands allow easy wear

SOPHISTICATED SARONGITEM

Tory Burch Zara La Rinascente

The dashiki returns with the wave of 70s influences.

Evolution of the caftan / Sleeved tunic silhouette / The traditional engineered print is updated with bright colorsand expressive florals / Swirling large-scale paisleys and scarf prints / Simple single-color batik prints / Brightlycolored or black grounds make prints pop

DASHIKI CHICITEM

Isola by Megan Gale

Wahine H&M H&M

Princess Tam Tam

Speedo

Traditional tribal and folk motifs are modernized with bold colors, eclectic mixes and digitized treatments.

Black and white African prints update with splashes of fluorescent / Aztec motifs transform with Mod color-blocking or blown-up pixilated prints / Digitized Missoni-style chevrons / Checkerboard patterns and powderybrights give folkoric prints an 80s-inspired twist

TECHNO TRIBALPRINT + PATTERN

We are Handsome

H&M Topshop

H&M Debenhams

Kitschy conversational motifs update the tropical genre.

Flamingos and parrots emerge as an allover motif or placed graphic / Bananas reflect the Prada influence /Classic tropical leaves and florals downtrend / 80s-style allover palm trees against a sunset backdrop look fresh

TROPIC OF CONVERSATIONPRINT + PATTERN

Topshop

Bloomingdale's Topshop Anthropologie

Rip Curl

Fiesta

Tie dye prints convey a laidback attitude just right for beachwear.

Move away from the multicolored, spiral psychedelic variety / Subtle tonal palettes, specifically blue / Lineardesigns rather than circular / Tie-dyed stripes or multicolored dip dyes / Splotchy, irregular patterns / Tie dyeused as a border print

TO DYE FORPRINT + PATTERN