By Phillip D. Johnson
Runway Images photographed by SHELDON BALDIE/Staff Photographer/wwwfashionpluslifestyle.wordpress.com
**Other Images provided by MERCEDES BENZ FASHION WEEK SWIM (GETTY IMAGES for IMG/MERCEDES BENZ FASHION WEEK SWIM)**
A general view of atmosphere during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim 2013 on July 19, 2012 in Miami Beach, Florida.**
Let’s face it, this winter has been the worst, one of the most inconsistent, soul-sucking winter seasons of recent years. Truth be told, I am READY for the upcoming summer months. With the summer months stretching gloriously in front of us, I can’t wait for 90 degree weather and ditching the heavy overcoat. I am ready to live my days wearing as few pieces of clothing as possible. And more importantly, I am looking forward to going to the beach, getting away from it all, and generally rejuvenating my spirits.
If the 2013 MERCEDES BENZ FASHION WEEK SWIM shows held at the RALEIGH HOTEL (1775 Colleins Avenue, Miami Beach) were any indication, women across the spectrum will be having a most spectacular 2013 Spring/Summer season. Beach lovers will be able to worship the sun sporting a very wide variety of bikinis, one-piece and maillots in an equally wide variety of cuts, fabrics and print options. For spring/summer 2013, the designers who showed at the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Swim Shows captured the chic beach lifestyle of women everywhere. This included swimwear in optical/graphic/geometric prints. Other trends as seen on the runway includes a raft of tropical/floral prints (beyond lovely), hand-embroidered detailing, sophisticated black/white themed pieces, and animal prints (surely a take away from the runways of New York, London, Paris and Milan where fur and animal skins has made a major comeback since the fall/winter 2012 shows in February/March 2012). Other trends included a run on metallics, a surprising emphasis on neons, and pastels, and an emerging trend that highlights tribal and native influences.
A View from above of the famous pool at the Raleigh Hotel.
Most important, with the increased focus on skin cancer and proper sun coverage, there were a great many beach caftans/coveralls that were decidedly modern. These pieces are designed to take a woman, who’s on vacation and in a relaxed mood, to go directly from the beach to dinner and/or cocktails in a seamless manner. Casual or “vacation formal”, the humble beach caftan –short, mid or long– is the idea piece for any and every woman.
A model walks the runway at the Gottex show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim 2013 at SLS Hotel on July 22, 2012 in Miami Beach, Florida.**
A model walks the runway at the Nicolita show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim 2013 at The Raleigh on July 20, 2012 in Miami Beach, Florida.**
Featured designers included A.Z. ARAUJO, AGUA BENDITA (by Catalina Alvarez & Mariana Hinestroza), AGUACLARA (by Liliana Villalobos), ANK BY MIRL SABINO, ANNA KOSTUROVA, AQUA DI LARA (by Reyhan Sofraci), AQUARELLA SWIMWEAR (by Veronique de la Cruz), BCBG MAX AZRIA (Max & Lubov Azria), CAFFE SWIMWEAR (by Paula Saavedra), CIA.MARITIMA (by Benny Rosset), COTE D’OR SWIMWEAR (Kevin Fitzpatrick & Stephanie Theis Fajardo), DOLORES CORTES (Dolores Font Cortes), DORIT (by Dorit Lemel), GOTTEX, KEVA J., KOOEY AUSTRALIA (by Nikki Silverthorne), LISA BLUE (by Lisa Burke), L*SPACE BY MONICA WISE, LULI FAMI (by Augusto Haniman & Lourdes Haniman), MARA HOFFMAN SWIM, NAILA (by Naila Chbib), NICOLITA (Nicole di Rocco), POKO PANO (Paola Robba), RED CARTER, ROSE BY VANESSA JEAN (Vanessa Simmons), SAUVAGE (Elizabeth Southwood), SUBOO (Sue di Choi), VITAMIN A BY AMAHLIA STEVENS (the MERCEDES BENZ PRESENTS designer for the show week), WHITE SANDS AUSTRAILA (Leah Madden), WILDFOX SWIM (Emily Faulstich & Kimberley Gordon), and XTRA LIFE LYCRA BRAND.
Amahlia Stevens walks the runway at the Vitamin A by Amahlia Stevens show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim 2013 at The Raleigh on July 20, 2012 in Miami, Florida.
Designer Lisa Blue walks the runway at the Lisa Blue show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim 2013**
Designer Paola Robba walks the runway at the Poko Pano show during Merecedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim 2013**
MERCEDES BENZ FASHION WEEK SWIM–held in conjunction with the annual SWIM SHOW & LINGERIE SHOW at the Miami Beach Convention Center and the largest trade show dedicated to swimwear in the USA, organized by the Swimwear Association of Florida, which also showcases a selection of lingerie. www.swimshow.com— brings together the largest international showing of the biggest swimwear designers to its runways. With even more countries being represented each show week, this has become of the most influential swimwear industry event in the wordl and plays host to thousands of invited media (photographers, buyers, editors, stylists) VIPs and other invited guests.
Poko Pano by Paola Robba (Photo Credit: Sheldon Baldie/Staff Photographer)
Official Sponsors of the 2013 Spring/Summer MERCEDES BENZ FASHION WEEK SWIM Shows included MERCEDES BENZ (Official Name Sponsor), AMERICAN EXPRESS, DHL, MAKE UP FOR EVER, TRESemme, HAWAIIIAN TROPIC SUN CARE, XTRA LIFE LYCRA Brand, THE RALEIGH, ARIZONA BEVERAGES, MOET ICE IMPERIAL, KIM CRAWFORD WINES, OCEAN DRIVE MAGAZINE, CALIFORNIA APPAREL NEWS, WATERWEAR and GETTY IMAGES.
IT’S RAINING MEN!
Photo Credit: SHELDON BALDIE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER/www.fashionpluslifestyle.wordpress.com
Photo Credit: SHELDON BALDIE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER/www.fashionpluslifestyle.wordpress.com
Photo Credit: SHELDON BALDIE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER/www.fashionpluslifestyle.wordpress.com
TREND: BLACK + WHITE
Photo Credit: SHELDON BALDIE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER/www.fashionpluslifestyle.wordpress.com
Photo Credit: SHELDON BALDIE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER/www.fashionpluslifestyle.wordpress.com
Photo Credit: SHELDON BALDIE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER/www.fashionpluslifestyle.wordpress.com
XTRA LIFE LYCRA
Photo Credit: SHELDON BALDIE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER/www.fashionpluslifestyle.wordpress.com
Photo Credit: SHELDON BALDIE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER/www.fashionpluslifestyle.wordpress.com
TREND: NEONS/PASTELS
Photo Credit: SHELDON BALDIE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER/www.fashionpluslifestyle.wordpress.com
Photo Credit: SHELDON BALDIE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER/www.fashionpluslifestyle.wordpress.com
Photo Credit: SHELDON BALDIE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER/www.fashionpluslifestyle.wordpress.com
L*SPACE BY MONICA WISE (Photo Credit: SHELDON BALDIE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER/www.fashionpluslifestyle.wordpress.com)
TREND: FLORALS
Photo Credit: SHELDON BALDIE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER/www.fashionpluslifestyle.wordpress.com
Photo Credit: SHELDON BALDIE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER/www.fashionpluslifestyle.wordpress.com
Photo Credit: SHELDON BALDIE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER/www.fashionpluslifestyle.wordpress.com
Photo Credit: SHELDON BALDIE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER/www.fashionpluslifestyle.wordpress.com
TREND: Optical, Graphic + Geometric Prints
Photo Credit: SHELDON BALDIE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER/www.fashionpluslifestyle.wordpress.com
Photo Credit: SHELDON BALDIE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER/www.fashionpluslifestyle.wordpress.com
Photo Credit: SHELDON BALDIE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER/www.fashionpluslifestyle.wordpress.com
Photo Credit: SHELDON BALDIE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER/www.fashionpluslifestyle.wordpress.com
Photo Credit: SHELDON BALDIE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER/www.fashionpluslifestyle.wordpress.com
TREND: METALLICS
Photo Credit: SHELDON BALDIE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER/www.fashionpluslifestyle.wordpress.com
Photo Credit: SHELDON BALDIE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER/www.fashionpluslifestyle.wordpress.com
VITAMIN A BY AMAHLIA STEVENS (Photo Credit: SHELDON BALDIE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER/www.fashionpluslifestyle.wordpress.com)
TREND: ANIMAL PRINTS
Photo Credit: SHELDON BALDIE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER/www.fashionpluslifestyle.wordpress.com
Photo Credit: SHELDON BALDIE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER/www.fashionpluslifestyle.wordpress.com
XTRA LIFE LYCRA (Photo Credit: SHELDON BALDIE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER/www.fashionpluslifestyle.wordpress.com)
TREND: TRIBAL
Photo Credit: SHELDON BALDIE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER/www.fashionpluslifestyle.wordpress.com
POKO PANO (Photo Credit: SHELDON BALDIE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER/www.fashionpluslifestyle.wordpress.com)
Photo Credit: SHELDON BALDIE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER/www.fashionpluslifestyle.wordpress.com
TREND: BRING ON THE SOLIDS
LULI FAMI. Photo Credit: SHELDON BALDIE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER/www.fashionpluslifestyle.wordpress.com
Photo Credit: SHELDON BALDIE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER/www.fashionpluslifestyle.wordpress.com
Photo Credit: SHELDON BALDIE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER/www.fashionpluslifestyle.wordpress.com
VITAMIN A BY AMAHLIA STEVENS. Photo Credit: SHELDON BALDIE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER/www.fashionpluslifestyle.wordpress.com
TREND: COVERALLS FOR ALL!
Photo Credit: SHELDON BALDIE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER/www.fashionpluslifestyle.wordpress.com
Photo Credit: SHELDON BALDIE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER/www.fashionpluslifestyle.wordpress.com
CAFFE SWIMWEAR (Photo Credit: SHELDON BALDIE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER/www.fashionpluslifestyle.wordpress.com)
Contact information for the designers:
Fashion + Lifestyle 