Living the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week SWIM 2010

The opening of the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week SWIM 2010 in Miami Beach on Thursday, July 15^th was all about cars.  Yes!  Cars, cars, cars. The Mercedes-Benz official kick off party at The Raleigh and Lamborghini’s unveiling of its new Superleggera in the lobby at the Setai Hotel.  Cars stole the show for the opening of swim week.

The debut of the new Supperleggera was accompanied by a fashion show of local designer Eva Danielle.  Eva’s Collection was an adorable array of wearable girly dresses in luscious silk fabrics and mixed prints.  The Trina Turk collection incorporates unique prints in a range of colors including a sophisticated use of black and white to multi-colored patterns of free-flowing shapes.

On Friday, July 16^th, there were a plethora of shows to choose from.  Dolores Cortez’s collection at the Raleigh Hotel was reminiscent of an urban jungle.  She featured modern animal prints and cuts, but her cover stole the show, free-flowing dresses good enough to wear alone.

The Ed Hardy models were styled with perfectly long, voluminous soft curly hair with straight bangs, gorgeous oversized bright colored flowers as hair accessories, dark defined eye make-up and fire engine red lips.  The look was very edgy for swimwear, but the suites were less than spectacular. The Ed Hardy Show at the Raleigh Hotel was simply, Ed Hardy. The collection featured the same tattoo prints and sparkles we have all either grown to love or hate. Nothing new, nothing fresh, and nothing we haven’t seen before from this designer.

The best show on day 2 was INCA.  The INCA show featured Afro-Cuban fusion drummers on the runway, with all the models coming out in groups of 8 at a time.  The models danced to the beat of the drums as they each waited for their turn to parade down the catwalk.

On Saturday, July 17^th, Swim Week was a fun-filled day of swimwear fashions and getting pampered; not forgetting to mention a giveaway of amazing goodie bags stocked with full size products.  Early on in the day, MOD MEDIA put on a very impressive gifting suite at Nikki Beach, offering the chance to get up close and personal with some designers including jewelry designer Han Cholo, Betsy Moss, Keva, Kristin Krinna, and Azure Swim designer Leslie Davis.

The Poko Pano Oasis, at Raleigh Hotel was a top-class show on the third day of Mercedes Benz Fashion Week.  Everything about the show was delightful.  Models had long, naturally styled make-up hair, a very soft look, they walked slow and did not look like amateurs.  The suits were playful; some had fruity prints, others were striped.  This Brazilian designer’s show was an all-around success.

After Pako Pano it was off to AQUEOUS at the W South Beach Hotel, hosted by famed bikini model Joanna Krupa.  True to its name, the AQUEOUS show featured lots of agua!  It was cancelled after the presentation of ANK by Mirla Sabino, due to some heavy Miami rain storms.

Nonetheless, Saturday’s rain did not put a damper on Swim Week.  The #1 show for the week was actually on Sunday, July 18^th.  The Red Carter at the Bass Museum was a splash!  It was everything one could wish to see during this promising week of fashion: avant-garde, sexy swimwear!  The type of suits Lady Gaga would buy.  The runway at the Bass Museum was setup along the lengthy stairs on the interior.  Models were also displayed as pieces of art on pedestals.  At the end of the show, Red himself came out in disguise; imagine a very large bunny head atop a baby blue 3-piece suit!

Miami Swim Week 2010 was a hit, featuring notable swimwear designers from all over the world and goodie bags galore.  Hopping around to different fashionably late shows was all part of the fun, and who can forget the forward designs, the colors, and the statuesque models of course!  South Beach will have to wait, impatiently, for the 2011 return of this unforgettable week of fashion.