Get down in brown - swimwear's newest color wave

By Sharon Mosley
SWIM FASHION

If you've got a craving for a taste of something new when it comes to your swim wardrobe this season, then you'll love to dive into the latest color palette washing ashore in stores for spring and summer. Chocolate brown is fast becoming the most delicious hue to suit up in when it's time to make a fashion splash at the pool or on the beach.

While "the little black suit" will always be a timeless classic, brown is the toast of swim designers who have put their collections for spring and summer into neutral. It's just natural that the softer color would spill over into the swim scene.

Brown also acts as a great complement to the newest embellishments on swimwear. Gone is the glittering "bling" of past seasons; instead, the accessories of today's swimwear echo a more natural look, with seashells, wood beading, gold coins or brass rings.

The chocolate story is interpreted by swim designers in myriad ways: At Kohl's, Daisy Fuentes crochets her bandeau tops and tankini suits; at Target, Isaac Mizrahi does brown in hipster bottoms and halter tops; Burberry trims its brown two-piece suits with its famous signature plaid; Juicy Couture does brown swimwear pieces in cozy velour, and if you want the slim and trim look, Miraclesuit gives it to you in brown faux suede.

Brown is also making headlines in swimwear trends when it teams with other colors and unique prints, like with aqua in the Hawaiian-inspired floral suits at JCPenney or the orange pop prints on swim separates from Emilio Pucci. Gottex takes brown and white and goes abstract with its suits paired with matching pareos. Abstract peony and iris floral-print swim separates are brewed up in espresso at J.Crew this season.

And there are plenty of ways to swim on the wild side: At Michael Kors, the designer slithers into a new swim season with a chocolate brown snake print, Anne Klein goes on "safari" and Ralph Lauren details his brown swimwear with a bold zebra print.

But let's face it, no matter what the color of the suit, if it doesn't fit, we won't buy it: "Women want suits that are flattering and that allow them to move without worry," says T.J. Maxx spokeswoman Laura McDowell. "The great news this season is that there are a myriad of options for every figure."

Here are a few other swimwear trends for 2007:

- Flirty skirted suits

- Square-neck maillots

- Higher necklines with ring details at the collar

- Bottoms with adjustable gathered ties at the leg

- Ruching or soft gathering effect for midriffs

- Two-piece suits with longer halter tops and higher waisted bottoms

- Natural embellishments - wooden beads, seashells, brass details

- Exotic global inspired swimwear from India, Spain and Africa

- Black and white suits - also white on white

- Hot corals

- Soft sarong skirts as coverups

- Beaded tunics, caftans, gauchos and gauzy palazzo pants

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