Poolside vibe 2007: What you'll be wearing

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Poolside vibe 2007: What you'll be wearing
BY KATHRYN WEXLER
kwexler@herald.com

Suck that in, stick that out: Bathing suits always require a little . . . deception.

But given the wide range of styles headed our way next summer, you may be able to cover up as much as flaunt it.

Miami is abuzz with talk of swimwear trends in 2007, even before production is underway. A four-day series of runway shows at the Raleigh Hotel called Sunglass Hut Swim Shows Miami presented by LYCRA offered a preview of what's in store -- on the beach, on the yacht or, well, by the backyard plastic pool.

• Tankinis: Not all of us want to thrust our abs at every stranger. Expect a healthy supply of bikinis whose tops extend nearly or all the way to the bottoms, like tank tops. The top is often meant to fit snugly across the stomach. But the extra layer will still offer a modicum of modesty. And the style need not look somber. Some designers have jazzed them up with ruching . .

.• Ruching: Designers have realized that gathered fabric along the edge of a one-piece or tankini is a nice little distraction from, shall we say, an expansive presence. But ruching details also suggest an old world elegance -- if the designer doesn't skimp on material. Make sure folds on the side of the body are lush enough that they can be spotted from a frontal view.

• Exotic details: Runways in New York last fall were filled with designer clothing inspired by passport-required destinations like Morocco and Bangladesh.

The theme of the casual, far-flung traveler persists, even in swimwear. Some bikinis have colorful beads dangling mid-chest. Others have macramé details or tiny beading reminiscent of South American motifs. And more still play with prints of animal skins of the safari variety.

• Monochrome: Yes, it can get boring. But solid-colored bathing suits can also have a quiet sophistication that often eludes patterned ones. Red swimsuits and navy ones will be pervasive.

The cut of bathing suit is all the more apparent when there are no frills to distract from it, so don't succumb to buying a swimsuit based on your appreciation of the color alone.

• White, white, white: Designers affordable and not so much profess their love for the purity of white -- but there's nothing virginal about half the white swimsuits on the horizon. The best will have keyhole cut-outs on the cleavage or dangling tassels to distinguish them from all the other white suits out there.

White looks good on many skin tones, but as the runway show proved, without the right heft to the garment, white is oh-so-oh-no see-through. Venture into the water at your own risk.

• Unsentimental florals: Designers have the burden of reinventing florals each year. This time around, cutie-pie blossoms have given way to more masculine prints that suggest ferns, fronds and bamboo. The look is a mature one, and it's not likely to hold great appeal for the 30-and-under set. That's OK. They've always got plenty to choose from

.• Jewelry, rather than towels: Designers often bedeck their creations with jewelry on the runway -- because they know that the fabulousness of a necklace can rub off on a ho-hum bathing suit. We can, too, even if our runway just leads from the patio to the fridge. Big, brown, wooden beads persist, along with turquoise stones on suede. Both can do wonders for a bathing suit. Just remember that metal gets hot under the sun, and suede won't hold up long in the ocean.

• Coverups that really cover up: To some of us, a sheer coverup is a contradiction. For those looking for real privacy after a dip in the pool, you might find it next summer with kimono-length robes and hooded wraps in waffle cotton that look like they stop UVA rays as much as prowling eyes.

http://www.centredaily.com/mld/philly/living/fashion/

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