BIG IDEAS Swimwear themes this month centered around North America, with sailor stripes and red, white and blue expressing a patriotic attitude while poncho cover ups and Oaxacan dresses pulling inspiration from south of the border. The 70s continued to take shape in plunging halter maillots and tie dye prints, while tropical motifs and tie-tops conveyed a kitschy 80s influence for Juniors and Contemporary. Prints and assortments feature a rainbow of bright tertiary colors. Sexy front notches and ties update bandeaus. Sarongs evolve into structured draped skirts. Tribal prints are modernized with bold color and digitized motifs. Zara RAINBOW BRIGHT COLOR 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 update for Breton shirts / Range of colors represented in stripes, dip dyes and color-blocking Forever 21 H&M Le Bon Marche Topshop ACAPULCO LOCO INSPIRATION George V Boutique 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 to caftans / Colorful embroidered florals / Serape stripes in various directions / Red, white and blue palette looks fresh / Feathers, tassels, beads and Day of the Dead skulls lend a festive feel Related Report: S/S 11 Swimwear Runway & Trade Show Wrap > Mexican Riviera Printemps Galeries Lafayette Le Bon Marche Harrods Show Room Fifi Chachnil Heaven Mango PATRIOT ACT INSPIRATION 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 / Silky woven panels update Breton tees / Stripes worked into 70s scarf prints have a subtle, sophisticated appeal / AllAmerican madras / Fun, youthful details like bows, big buttons and candy cane stripes / Braided straps and rope details incorporate crafty dimension Printemps Laforet POOL PLUNGE ITEM 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 cutouts fastened with elastic bands / Strapless, blouson and monokini variations Printemps H&M A NOTCH ABOVE ITEM Rip Curl Reinforced center notches update bandeaus. V- or U-shaped notches / Horseshoe shaped hardware / Gold and silver metal or dyed-to-match plastic reinforcements / Hardware covered with cup fabric or neck tie elastics Printemps Printemps Jets by Jessika Allen TIE, TIE AGAIN ITEM 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 real and faux ties / Oversized bows evoke pin-up girl suits / Also key for one-piece suits Topshop TIE BREAKER ITEM 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, preppy plaids, 90s florals and kitschy message graphics / Coordinate tops with swimsuits and beach shorts Bloomingdale's Quiksilver SPORTS SHORTS ITEM 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 to denim cutoffs / Jersey rompers in easy strapless silhouettes / Hawaiian, pixilated, photographic and Aztec prints are on-trend / Ribbed or drawstring waistbands / Sheer fabrics show off bikini bottoms New Look Selfridges Topshop SOPHISTICATED SARONG ITEM Fogal 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 the natural sarong silhouette / Elastic waistbands allow easy wear Tory Burch DASHIKI CHIC ITEM 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 colors and expressive florals / Swirling large-scale paisleys and scarf prints / Simple single-color batik prints / Brightly colored or black grounds make prints pop Isola by Megan Gale Princess Tam Tam Wahine H&M TECHNO TRIBAL PRINT + PATTERN H&M 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 colorblocking or blown-up pixilated prints / Digitized Missoni-style chevrons / Checkerboard patterns and powdery brights give folkoric prints an 80s-inspired twist We are Handsome TROPIC OF CONVERSATION PRINT + PATTERN 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 Topshop Rip Curl Bloomingdale's Topshop TO DYE FOR PRINT + PATTERN Anthropologie Tie dye prints convey a laidback attitude just right for beachwear. Move away from the multicolored, spiral psychedelic variety / Subtle tonal palettes, specifically blue / Linear designs rather than circular / Tie-dyed stripes or multicolored dip dyes / Splotchy, irregular patterns / Tie dye used as a border print Fiesta