Aloha! This summer a little bit of Hawaii will be found on all the mainland beaches. Large, tropical flower prints in striking colors are blossoming into this season’s fashion bathing suit staple.

“The women’s [suits] are all low-rise in solids and vibrant prints,” says Rick Tuteur of Surf Wear Hawaii (www.surfwearhawaii.com). He says tropical-inspired prints will be a must-have for all fashionable beachgoers.
“Women have treaded off the dreaded black suit,” notes Steven Balit, vice president of marketing and communications for Maillot Baltex, one of the largest swimsuit manufacturers in North America.

One of the biggest forces behind island fashion is the hit movie Blue Crush, notes Balit. “Hibiscus multi-colored or monotone large florals are big. Hawaii is making a big comeback in the junior side of it,” he adds.

Blue Crush may have strongly influenced beachwear choices among young adults, but students won’t be the only ones having fun this summer. Older consumers are also demanding a greater selection and, according to Balit, mature beach bunnies are feeling more comfortable wearing less.

Case in point: Last year’s suits were a bit on the conservative side (bottoms with sewn-on skirts for women and boxer swim trunks for men experienced high sales). This year, sexy suits are riding high and stirring up tidal waves at even the calmest of beaches.

Balit sees swimsuit trends in terms of psychology—this year people are eating meat again, and it shows. The average female size is a 14, whereas a decade ago it was a 10. Waistlines are increasing, yet swimsuit sales are skyrocketing. It seems that women of all sizes are feeling a bit more comfortable in their own skin. “Wearing a swimsuit is exactly like wearing lingerie, but, because it’s a bathing suit, you can wear it in public,” Balit says, adding, “The full-figured venture is doing extremely well and that customer is [out there] wearing a two-piece.”

Ironically, another reason why sales are high and suits are skimpy this year is due to the fact that more older people are working out. “Bikinis and two pieces will be in high demand,” predicts Margo Hotston, owner and designer of Bondi Bathers (www.bondibathers.com). “People in their forties are still working out and keeping in shape, so we see more women wearing bikinis longer than 15 years ago.”
And ladies are not alone, men are also putting shyness on the backburner and wearing less this summer. While square cut bottoms ruled the beaches last year, this season skimpier suits are king. “The bikini cuts are beginning to overpower the briefs,” notes Ron Serfass, owner and designer of HE Swim and Bodywear (www.heswimwear.com).

As far as patterns go, Serfass says, other best sellers this season include nautical stripes and animal prints.

Serfass thinks men’s swimsuits are also getting a bit flashier. In fact, he soon plans to incorporate mesh fabric on the sides of his suit bottoms—giving the wearer a seductive peek-a-boo look. He predicts sexy mesh will be a big hit, especially since his mesh tops are currently doing so well. His clients like to wear their mesh tees right after swimming and that carries them over from surf to turf.

Besides the teen flick Blue Crush, another Hollywood movie that is influencing swimsuit fashion is Die Another Day. Remember Halle Berry’s vibrant orange bikini in the James Bond flick? Who can forget it?! That same suit is inspiring buckles on everything from bikinis to one-pieces, according to Marcie Pérez, who handles public relations for Marshalls department stores.

Pérez says that other important trends to keep track of are nautical stripes, preppy oxford patterns, polka dots and denim. When asked to compare this year’s season to last summer’s, she responds, “The styles are more flirty and fun.”

Other swimsuits that are flying off the rack are those with unusual prints, such as pop art. Bondi Bathers have created such a hit, Hotston explains: “One of the popular prints in our line consists of a photo image of a lady’s face and a leg in a high heel printed on blocks of color in lime green, fuscia, red and teal with black trim added for effect. The print is reminiscent of Andy Warhol’s art.”

Polynesian prints are also getting a bit of competition from Asian influences. “We have a bamboo print in kimono red on white for those who want to attract attention or a China blue on white for a more subtle look,” Hotston adds.

Even though Baltex claims that “it is a print year,” one color that Pérez predicts will be tres chic is brown, which she by the way stresses is very flattering on Latinas.

As far as cuts are concerned, a press release from Jantzen, one of the world’s best-known brands and makers of swimwear, stated that the halter strap will be one of the strongest and most flattering silhouettes this summer. Their Cha Cha collection features a halter strap suit with a mother-of-pearl finish hardware in a plunging neckline, which brings “added sexiness to the look.”

Last year’s suit may have drowned, but one trend that did carry over is the tankini. Balit says this is a great item for women who thought they could never wear a two piece. The tankini is also an extremely versatile garment, Hotston says it can be rolled up when sunbathing, and the top looks great when worn with shorts or pants.

Jantzen also reports that separates—versatile tops and bottoms that can be mixed and matched according to style, preference, and body type—are also very popular.

So whether you reach for a bikini or a one-piece, the trick to a stylish summer is to wear a swimsuit with a brilliant color or an interesting motif. And of course, on top of the must-have list is a swimsuit made up of a Hawaiian-inspired fabric.
This year, there’s no need to book any travel arrangements, the vibrancy and adventure of the tropics will be found right at home.