As the sound of the surf breaking on the shore blended with the strains of bossa nova, the models paraded on a wooden boardwalk against a catwalk backdrop open to the skies which revealed the twin peaks of the 'Dos Irmaos' (Two Brothers) mountains.Other key swimwear trends from Claro Rio Summer for next season have included:
Hippie Revival – Bue Man's thong-bikinis with plaited straps in flower-power and Marrakesh tile-patterns, accessorized with matching head-bands and oversized, coloured bead earrings, worn in one ear only.
Samba-Chic - ruffles and flounces in metallic cheetah and fluores! cent, disco brights on bikinis and one-pieces, shown by Amalia Spinardi in her Jo de Mer collection. Unusually, Ms Spinardi prefers, as she calls it, "to cover the butt" and her bikini bottoms are a little less skimpy than the traditional dental-floss style of the city's beaches.
Cut-Outs – slicing away strips and circles of fabric in one-piece swimsuits to reveal glimpses of tanned torso were favourite techniques at Totem and Iodice
Boudoir Beach – Corsetry was one of the main trends in the Rosa Cha collection, shown on a catwalk where the models splashed through a pool of water. Stretch lace panels and inserts injected a lingerie note into halter-neck one-pieces and tiny bikinis.
Preppy Looks – Jacquelina de Biase took the sporty route in her Salinas collection, styling her swimwear with racer-backs and a mix of horizontal and vertical stripes. She also showed baggy "clown" suits in deckchair stripes, cut low at the sides to reveal the swi! mwear underneath.
Native Notes – Hand-beading and "! fuxico" – the little appliquéd 'florets' of fabric produced by the 'Coopa Roca' co-operative in the hillside 'favela' of Rocinha – characterized the collection of Carlos Miele, with brilliant, tie-dye silk kaftans in fuschia and orange to accompany his bikinis and maillots
Iconic Images – Standout pieces in Adriana Degrea' collection were men's swim-trunks and women's bikinis and one-piece costumes printed with sepia images of Rio in the 1950's. The show ended with a gold and sepia silk kaftan printed with a life-size image of Christ the redeemer, the world-famous statue which towers over the city.
Pretty Sexy – Chris Barros's lilac, pink and blue floral chiffon djellabas, beach-pyjamas and bias-cut maxis with matching bikinis
Carnival Colour – Isabela Capeto's hot, tropical coloured dresses and skirts trimmed with fringing, beading and crochet details
Accessories: Wood and shell jewellery, swimsuits with matching wrist-bands and those fun! ky Rio straw hats.
