Swimwear Trends for 2010

Swimwear Trend #1 for 2010 - Color Riot

Colorful bikini at the Ed Hardy Swimwear 2010 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim in Miami Beach

Swimwear trend #1 for 2010 is color riot. The Swim Show runways were filled with color and more color during the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week for 2010 in Miami. From saturated jewel tones and neons reminescent of the 1980s to prints with pretty pastel color palettes, color ran riot.

Although petites are often tempted to wear black for everything, 2010 would be an excellent time to break away from the dark neutrals and enjoy a color splash at the beach.

Swimwear Trend #2 for 2010 - Graphic Prints

Graphic print one-piece swimsuit at the Luli Fama 2010 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim in Miami Beach

Swimwear trend #2 for 2010 is graphic prints. We've seen popular graphic prints in clothing for a couple of years, but 2010 is shaping up to be the year that graphic prints really become huge for swimwear. Whether it's a one-piece swimsuit, bikini, or coverup, graphic prints are in the swim for 2010.

For petites who prefer dark, solid colors for work, selecting swimwear becomes an opportunity to break out of the mold and have fun with fashion. Just match the size of the graphic print design to your own size and stature because huge motifs may seem overpowering on short women.

Swimwear Trend #3 for 2010 - Cutouts

Swimsuit with cutouts at the L*Space by Monica 2010 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim in Miami Beach

Swimwear trend #3 for 2010 is cutouts. Some of the swimwear for 2010 is full of holes--literally. Balancing cutouts has been popular in the past, but a lot of 2010 swimwear features more asymmetry so that the holes may sometimes only be on one side of the swimsuit, or there may be more cutouts on one side than the other.

This trend is not for the faint-at-heart, but for those who dare to go bare, wearing a swimsuit with cutouts can feel young and hip. For the rest of us who still like to be trendy, try a coverup with cutouts. Where the cutouts occur on the swimsuit, bikini, or coverup will be more of an issue with this trend than a woman's stature. Avoid wearing a swimsuit with cutouts that occur in areas that you'd prefer to disguise, and if you want to wear a swimsuit with cutouts, select strategically placed cutouts to show off your body to best advantage.

Swimwear Trend #4 for 2010 - Deep V Plunge Neckline

Deep V plunging neckline swimsuit at the Poko Pano 2010 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim in Miami Beach

Swimwear trend #4 for 2010 is a deep V plunge neckline. The deep V necklines on some 2010 swimwear plunge below the bustline and sometimes below the waistline, so even though they're on one-piece swimsuits, the look is daring and sexy.

Although V-necklines flatter petites, these very deep plunging necklines won't be for everybody.

Swimwear Trend #5 for 2010 - One-Shoulder Styling

One-shoulder bikini at the CIA.Martima 2010 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim in Miami Beach

Swimwear trend #5 for 2010 is one-shoulder styling. One-shoulder styling has been a popular trend for dresses and tops for a couple of years, and now swimwear trends reflect this asymmetrical design too. We're seeing one-shoulder styling on both one-piece swimsuits and bikinis as well as on swimwear coverups.

Asymmetry can be a good thing for petites, and it certainly won't make us look any shorter, so there's no need to shy away from this swimwear trend for 2010.

Swimwear Trend #6 for 2010 - Bandeau Bikini Tops

Bandeau bikini at the Luli Fama 2010 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim in Miami Beach

Swimwear trend #6 for 2010 is bandeau bikini tops. This swimwear trend for 2010 offers a shoulder-baring alterative to the more traditional bikini tops for 2010. Designers showed bandeau bikini tops in styles ranging from those that are little more than stretchy bands to bandeau tops with underwires and a great deal of support.

Petites who wear bikinis will also be able to wear bandeau bikini tops. The main consideration with adopting the bandeau trend for 2010 is the support or lack of support that the bandeau top offers. For petites who have busts larger than a B-cup, it usually works best to stick to bikini tops that have straps.

Swimwear Trend #7 for 2010 - Vests

Bikini with vest top at the True Religion Swim 2010 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim in Miami Beach

Swimwear trend #7 for 2010 is vests. This swimwear trend for 2010 appeals to the playful fashion sensibility. Vests as bikini tops are unexpected, but just plain fashion fun. Make a bikini vest versatile by combining it with a tiny bikini bottom as pictured, dress it up with a skirtini, or go casual with boy shorts.

Great for those who want to wear a two-piece but have a bit more midriff coverage, vests can be worn by petites because the back waist length that's so frequently too long on regular tops and dresses isn't much of an issue with the abbreviated vests.

Swimwear Trend #8 for 2010 - String Embellishment

Swimsuit with strings embellishment at the Ed Hardy Swimwear 2010 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim in Miami Beach

Swimwear trend #8 for 2010 is string embellishment. We've all heard of string bikinis, but the 2010 swimwear string embellishment trend is totally different. Designers are using strings as part of the style, but usually just for decoration and not as part of the garment's structure. Fringe as embellishment also appeared at the swimwear fashion shows for 2010 styles.

If you're thinking about wearing a swimsuit with string embellishment, you're most likely to have a trendy fashion personality. You enjoy cutting edge fashion and like to wear the latest, especially if it's a style that sets you apart from the crowd. When the string decoration is vertical or asymmetrical, it works best for petites.

Swimwear Trend #9 for 2010 - Maxi Coverups

Maxi swimsuit coverup at the Tibi 2010 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim in Miami Beach

Swimwear trend #9 for 2010 is maxi coverups. Floaty maxi coverups are likely to appeal to women who have a romantic fashion personality. Besides the romantic feel of a flowing maxi coverup, this trendy style can easily do double duty by leaving the beach or poolside and going to dinner.

Many petites shy away from long dresses, but the maxi trend seems to have some staying power, so the best way to adapt is to make sure that the maxi style you select isn't so wide as to overwhelm you. Maxi coverups that are a bit narrower without yards and yards of fabric can work well for petites. Few maxi coverups will be offered that are specifically sized for petites, and maxis may be too long for short women, but these long coverups can easily be hemmed unless there's a border design at the hemline.

Swimwear Trend #10 for 2010 - Bold Beach Bags

Bold beach bag at the Caffe Swimwear 2010 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim in Miami Beach

Swimwear trend #10 for 2010 is bold beach bags. Beach bags aren't exactly news, but the trendiest bags at the beach in 2010 will be big and bold. They'll make a statement as well as serve a practical function because we all need lots of stuff at the beach, and what could be better than a big, bold beach bag?

Usually petites will look more in proportion when they avoid oversized bags and carry medium-sized bags, but the beach bag is an exception because practicality trumps proportion for a day at the beach or poolside.

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