South Beach is the epitome of HOT & SEXY. However each summer the temperatures seem to rise a bit more when Miami Swim Week struts its stuff into South Beach. What started out as a trade show in the Miami Beach Convention Center 37 years ago, has exploded into a celebration of fashion as relevant as major shows around the world. Miami Swim Week now draws the highest echelon of swimwear designers, buyers, journalists, trendsetters, and fans just looking to check out the steady parade of hot models.

Swim Week’s main priority is helping brands sell their collections to stores nationwide or even worldwide.  Everything from well-known brands to newly emerging labels have the opportunity for exposure.

One of Miami Swim Week’s most notable fashionpreneurs is Celia Evans who produced the Miami Swim Week, produced by Planet Fashion at Kimpton Surfcomber.  This year Planet Fashion put on a must see calendar week of events that included a wide selection of swim fashion brands from emerging designers such as Seekers Of Sunshine from Hawaii that creates sustainable fashion created from hemp to swim and resort wear Giannina Azar who has designed for the celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez and Brittany Spears and others.

Other notable designers included Mexican heiress Tatiana Rodriguez Anderson launched   her swimwear line Diosa Mar as well as a collaboration between two mega brands Playboy X Sean Jean.  Playboy X Sean Jean  strayed from swimwear with their line of men’s sportswear and streetwear.

One of the most talked about shows was Oh Polly Swimwear with star model, Instagram goddess, and voluputlon Demi Rose Mawby whose audacious curves were closely followed by every pair of eyes in attendance. Oh Polly Swimwear has a list of high profile clients from Hailey Bieber, Winnie Harlow and Jordyn Woods.

This year’s shows brought some firsts to the bikini runways like real women with real curves and even pregnant models with big tummy bumps.  Sports Illustrated Swimsuit show displayed diversity showcasing swimwear on models of all ages, shapes, races, sizes and ‘handicaps’.  Their show opened with a Cynthia Rowley birkini worn by Halima Aden followed by super-sized women and even one in a wheelchair while another whipped off her long blonde wig to show her bald head.

Throughout the week a few trends showed up like high-cut suits, one-shoulder swimwear, long-sleeves, sustainability and animal prints.

Swimwear Week ended with a bang or rather with tons of tape at the Black Tape Project where models strutted the runway essentially naked albeit with strategically placed tape symbolizing swimsuits.

In all fairness to both sexes, throughout the week, there were plenty of bare-chested, buffed boys with six packs showing off speedo-like swimsuits and colorful trunks.  Additionally, entertainment was splashed about on several runways keeping the audiences amused.  Plus, a sprinkling of celebrities is always a key ingredient in any Miami event week with several showing up for Swim Week.  Also, plenty of billionaire boys flew in for this titillating week when they should have been in St. Tropez or The Hamptons. However, they happily gazed at the sexy scenery from front row seats and hosted private after parties at their waterfront mansions.

All in all, just another week in South Beach with just a bit more T & A than usual on display.