This year, 12,000 people are expected to once again migrate to the Raleigh Hotel for the seventh annual Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim to see what's in store for the swimwear industry. And with the SwimShow returning to the Miami Beach Convention Center, and lots more off-site runway shows and parties, Miami will be busy with bathing-suit-related entertaining in the coming week.
The Fashion Week event, which starts today and runs through Monday, will begin with a runway show by Diesel and an official kickoff party tonight presented by Skyy Vodka around the Raleigh's pool area.
This season's invite-only series of shows and events will host more than 20 designers on two runways. One runway, in a venue dubbed the Oasis, will have a cabana area hosted by official sponsors including Mercedes-Benz, American Express, Getty Images, and DHL. Twenty-three designers from Australia, Brazil, Canada, Columbia, France, Peru, and the United States are showing their looks, a record for the seven-year-old event.
The 28th annual SwimShow, presented by the Swimwear Association of Florida, runs at the convention center Saturday through Tuesday. New this year is the show's expansion with the launch of the LingerieShow, a section of the trade floor dedicated to lingerie.
Off-site runway shows and events platform Funkshion Swim and Resort is returning to South Beach starting today, running through Saturday. 3B Productions' Sale Stojanovic, who founded and produces the show, is building two state-of-the-art tents with runways housed between the W South Beach and the Setai at Collins Park. Funkshion highlights collections from six designers like Liliana Montoya and Marc Jacobs Resort Wear. This year also brings more than 20 sample sales to Funkshion, with a V.I.P. preview hosted by Gilt City in the tents July 20 through July 22.
Satellite events are once again on the calendar. The Muscle Milk Fitness Retreat at Nikki Beach today will get guests ready for the beach with a "No Gym Required" class led by fitness guru Jennifer Cohen, music by DJ Irie, and massages by the Spa Luxury Group. The Lifestyle Retreat Lounge at the Gansevoort Hotel is a two-day event, consisting of a pop-up beauty salon, photo, and music lounge, and designer presentations beginning on Friday. Chloe will kick off its fall 2011 presentation at the Gansevoort with cocktails, followed by a runway show and music by DJ Johnny the Boy on Saturday at 8 p.m. Make Up For Ever is hosting a Lash Lounge party in celebration of Fashion Week Swim at Sephora South Beach on Saturday. Locals and attendees of the week's festivities can create their own custom lashes and receive a makeup trial before going out for the evening.
The W South Beach will be home to several events during the week. Muse Luxury Group is showcasing new collections from designers in the penthouse Friday through Monday. Salon Allure is back Sunday through Tuesday debuting new luxury swim, fiber, and resort items. Shave prep brand Skintimate also returns for the second time with its Ready for Everything program. On Saturday, the brand will launch the first fashion-inspired limited-edition designed cans by Mara Hoffman, held alongside the debut of her 2012 collection.
Nonprofit Style Saves, a new charity founded by Rachael Russell in collaboration with local South Florida retail stores and boutiques, which provides new outfits for children for their first day of school, is hosting its debut event, a fashion show, at the Soho Beach House on Friday. Hors d'oeuvres courtesy of Cecconi's, drinks by Moët & Chandon Imperial Ice, and music by Ess & Emm will be provided.
CORRECTION: This story has been updated to correct that the provider of massages was the Spa Luxury Group and Jennifer Cohen taught the "No Gym Required" class at the Muscle Milk Fitness Retreat.
