September 6, 2007

Flickering multicolored lights and Gwen Stefani’s “Wind It Up” opened Gottex’s spring 2008 swimwear collection and established the flashy ambience of the show. Gottex’s designers, Lea and Armin Gottelieb, are known to be innovators in the swimsuit field, skewing more artistic than practical. Many of Gottex’s swim suits are a departure from the ubiquitous string bikinis seen on most beaches. The suits are better-equipped for a euro-trash club than a dip in the Mediterranean. After all, funnel necks and sequins do not hold up well in salt water. The collection featured a myriad of themes, including black and yellow bumblebee color blocks, blue and brown geometric swirls, floral illustrations, and screen-printed peacock capes. Though swimwear can typically be worn across seasons, the Goettliebs are not ones to lag in trends. They incorporated the fall 2007 PVC trend in arm warmers and ostentatious headwear came in the form of floral headbands and neon wire caps. The distinguishing mark of this collection was the use of movement.  Many models had chiffon capes flowing from their shoulders, a touch of subtle femininity juxtaposed with the overt sexuality beachwear. Gottex’s innovative theatrics are certainly not for the faint of heart.