The latest style waves in swim and resort wear hit South Beach runways last weekend during the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Miami Swim shows at the Raleigh hotel.

Swimwear of all shapes and sizes, from the bare minimum bikini to floor-length gown-style cover-ups, were featured at the 15 shows staged over five days.

Taking their cues from the ready-to-wear world, swim lines for the 2009 cruise season are deep into prints and rich, often quite electric, colors.

Basic black suits are shown, but the overwhelming message from the international array of swim designers who showed their collections, several for the first time, is not about dressing for the pool or beach in a dark or dour fashion.

So, it's time to consider acquiring a new suit with a little pattern or patchwork, maybe something striped or dotted, an animal or a tropical floral print, with a trim of ruffles perhaps or a bit of shimmer and shine.

Notable, too, is a couture-influenced vibe running through several collections, something that might be called "Coco" beach style.

Several of the bathing beauties on the catwalk were dressed in a way that echoed classic looks ever associated with Paris design legend Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel.