Camilla Franks
This season expect to see Australian designers drawing inspiration from the seaside with dresses and kaftans in ocean blues, corals, sands and golds.
Crochet tops, maxi dresses and cheeky jumpsuits are still popular, while swimwear is all about bolds and metallics.
Here's a look at what will be hitting Australian beaches and holiday hotspots over the next few months.
KAFTANS
Camilla Franks is known as Australia's "kaftan queen" and rightly so, with her creations always flamboyant, eye-catching and free-flowing.
Franks, who launched her first kaftan collection in 2004, is still amazed that such a simple concept started the evolution of her brand.
"My label has evolved from beach and resort fashion into ready-to-wear clothes so I can cater for all of my clients," she says.
"Playsuits, reversible coats, camisoles, maxi dresses, drawstring dresses, sequinned mini tanks, leggings, shoes and accessories; they can be worn to work or even to the most elaborate red carpet event."
Helping Franks launch this season's range was Miranda Kerr.
The Australian model opened the David Jones Spring/Summer 2011 show at Sydney's Royal Hall of Industries in a citrus-green sequinned Camilla kaftan.
Kerr, 28, described the range as flirtatious, before adding: "And what I love about her kaftans is that they're quite versatile; you can wear them on the beach and then you can dress them up with a heel to go out at night if you like."
The Camilla 2011/12 Spring Summer Collection features a Bengal tiger and serpent pattern inspired by Greek mythology's maiden Medusa.
It also features plaiting, hand-made charms, embroidery, beading and Swarovski crystals.
"It's all about layering mixed vibrant prints with various silhouettes to achieve a glamorous, yet playful look and relaxed feel," Franks says.
DRESSES AND SKIRTS
Collette Dinnigan has gone with gorgeous tropical palm and hibiscus prints this summer, in a colour palette reflective of islands and ocean.
"The sea blue is very much there, and coral sunset, a lot of oranges and also nudes ... (and) yellows, and that's pretty much it, just the sun and the sea," Dinnigan tells AAP.
The Australian powerhouse unveiled her striking 2011/12 Cruise Collection earlier this year at Hamilton Island's Qualia Resort.
Her pieces feature beaded pineapples and seashells on mini-skirts, while fabrics include hand-worked silk, stretch silk, satin, chiffon and blue lace.
"There's beaded skirts with more loosely fitted silk tops so it's not necessarily all fitted and cocktail; it has a casualness to it in a way," she says.
When it comes to style, the pieces are clean-cut with relaxed silhouettes and structured shoulders.
Another label to look out for is Little Joe Woman, which is offering a mix of sexy minis and flowing dresses in its Love in Exile collection.
There are feminine dresses short in length but long in the arms and such pieces are in black, cream or striped fabrics. Crocheted pieces worn over swimwear has also returned, while other details include hip ties, frills on shoulders and skirts, lace, tassels and bronze jewels.
The flowing, full-length floral dresses are reminiscent of country summers, while there are also sexy camisoles and slips with shoestring straps and lace.
Loosely inspired by the Rolling Stones documentary Exile on Main Street, designer Gail Elliott says the collection has a Mediterranean, bohemian feel.
Fleur Wood, Bettina Liano and Easton Pearson are also offering whimsical floral dresses in yellows, blues and whites.
Sass & Bide are rocking the short dress trend, with model Jennifer Hawkins showing off a yellow silk and chiffon mini dress by the designers at this year's Myer spring/summer launch in Sydney.
SWIMWEAR
This year there are some eye-catching bikinis and one-pieces to help you look your best on the beach.
Cozi by Jennifer Hawkins is a range of triangle bikinis, halters, bandeaux and one-pieces with frills in a fruit salad of colours.
Seafolly is playing it safe with simple black swimwear, featuring wide briefs, while Megan Gale's brand Isola focuses on animal prints.
Jets is going for plenty of panels with belts, high-waisted briefs and plunging collars.
The premiere range by MiskinMartinez (Eve Miskin and Sarah Martinez) impresses; the Jewel Collection features metallic tones in solid emerald, coral, ruby and purple, along with the classic black and silver.
Exotic destinations and the underwater world were the inspirations for the "poppy" colours.
"I love snorkelling, so I see all of these fish with just incredible colours that you would never actually think about mixing colours with..." Miskin says.
It's a back-to-basics collection consisting of streamlined silhouettes and styles including triangles, bandeaux, teeny, string and traditional briefs, a cross-back one-piece and a ruched strapless one-piece.
Miskin says it is important her pieces are functional, as well as sexy.
"The MiskinMartinez, it stays, it doesn't move and it fits all shapes and sizes, which I think is very important in swimwear."
ACCESSORIES
No resort wear is complete without the right, attention-grabbing accessories.
This year, look out for wide-brimmed floppy hats, soft burnished leather handbags and bold head scarves.
For those with a shoe addiction, expect plenty of espadrilles, sky-high platforms and super-tall stilettos, both in neutrals and colours that pop, as well as mesh fabric.
Judy Coomber, Myer group general manager of fashion and accessories, says accessories are the most exciting part of the new season.
Straw bags for the beach are still a hit, while trends to watch are the addition of feathers, sequins and tassles to ensembles.
By Jennifer Ennion
