Swimwear makes a splash with runway inspiration

While sandy white beaches are far away from the fashion capitals of Paris and Milan, this year's swimwear trends are very much inspired by what was shown on the catwalks.

Several ready-to-wear designers, including the likes of Versace, have started to incorporate swimwear into their collections, signalling the return of more stylish designs.

"We are now seeing some of the runway trends reinterpreted for swimwear. There are a lot of graphic elements coming into play, including leopard print by Dolce & Gabbana, camouflage-print swimsuits by Beth Richards and floral prints at Zimmermann," says Holli Rogers, fashion director at Net-a-Porter.com

Leading the way is the glamorous one-piece, which has been a strong trend since last year.

Zhu Ru, designer of New York-based swimwear line Estuaries, says there is still a strong demand for minimalist, clean styles and colours compared to the heavily embellished designs of the past.

Rogers recommends that women invest in a timeless, all-black one-piece which can go from poolside to dinner with ease.

And while you can't beat understated elegance, designers have put original touches to create a more contemporary look. Go for subtle details such as colour-blocking and textured fabrics.