The beaches of next year may look something like this: Lithe bods in one- and two-piece uniforms dramatically dressed in so many jewels, sequins, stones, ruffles and fringe that swimming will seem beside the point.

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim, staged at the Raleigh Hotel -- and the simultaneous trade show at the nearby Miami Beach Convention Center where the business of bikinis is transacted -- marched into Miami Beach this time last week for the annual swimwear extravaganza that essentially plans what the most stylish (and brave) among us will wear poolside in 2010.

``Miami is such a sexy and exciting environment for this kind of show because swimsuits are sexy and exciting,'' says Amy Smilovic, designer of Tibi, the high-wattage contemporary label that launched its swimwear collection at the shows last year. ``The city has the ability to influence swim design. It's hot and sultry, the perfect backdrop -- and what every swimsuit should be.''

With an ambitious 20 shows and a smattering of satellite events, established and emerging swim labels -- including White Sands Australia, Ed Hardy, Poko Pano, Vitamin A and Miami-based Red Carter -- offered a dizzying patchwork of swimsuits, playful cover-ups and rompers, breezy sundresses and the occasional 'kini that ventured deep into Lingerieland. For better or for worse.

The runways were filled with bikinis that were belted, knotted and buckled together with gold hardware. Some of the one-pieces felt especially bold, with abstract, cut-out and graphic patterns. A few designers went the rock-glam route, kitting out swimsuits with studs and skull designs, even denim-inspired top stitching.

Harem pants, sheer enough to play peek-a-boo, continued their retro return. Gone this year, thankfully for most women, was the once-ubiquitous thong. Designers had already started their retreat last year to more modest bottoms. The biggest exception: Luli Fama, whose skimpy bikinis had heart shapes daringly cut out of the back.

Solid-color Lycra generally fared better than patterned fabrics at the shows. Predictably, variations of tribal patterns and metallics turned up, notably from Aqua di Lara, Mara Hoffman, Luli Fama and the Boheme boutique show. Lava-lamp bikinis by Tibi, an outer-space galaxy wrap by Mara Hoffman and a slew of psychedelic motifs -- along with summer-scarves and beaded necklaces refashioned as headdresses -- brought the Age of Aquarius back, and not always in a good way. Animal prints, especially bold zebra looks by Red Carter and sheer, muted pastels from Aqua di Lara and Marysia Swim showed nicely.

Lots and lots of gold -- presumably to match the hardware on the suits -- adorned necks, wrists and even feet of models on the runway. And Red Carter's mod heart-shaped sunglasses and chunky plastic bracelets brought a bit of theater to his show.

Buyers took it all in, but some wondered if a still uneven economy may affect the market.

``People might buy a little closer to the belt this year because they don't know what the economy is going to do,'' Heather Taylor, owner of A Tropical Affair, a Santa Barbara, Calif.-based boutique and online retailer, said from the front row of the Aqua di Lara show.

Taylor's favorite part of Swim Week? A trunk show of monokinis, bikinis and cover-ups in the Raleigh's penthouse by newcomer Crystal Jin.

``Her designs are just beautiful, very sexy, clean lines,'' she said.

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