Despite the chilly spring, we haven’t lost all hope for warm weather and are determined to meet the swimming season armed and ready. Many of us will not limit ourselves to Moscow’s beaches, but will set off to the warm seas of Tunisia, Egypt or Barbados. Either way, swimwear is now in demand in Moscow’s boutiques.

Wild Orchid’s seven boutiques offer bold, sexy and liberated styles. The available collections from famous designers, including Alberta Ferretti and Nina Ricci, contain an underlying theme –seduction.

One of the most original swimwear lines from popular label Argentovivo has a futuristic appeal with gigantic chrysanthemums printed against a background of smooth colored stripes and tiny detailed cashmere embroidery. The line is available in three color combinations: a violet flower on a green background; pink flower on a blue background; and yellow flower on a dark-red background. Seashells are used as additional decoration hanging loosely on plain laces. Tops feature Argentovivo’s trademark "wavy bone" support system that gives shape and fullness to the bust. What more could a woman want for summer?

Roberto Cavalli’s collection draws on ethnic prints and styles. He uses traditional Mexican ornaments and, of course, the label’s distinctive imitation python skin fabrics. The collection’s other theme is the jungle: snakes, zebras, leopards and giraffes. Special illusory effects are created by using unusual scales in the patterns: The plants are larger than the animals.

After a five-year hiatus, Italian fashion house Valentino has finally brought its swimwear collection to Russia. It’s made in the label’s traditional style, which has long since become classical. It features an elegant combination of black and white horizontal stripes and red vertical stripes. The collection includes both men’s and women’s lines. The label’s "V" logo is accentuated in both v-shaped cuts and the letter "V" inscribed inside the circular gilded buckles and clasps.

The collection of popular Italian designer Gianfranco Ferre accentuates the label’s beloved black color, valued for its elegance and its slimming effect. The collection’s other special feature is the use of gigantic lotus flower patterns. I must say, this season lotuses are found on almost everything. If the trend persists, I’ll soon find myself thoroughly fed up with what are otherwise perfectly nice flowers! The collection’s men’s line features rectangular-shaped bright-yellow embroidery with the "GFF" logo printed inside.

The highlight of the Spanish Andres Sarda collection is its beadwork tops. They are reminiscent of ancient chain armor, and can be worn both on a naked body and over a regular swimsuit. The beads shimmer in the sun creating a dancing world of sparkles. The collection also features black swimsuits decorated with gilded coins.

Christies offers a very beautiful collection, particularly attractive for its elegant cuts that accentuate the lines of the body as well as for its original embroidery. Rose, blue and sand-yellow are the dominant colors.

Manuel Canovas offers a universal style for men, women and children this season. And why not? It is really cute to have matching mother-daughter swimwear! Once again, lotuses are part of the pattern, but they are teamed with large green leaves on a yellow background creating the leisurely feeling that comes with vacationing on a warm seacoast.

As for my other thoughts, I would like to tell you about the enormously sexy men’s black and white striped trunks with an elastic waistband that I ran across in one of the Valentino boutiques downtown. These trunks would look fantastic together with one of their loosely tailored black semi-transparent cotton shirts. A guy in that outfit would look sexy as hell!

If you are on a low budget but still want to look stylish and foxy, the place to go is the Austrian store Palmers where you can find both men’s and women’s items at reasonable prices. The only drawback is that the variety of colors is limited.

LOCATIONS:

Wild Orchid chain of boutiques

Information service call center: 755-5353

25 Nikolskaya Ul., shopping center Nautilus Metro: Lubyanka

1 Manezh Square, shopping center Okhotny Ryad Metro: Okhotny Ryad

3-5 Smolenskaya Ploshchad, shopping center Smolensky Passazh Metro: Smolenskaya

21/5 Kuznetsky Most Metro: Kuznetsky Most

16 Tverskaya Ul., Aktyor Gallery Metro: Tverskaya 5/5 Petrovka Ul., Berlin House

Metro: Okhotny Ryad

33 Zemlyanoi Val Ul., Atrium Metro: Kurskaya

Valentino

20 Kuznetsky Most Ul.

Metro: Kuznetsky Most

Tel: 923-7888

Palmers

16/2 Tverskaya Ul., Aktyor Gallery

Metro: Pushkinskaya

Tel: 935-7783