Are you escaping to warmer weather and tropical sunsets on a romantic trip of two to enjoy this year’s valentines day? Or perhaps you’re joining a “let’s celebrate we’re single” weekend trip with a group of your closest girlfriends. Either way, you deserve something new and appropriate for this special month. Forget that lingerie this year and opt for a sexy new swimsuit, that way you’re able to show it off.

The hottest trend this year is red swimsuits. Choosing a red colored swimsuit is an easy way to take a simple silhouette and make it sexy. And this red hue looks great on any skintone. Be sure to checkout our Red Swimsuit webisode to hear more about why Red Swimsuits are Hot.

If you’re looking for something uniquely sexy in red, try the Riviera Red Monokini by OndadeMar Swimwear. This monokini is simply yet elegant and stunning in red. Dainty gold hardware details adorn this suit for a sophisticated look. The top provides padding and creates optimal cleavage.

Cover-up with the Ruby Shores Dress by Sabz for your entire day and night. This solid look is perfect for your day at the beach, your afternoon shopping and your evening at happy hour. This dress features a flattering scoop neck and a drawstring waist. Adjustable ties at the shoulders allow you to make the look your own.

Be sure to shop all of the red swimwear for your valentine’s escape, or simply as a gift to treat yourself this season.

Nothing says the Holidays like a little bit of sparkle! This sexy style by Beach Bunny Swimwear is appropriately named Gold Dust Monokini (1.) and is the perfect colors to celebrate any holiday this year. Sequins and beading bring this swimsuit to a whole new level. Pair it with the Beach to Night Mesh Dress (2.) by Orchid Label for a comfortable, but still sexy, look on the beach. Add some heels and this dress is ready for any cocktail party.

Carry the Audrey Beach Bag (5.) by OndadeMar for a chic palm leaf style that’s big enough to tote your belongings to the beach. Top it all off with the Golden Fans (4.) necklace by Lolindo and the Turtle Hoops (3.) earrings by Artisan Jewelry. Wear these pieces as you lounge by the pool, store in your OndadeMar bag, and don’t forget to keep them on for your night out on the town.

Milla Jovovich in OndadeMar Swimwear

Stunning Resident Evil actress Milla Jovovich was spotted vacationing in her normal high-fashion style. Celebrating her second wedding anniversary, Milla and her husband Paul W.S. Anderson, a film producer, jetted off to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. The couple stayed at the ritzy Las Ventanas Resort and enjoyed much of their time by the pool sipping champagne! Milla’s resort attire featured a classic white bikini topped with a beautifully printed cover-up by OndadeMar Swimwear.

Beach Cover-ups are truly the finishing piece to a vacation ensemble. If you must cover your fabulous swimsuit, make sure you do it in style – no white tee’s please! Cover-ups allow you to bring your bikini straight to the bar and have become more than your typical cotton dress. Swimwear designers have incorporated detailing into their cover-ups and have innovated with distinctly new designs. Add a pair of heels and grab your clutch – you’re ready for a night out!

Milla’s chic resort cover-up is designed by one of our favorite designers – OndadeMar Swimwear. A luxury beachwear company, OndadeMar was founded 10 years ago in Colombia, South America. Priding themselves on resort lifestyle products, OndadeMar designs their collections with a subtle Latin flair, enhancing a woman’s natural beauty. OndadeMar’s luxurious style has been features on the pages of Vogue, Elle, Marie Claire, Harper’s Bazaar, and Sports Illustrated.

If you are jet setting to Cabo San Lucas like Milla, or even if you’re staying home and laying pool-side for a great tan, we recommend the Bamboo Waves Bikini by OndadeMar Swimwear. This bikini features the same lavish print as Milla’s Cabo cover-up. The popular bandeau top provides padding and ties at the back. This suit also features unique gold hardware detail in the center which can be worn upwards or downwards.

If you’re adding another accessory to your look, let’s make sure it’s stylish – no reusable grocery bags please! Instead, try a chic beach bag from OndadeMar Swimwear. We love the boho style Brooke Beach Bags from Ondademar. Available in two colors, black or cream, this bag will compliment any swimsuit. The crochet style is our favorite for a relaxed day at the beach or a dazzling night at a pool party.

What about your solid black or white swimsuits? While these styles are flattering for your figure, jazz them up with your accessories while you’re out of the water! Pair them with the Victoria Beach Bag, available in hot pink, trendy turquoise, or cool cream, to perk up your summer style. These fun beach bags shimmer in the sun with reflective circle detailing.

When enjoying a day by the pool, remember to pack the essentials – that includes some juicy reading material – and make sure you carry everything in a chic beach bag too.

This season we feel you shouldn’t leave the black and white dress for a nighttime affair. Why not pair them up while lounging by the pool or playing in the sand? Here at The Orchid Boutique we have plenty of designer swimwear styles for those like that of Katy Perry.

Silk Butterfly Bandeau by OndadeMar

Take for example Silk Butterfly One-Piece by OndadeMar Swimwear. This one piece has a modest full coverage front, with a sexy open back. It’s black and white with a splash of color. With the one-piece comes a removable halter band and ties at the back. OndaDeMar’s Silk Butterfly collection also comes as a two-piece bandeau and a triangle string bikini. If you’re looking for a full black and white bikini without the color pop why not try OndaDeMar’s Black Lotus collection. This collection has a perfect white paisley print. The Black Lotus Underwire is a perfect choice, especially if you want that oomph on top. This style provides an underwire swimsuit top with soft molded cups that ties at the neck and clasps at the back. The bottom provides a moderate coverage at the rear. This bikini will definitely make you feel sexy and confident.

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Deal of the week: Receive a free beach bandana enclosed in your package with the purchase of any OndadeMar product, including the one above. Get ‘em while they last!

Kenza Fourati in the hand painted 'Masterful Impact' by Maaji Swimwear

Apart from the hot styles we shared with you earlier, there other sizzling styles featured in this year’s 2011 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition that we are recommending. Apart from some exotic locations mentioned in previously, the SI editors decided to make body paint doubles of select luxury swimsuit styles. Among them is the fabulous Masterful Impact by Maaji Swimwear. Word has it the airbrushing artists worked on ‘mastering’ the print for hours and with the diversity in colors and patterns of this style, seems like they had quite a challenge ahead of them! However, the end product was flawless and model Kenza Fourati proclaimed in an SI video the artists were her ‘heros’. We’re sure she loved it!

Cleopatra Bikini by L*Space Swimwear

The other style that made waves (literally) in the spread was the Cleopatra Coral by L*Space Swimwear. This sophisticated but simple ensemble spruces up the look with gold hardware that slides up or down the straps as per  your preference. With the coral color being the “it” tone for Spring, this bikini was right on trend. We love the contrast of the hot salmon with the green palm trees.

Damaris Lewis in OndadeMar

Damaris Lewis in Betsey Johnson

Speaking of tropical looks, the Larwi Leaves bikini by OndadeMar also made its mark this year, modeled by [model name]. Shot in a hotel in the Philippines, this model shows us the meaning of dancing around in joy. She also featured a Betsey Johnson Swimwear style aptly named Rose Parade Hands One Piece. This one-piece swimsuit features a black gloves applique on mid torso and even showcases a rhinestone ring on one of the fingers! Truly whimsical and a staple of Betsey’s style.

Tides Embroidery by Vix Swimwear

Vix Swimwear had several styles features in the shoot, among others the Tides Embroidery suit. With its clear sequins and string bikini bottom, this number is recommended for women of all sizes. The adjustable triangle swimsuit top features removable padding for shape and support and allows you to adjust your cleavage area as you please. We love the shiny quality of the suit and gawk at how it shimmers in the sunlight.

Pina Bikini by Salinas Swimwear. Model: Brooklyn Decker

A pop of color was certainly a feature when it comes to the bikinis featured, and the Salinas Swimwear 2011 style in the ‘Pina’ storyline certainly made the cut. With little pineapples featured in the print, the Pina coral bikini exudes an allure of fun and summery flair. If you’re into hipster bottoms, consider the Island Queen bikini by OndadeMar Swimwear. This bottom features thicker straps on the sides and low waisted fit.

Finally, we go gaga for the the Sunset Triangle by Paradizia Swimwear. With its strong fucshia and earthy tones, this bikini makes every skin tone shine. The thing about Paradizia Swimsuits is that their so effortlessly sexy. And just like its counterpart, the Adventure bikini by Paradizia goes oozes sensuality. A banded bottom with embroidered sequins makes the perfect setting for pinup style.

Selena Gomez, Kim Kardashian & Miranda Lambert

The red carpet fashion at last night’s 2011 Grammy Awards did not disappoint! From Lady Gaga’s egg-shaped contraption, J. Lo’s spikey Louboutins, and Katy Perry’s freaky angel wings, we were smiling and sometimes laughing at the crazy garments celebrities chose for the Grammys. One trend in particular stood out in the fashion dept which we predict will be very strong for 2011: gold. Some good examples of celebs who wore this trend flawlessly are Selena Gomez, Kim Kardashian, and Grammy winner Miranda Lambert (other notable mentions include our client Leann Rimes, and Nicole Kidman).

For swim: try the Gypsy Gold Bikini by OndadeMar

Derived from the previously hot ‘nude’ trend, gold is back with all its shimmery glam and we are extremely enthused about it! Just like on red carpet dresses, gold works perfectly (if done well) with designer swimwear. An we’re not talking tacky plasticky gold fabric, but fine, delicate shimery gold with a soft inner lining. Case in point: the Gypsy Gold ruffle by OndadeMar Swimwear.

This sizzling established brand meshes the sophisitication of ruffles with the chicness of gold fabric in a bandeau swimsuit. The Gypsy Gold is also available in black. The signature ruffles in this suit gives an earthy flowy feeling, and the hipster swimsuit bottom finishes off the look with bohemian simplicity.

A good thing to know about this suit is that the ruffles stop at the hipline and the rear features the solid hipster with ease and comfort.

Take it from us red carpet gals, if you’re hitting the beach or pool, bring along your chic style with a gold bikini!

Mary-Kate Olsen, Michelle Trachtenberg, & Khloe Kardashian

We’ve written several posts about the primal beauty of animal prints, and it continues to attract trendsetters in droves. The autumn collection of designers like Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, and Moschino graced the catwalks with this trend, and in designer swimwear, animal prints are seldom an overdone concept.

This year we’re seeing a lot of leopard print swimsuits that go with the ‘call of the wild’, which apparently Mary-Kate Olsen, Michelle Trachtenberg, and Khloe Kardashian also heard. From Nanette Lepore Swimwear to OndadeMar, this sassy animal style is becoming a favorite trend.

Wild Animal One Piece by Sabz Luxury

A style that we particularly love is the Wild Animal One-Piece by Sabz Luxury Swimwear. This sexy plunging neckline (with padded halter tops) brings the primal appeal to another level. We love the embellishment at bust and low back.

This storyline also features a bandeau swimsuit and a triangle two-piece swimsuit, the Twisted Bandeau and Wild Animal Bikini. With a particular inclination for leopard bikinis, we think Michelle (aka Georgina in Gossip Girl) would look lovely in the triangle top. We’d style Khloe in the one-piece and Mary-Kate as well, until she gained enough wait to look healthy in a bikini. We follow your style girl but come on! A couple of pounds would do you good.

Wild Animal Bikini and Bandeau by Sabz Luxury

Halle Berry

It’s no secret that Halle Berry has a smokin’ body and is one of the hottest celebs to step out in a designer bikini. She’s got incredible curves and the confidence to pull off any itsy bitsy suit she wants. The fact that she’s also over 40 and a mom but still looks better than most 20-somethings on the beach, is just the icing on the cake.

But just because she’s been blessed by the genetic gods, doesn’t mean Halle never has trouble finding the right swimsuit. Part of Halle’s hot physique is her ample -ahem- decolletage and it’s not always easy to find tops that fit well on a larger chest. Luckily this Oscar-winning actress knows the secret: Halter swimsuit tops.

Silk Butterfly Halter by OndadeMar

Halter swimsuits, like the Silk Butterfly Halter by OndadeMar Swimwear, are the perfect solution for someone with a large bust. These tops tend to run larger than your average triangle top or even bandeau swimsuit, and provide more room and support-not to mention great cleavage (just look at Halle’s sexy curves in that suit).

Halle definitely chose well with a halter style top that gives her support without looking too covered or boring. To get this look, shop all halter styles here. Or view more from OndadeMar’s Silk Butterfly collection here.

Check out the picks below for some good old behind-the-scenes fun:

(Look out for the final pics and new products in the upcoming weeks.)

Our excitement for the new 2011 swimwear photo shoot for TheOrchidBoutique.com has only increased in the last couple of days, mainly due to its huge success. We cannot wait to debut the unbelievable shots we got, thanks to our incredible models, photographer, stylists, make-up artist and staff.

So to feed the frenzy and anxiousness, we are releasing behind the scenes shots of the photo shoot where you can see exactly what went on at the shoot and understand why we are jumping out of our chairs out of anticipation.

With trendy new styles from designers like Nanette Lepore, Betsey Johnson Swimwear, Sofia by Vix, Agua Bendita, Despi, OndadeMar, and Maui, our photo shoot became that much more glamorous.

View more behind-the-scenes pics on our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/TheOrchidBoutique.