Mara Hoffman Resort 2014 at Swim Week in Miami Beach

Every year, Miami’s famous art deco architecture, white beaches and neon lights act as a perfect backdrop for one of the sexiest events of the year, Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim.  South Beach may not be the hub of couture, or class for that matter, and when it comes to Miami Swim Week we almost always know what we’re going to get.  Unlike most other fashion weeks, it’s not about the clothes but the lack thereof, and a good even tan is crucially one’s most vital accessory. 

Inspired by nature, fantasy and indigenous folk art, Mara Hoffman was perhaps the most anticipated show of the week.  While many of her fellow designers reinvent themselves in a struggle to find their signature look, Hoffman offers a refreshing consistency that keeps us coming back for more each season.  She may be best known for her bohemian silhouettes and colourful geometrics, but don’t write Hoffman off as a one-trick pony.  She simply sticks to what she knows with a “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” mentality.  She recently released a set of trendy phone covers and having been appointed “Mercedes-Benz Presents” designer, designed a convertible car covered in one of her bespoke prints that was featured throughout Miami. 

For her 2014 Resort Collection, Mara Hoffman illustrated her expertise in colourful tribal prints and delivered a vibrant assortment that feels strangely familiar but fresh at the same time.  The collection is influenced by mythology from India through motifs that conceptualise a spiritual consciousness. 

Laser-cut fabrics decorated in elephants and serpents supported the South-Asian theme, while a third eye imprinted on each of the model’s foreheads emphasised a shamanistic influence.  As usual, Hoffman’s bold patterns stole the show and cheerfully carried us through her mental trip of colourful psychedelica.    

Christianna Pugliese 

See the entire Mara Hoffman 2014 Resort Collection here.