It takes a lot for me to race to shows being held at Pier #whatever during Fashion Week - fortunately, the Mara Hoffman presentation was held in a pier that was conveniently located near MAC & Milk. For me, Mara Hoffman's prints and easy-going vibe scream "Spring!" to me, more than almost any other designer. This season, designer Mara Hoffman took a more laid back approach, showcasing her designs in a presentation format, complete with live South African music and a mojito bar.

Taking inspiration from her own style, the designer created a "military gone native" theme, enhanced by loose summer knits, signature prints, and ethnic influences. To complete the look, the looks were styled with Osborn shoes, jewelry by Cheek-ie, and sunglasses by Costalots.

Style IT's Spring 2011 New York Fashion Week coverage is proudly sponsored by Torrid:

Mercedes Benz Swim Fashion Week can rarely arouse my curiosity. My general line of thinking is somewhere between "Swimsuits? Huh? Ok..." and a sigh. However, my love for Mara Hoffman's inspired use of prints, colors and textures extends beyond my disinterest in swimwear. If I were the type of person who might have somewhere to partake in aquatic activities, Mara Hoffman is 100% the way I'd go.

The theme and inspiration for the Swim 2011 collection is:

This season, Hoffman’s muse goes on a mystical journey through the jungle, visiting crystal caves, rivers, oceans; a tongue-in-cheek Amazonian tribeswoman in a bikini following her White Horse spirit guide. This translated into a variety of unique silhouettes and eye-catching, bold and colorful prints, including a psychedelic “Batik”, “Mystic” (geometric, with crystal shapes and the All Seeing Eye), “Crystal Collage” (colorful kaleidoscope with dark and light crystals), “Chief” (Native American influence), “Jungle” (African influence) and “Odyssey” (fluid lines, lighter colors).

For the hair, TRESemmé lead stylist Elisa Canedo created a texturized fishtail braid to complement the tribal inspired look. To recreate this look at home, follow these easy steps:

1.  Apply TRESemmé 24 Hour Body Foaming Mousse to damp hair and blow dry. The mousse helps to create a beachy texture at the base.

2.  Curl hair with 1/2” barrel curling iron and pin in place. Set style with TRESemmé Naturals Finishing Spray.

3.  Once curls are cool, take out the clips. Flip hair over and use your fingers to lightly to break up the curls for a beachy texture. Take a styling brush to backcomb, loosening curls even more.

4.  Begin at the nape of the neck and fishtail braid the hair down the back. To create a fishtail braid, start off by sectioning hair into two. Take a skinny strand from the outside of the left side and add to the right side. Take a skinny strand from the right side and add to the left side. Pull tightly and repeat until you reach the end of the braid and secure with a hair tie.

5.  Using a styling brush, brush braid upwards loosening up random bits on the completed braid for a more natural look.

For more of Mara Hoffman's Swim 2011 collection, click through the gallery below.