Undercolors of Benetton Spring/Summer 2007

Next summer’s underwear and beachwear collection moves in new directions. Not just because of the obvious style changes that distinguish the seasons, but for a decidedly creative guiding principle. Undercolors proposes styles, materials, colours, decorations and atmospheres, but matching the various pieces, colour schemes, the mood of a lingerie set or beach outfit depend entirely on our individual flair and creativity. The collection is divided into four main themes, but each piece is totally individual and can be mixed and matched freely in unusual, untrivial ways, reflecting associations perceived and enhanced by individual taste.

Sweet days. Romanticism with a hint of ironic disenchantment: tiny flowers, pastel colours, broderie anglaise and silk voile slide almost unwittingly towards pop-art flowers and little animals, ethnic seamless, striped cotton. At the end, a hippo, which is almost a cartoon, tells us that a real friend is a real treasure. This theme will fill the whole family’s underwear drawer with sweetness and fun.

Retrò Navy. Sea blue and sailor stripes. White, red and denim in jersey. Not forgetting stripes, romantic little flowers, bows and tiny hearts in harmony with a mischievous cartoon Lulù. Smooth or openwork cotton jacquard. For him, pastel pink or mottled grey briefs or trunks with branded elastic and even with white and blue hibiscus flowers. An underwear theme with digressions into homewear.

Pop & Fun. Double name, double use: underwear and beachwear. Both pop, both fun. Bright colours and bold decoration under our clothes: from polka dots to anemone or tulip photo prints, from a stylised or cartoon mascot hen to a basketball mood. For him, 50s-style trunks in basic colours, diamond pattern or stripes. The game of customised mix ‘n’ match gets hotter down on the beach: bikinis with polka-dots, hearts, flowers or reversible plain colours to match according to personal creativity. Fashionable details – rings, pendants, hearts and interweaving – add amusing touches of individuality. The look of your swim outfit is entirely up to you, but its technology is the fruit of Undercolors research which uses a very high performance, extra-life Lycra.

Military Tribe. Beachwear only, but for the whole family. Bikinis, man-styled Bermuda shorts, crumpled beachwraps, ethereal sarongs, trousers and miniskirts. Showers of hibiscus flowers in camo tones and purple, dark blue and coral. Limitless matching in plain colours and tribal prints. For him, whether he’s a little boy or grown up, Bermuda shorts and shorts display piping, little ships, tiny logos and elastics that make the difference and start a trend.