The scene: Anyone who has passed through San Diego’s Mission Beach and Pacific Beach neighborhoods knows that bikinis can be a summer uniform of California’s second-largest city. It seemed only natural for the city to have a fashion week devoted to swimwear, thought San Diego fashion maven Michael Lee, co-owner of salon and boutique A Style Concierge.

He planned the week around fashion shows, parties and meet-and-greets with designers of swimwear labels from California and beyond. Participating labels were Eco Panda, Niksters, Fables by Barrie, ABBL, American Apparel, Playboy, Phax, Cosabella, Sauipe and Sinful.

San Diego designer Francisco Medavoy debuted his first bikini line at the event. It’s called Bikini Couture by Francisco Medavog.

Parties were held in fabulous downtown San Diego hotels and nightclubs such as Sè San Diego, Stingaree, the Ivy Hotel, the W San Diego hotel and the Hard Rock Hotel.

A representative for Bikini Week San Diego said 5,000 people attended the events. Many paid $25 for tickets for single events in the week. The event’s organizers intend to produce a BikiniWeek San Diego in 2010.—Andrew Asch

Photography by Tom Yip Photography