L*Space has recently released photos of their new 2010 Preview Collection and swimwear designer Monica Wise introduced a few interesting prints and hardware for this collection. In terms of color, muted blue and coral now make appearances, while the popular Limon (acid green) is back. The patterns draw inspiration in multi-colored themes such as lava lamps and tribal prints. Another popular style is back, the Coco Halter (the one with a posh chain), this time in glamorous white.

For The Splash's last post of the year, we are bringing our fashionable readers a review of what made the designer swimwear industry tick in 2009 - the brands, the trends and the technological breakthroughs that stood out this year - so read on and start 2010 being hip to the latest swimwear tendencies!

With L*Space's 2010 Spring collection out now for a few days, we had enough time to cast our final votes on our favorite swimsuits - which you can see below. There are a lot of stunning chain accent details, bold geometric prints, vibrant shades and some very sexy back numbers in Monica Wise's new collection. We love this set, all pieces are modern, sexy and chic. And did we say eco-friendly? The brand is launching an entire line, "Slinky", with swimwear that is made from Sarona fiber, a naturally occurring starch in corn kernels, as well as adopting production processes that reduce harmful emissions to the environment. Now, that's a beautiful thing!

More and more we see high fashion swimwear designers contributing to charitable institutions - a move we definitely applaud! From donating a portion of sales from a specific suit to creating an entire line for charity purposes, these are some of the designers and their chosen institutions. So, next time you spend a little more on designer swimsuits, know that it is also for a good cause! And what other excuse does a girl need to being chic with a conscience?