Suits for the smart aleck

MANILA, Philippines - It ain’t over till the zaftig lady (in the unflattering tankini) sings.

Summer is easily split into two parts: insane heat and humidity, followed by insane rain and humidity. The only problem is thinking that summer ends when the rain begins.

For any girl who grew up on Laura Ingalls Wilder, the change in temperature only means more fun (though not necessarily under a bright sun).

Poolside, the parties get a bit more eclectic when the trips to Boracay taper off. The skimpy bikinis get shunted off to the side in favor of more intelligible fare. In the case of designers with a penchant for print: it all gets a little heterogeneous from here.

Rachel Comer’s clever trompe l’oeil cableknit swimsuit owes Prada a nod, looking like the Milan label’s progeny after decamping to Brooklyn.

Suno, Alexander Wang and Zero Maria Cornejo offer erudite takes on the suit, in moody prints and impressionist florals.

The key is to find suits more suited to a librarian, for those whose Achilles heel is the teeny bikini. One-piece suits or bikinis in more modest cuts in fun florals, kicky ’50s-inspired looks taken straight out of a Liz Taylor memorabilia fan site, and tiled patterns enter a new era of swimwear: one that’s not afraid to swim in more cerebral matter.