Summer is calling.
If you have kids who require care over the summer months, chances are you’ve booked the camps, scheduled the vacation, and maybe even set a daily itinerary.
Now for the fun (or not so fun, depending on your view) of checking in with your swimsuit collection to see if it’s up to summer snuff this year. Bathing suits tend to go one of two ways. There’s the functional aspect for your activity level, versus the more playful, vacation-ready, escapist mode. Let’s run through some upcoming swimwear trends for the summer for potential updates to your options.
Looking at the functional aspect of swimsuits depends on your activities. Water skiing, tubing, kayaking, and daily swims should all be considered when assessing if your swimwear is durable and comfortable. Luckily, trends like sporty nostalgic styles, thicker straps, and athletic femininity speak to functional needs this upcoming season. As sportswear athletics leans towards more coverage than you find in board shorts, tankinis, and mismatched tops and bottoms. So, if your summer plans are heavy on watersports, then I’d recommend the comfort and quality of a board short, like Lands’ End’s SunShade UPF 50+ Board Shorts with Panty. These shorts offer sun protection in a water-repellent finish for fast dry and come with pockets. Pair them with a supportive bikini top or rashguard for a beach vacay or weekend at the lake.
Speaking of rashguards, they are no longer just for surfers. Many sportswear brands offer rashguards that are as stylish as they are protective. Dick’s Sporting Goods features the Calia Women’s Swim Zip Rashguard in standard shades like pink, red, and black, as well as fun patterns such as tropical floral and stripes. This top also has UPF 50+ to shield your skin from harmful UV rays and easily pairs with their Mid Rise Swim Bottoms. And as you pair up separate pieces, consider mixing prints and colors. I’d take the striped rashguard in black and white and contrast it with a polka-dotted bottom in the same colors.
Another fun trend in line with mixing and matching is family-matched swimwear. Livy and Kate Clothing has swim collections featuring tops, bottoms, and one pieces for adults and kids in coordinated colors and prints. You can get matching trunks as well as two and one-piece suits for the whole family in quality fabric. Old Navy also has family matching swimsuits. Their American Summer collection can deck out the kiddos, including babies, in stars and stripes this 4th of July, while grownups can get solid-colored pieces in coordinating red and blue.
The idea of mixing and matching brings up the age-old conundrum: to bikini or not to bikini? Personally, I’m hands down not, at least not a true bikini that ties and exposes the belly button. I am hands up for a two-piece bathing suit like the Scoop tankini from Athleta, paired with the matching swim bottom or swim short. If you are in the market for a bikini, look to J.Crew and their Lana bikini tops and bottoms in classic sculpt for maximum support.
Speaking of support, I recently discovered Shapellx, a size-inclusive brand offering shapewear, activewear, and swimwear. Their Smart Sculpt technology features inner power mesh for smoothing and an elastic rubber band underbust for chest support in their one-pieces. I’m drawn to their Plunge Cutout Swimsuit in red, black, or yellow for its mix of flattering silhouette as well as functional wearability. Swimsuits For All is another brand with supportive and sculpting swimwear. Their Chlorine Resistant Spliced Tank One Piece has a power mesh shelf bra and is fully lined with power mesh tummy-control lining. Plus, as the name suggests, it is made for days in the pool, and the fabric provides UPF 50 UV protection.
We’ve talked a lot about functionality, now let’s turn briefly to suits for the sake of style. This season is seeing fashion suits with embellishments as well as subtle details. Shell jewelry is nothing new to summer, but it has seemed to be hitting a new peak. You can see this effect in bathing suits like Target brand Shade & Shore’s Shell Print Anchor Charme One Piece with its nautical-inspired print. Or take LSPACE x Anthropologie’s Sunrise Shell Bikini Top with cups cut in a shell shape. Or simply wear your standard one-piece with some seashell-inspired jewelry and a sunhat to have a mocktail by the pool.
Lastly, coverups. In summers past, you may have thrown on an oversized tee and denim cutoffs over your bathing suit. This year, what’s trending in the cover-up department are sheer, sophisticated pieces. Soma’s Caftan Cover-Up (currently on sale as of this writing) features embroidered details and a one-size-fits-most silhouette for an elegant poolside style. For a more tropical resort look, there’s Loft’s Beach Palm Mesh Maxi Swimsuit Coverup, rendered in a light cotton blend mesh and tasseled split neck line. For an alternative take to sheer, there’s Lands’ End’s Open Knit Cover-up Dress, which has an airy crocheted, easy-fit mini dress for a preppy, sporty take on swimsuit style. Or source a sheer caftan from a thrift shop to bring a bit of elegance to your beachwear look.
