Excuse me while I dive in! Swimwear is an extension of ready to wear fashion that has historically lagged. A swimsuit often reflects the desired silhouette of the time but, other than that bathing suits have seen little designer attention. As of three or four seasons ago, runway and retail alike have been suggesting a whole swim ensemble that mimics the styling of your everyday favorites. The days of merely choosing stripes, solids, or polka dots, and being concerned over funky tan lines have gone out with the tide.
Whitney Wisdom Blog presents the exclusive preview to 2020’s hottest summertime trends. And to those who are already chillin’ somewhere in a bathing suit...we hate you.
*All photos are taken from online retail sites and were not shot by me. I take zero credit for the production of any image below. Each image is hyperlinked so click away and happy shopping!*
Best Print: The ocean isn’t the only thing roaring on your beach trip! Animal prints had a super important fall season, with cheetahs and leopards reigning queen. There are plenty of pale pink and chocolate brown cheetah bikinis out there but, as someone who tries to not buy more than one new bathing suit a year, best believe I am going to make sure I am ahead of trend this year and on trend next. And the next “it” animal print is tiger. A spot-free animal print is clever for swimsuits because there is no risk of dots in awkward places. Tiger’s stripes hug a figure perfectly without any seaming issues. Accessorize with gold chains and anything slightly luxurious i.e. your bag.
The reason tiger print is emerging faster in the swim world than giraffe, fish scales, and zebra stripes is because of its color. Orange is bright and is known to combine energy and a splash of happiness; aka a summer vibe. This electric print is best broken into two pieces with a modest square neckline.
Cover-up With: Dresses and boho flared pants in literal fisherman’s net material keep you covered up for your snack bar break while, still allowing your stunning new suit to peak through. A tan sturdy string overcoat looks especially alluring with a jungle print underneath.
Best New Detail: Belted. The purpose of said belt, on a swimsuit? Absolutely zero functionality, and a 100 style points. The so-called “belt” does not even have to cover your full circumference. A one piece suit with a self-tie belt just above the waist takes your go-to going out leotard and morphs it to fun pants with a sash. What is even cooler is how one piece, one bathing suit nonetheless, can accomplish the look of a carefully crafted outfit.
Okay so what kind of belt because I definitely don’t want to be out in the sun with a metal buckle on my waist? As mentioned above, a self-tie is a good white-belt suit. Nothing too wild here - the belt is made of the same material as the strings to create the halter neckline. Since swimsuits are made primarily from nylon/spandex/lycra, the belt will not actually have any “cinching power.” Opt for your regular size. A plastic ring belt that allows fabric to slide through and rest in loops feels feminine and retro. The mod power of the 1960s lives another day.
Cover-up With: Add a waist-down wrap or sarong to give the belt on your bathing suit purpose. This also creates a leotard + maxi skirt vibe that can be worn past sunset.
Best Color Story: Enter Sandman, Metallica is next on the stage! Gold, silver, bronze, copper, they are all part of this star-studded lineup. Metallics can be worn wildly in the waters because 1. You can be seen for miles. (If there’s a riptide coming your way, the lifeguard will still see ya halfway down the beach.) 2. Metallics give skin a natural glow (why we frequently use those shades for make-up) and make you look tanner.
A silver one piece drips head-to-toe expensive. A cool shade with a shiny metallic finish like royal blue or Barbie pink can be fun but be warned: can also look cheap...hello, Walmart. Personally, I gravitate towards a conjoining gold and silver. For swimwear I go bolder in terms of color and print that I would for say, a dress that covers more surface area. Left side gold and right side silver or some reconfiguration of a checkerboard are contemporary ways to colorblock. A bronze two piece can blend into (for me, late August) skin creating a kind of naked suit that gets all eyes. I pair with a headband to lockdown wispy hairs and prepare for a day of adventure...and by adventure I mean rooftop cocktails.
Cover-up With: To relax your bright shiny ensemble, toss on an oversized worn tee shirt from an old event...even that one you painted the house in might be cool. Or go for knee length basketball shorts. If you wear both the baggy tee and shorts, be prepared for some Billie Ellish comments. Worn and comfortable is to 2020 as flirty and free is to 1920.
With these 2020 trends in mind, pick the best shaped suit for your body. I won’t buy anything that will make me Janet Jackson instead of Natalie Coughlin. The days of cooler packing and flip-flop wearing are on the horizon!
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