Bikini Babe: Your Guide To Super Stylish Summer Swimwear

Posted by Styloko

There’s nothing more irritating than taking your brand new bikini on holiday and only being able to wear it once because the elastic’s given way, or finding that your bright pink one-piece has bled all over the white towels - or worse, on the resort’s crisp cloth sunbeds. The lesson we’ve learnt? When it comes to swimwear, it’s worth investing in quality, not quantity.

Sure, a Miu Miu two-piece will knock you back a hundred quid or so, but you can be damn sure the halterneck straps aren’t going to snap and the bottoms won’t sag after a swim in sea. And, unlike your neon lace dress, you cap whip out your swimwear summer after summer without it ever looking so last season; in fact, look after it well (that means handwashing), and a stylish, sturdy bikini can last a lifetime.

But girls, please take note, there are two types of recreational swimwear: ones for posing by the pool in and ones actually made for swimming (we’d all love a glamorous pearl-adorned Chanel number, but it’s just not worth the hassle of looking for that missing bead when it goes AWOL after a quick dip in the infinity pool). So, if you’re planning to get yours wet, we suggest you avoid unnecessary embellishments. And for those who don’t want to splash out on full-on designer, swimwear specialists like Mara Hoffman, Vix and Australia-based Zimmerman provide chic, less bank-breaking options that are on trend, too.

So, whether you’re after a sporty wet suit look à la Peter Pilotto, flirty florals, or techno prints, we can assure you that classy swimwear will always be worth its cash.

Take a look at our Swimwear Scrapbook for our pick of this summer’s faves. See you in the waves!

1. Lisa Marie Fernandez for Peter Pilotto, The Lisa Marie Swimsuit, £355, Net-a-Porter 2. We Are Handsome, Vacation Palm Sunset Print Bikini, £210, Matches 3. Zimmerman, Savannah Floral-print Strapless Swimsuit, £250, Net-a-Porter 4. Yves Saint Laurent, Anchor Cut-Out Swimsuit, £510, Harrods 5. Vix, Paraty Peacock Bikini Bottoms, £98, Matches 6. Vix, Paraty Peacock Bikini Top, £180, Matches 7. French Connection, Grecian Bikini Set, £48, French Connection.