Now Trending: In The Swim

Posted by Julia Neel

The truth of the matter is this: swimwear induces anxiety. Fact; the Daily Mail wrote it so it must be true. Buying swimwear is only marginally less soul-destroying than wearing it at the beach/pool because, there, you have your holiday/the sun/an Aperol Spritzer to take the edge off.

So one-piece or bikini? I believe the choice really comes down to your priorities. You want to tan? You wear a bikini. You want to make an impact in the style stakes? Wear a one piece. I mean, everyone has a bikini, right? Nothing new there. But a well-cut one-piece looks fresher somehow; more confident than bikinis.

At Michael Kors, they came belted and with Sam Browne holstery-looking cross straps (for safely storing sunscreen?), but whether in the crispest white, utilitarian khaki or wild animal print, the point was made: with a low-cut front and the right accessories, these bad boys can look very sexy indeed.

So what are the right accessories? Well, you don’t want to look like a fashion editorial (the other tourists won’t get it), so I suggest a few bangles on each arm – removable for tan time – and drop earrings (Stella & Dot’s are the best).

Then there’s the stretch limousine of cossies; the showy boombox of one-pieces; the Miami Beach, St Tropez, centre-stage ‘don’t f*ck with me’ of pool-side looks: the cut-out swimsuit. Some say this particular look is too showy, too attention-grabbing. Whatever. I say, if you’ve got a tightly-rigged ship, why wouldn’t you want to show off the sails?

The girls at Dean and Dan Caten’s DSquared2 show arrived on the beach via a rock’n’roll festival. Take a page out of their styling notebook and wear your one-piece with a scarf tied around your neck and your sunglasses suspended by a ribbon.

If tanning is your priority – and it’s usually mine – then bikinis are your go-to get-wet attire. This season’s scuba trend is a no-brainer translated into swimwear. Lisa Marie Fernandez at Net-a-Porter did it best, with block-coloured pieces featuring chunky wetsuit zip details.

Meanwhile, prints are big news. Look to Mara Hoffman for tribal-inspired ikat patterns or Zimmerman for pretty florals.

And, just to be clear, sarongs are dead. O.V.E.R. Wear at your own risk of fashion shame. This season it’s all about the robe. I’ve said it before, but Athena Procopiou’s silk ones are the best and strike just the right note when worn with a contrasting print.

Failing that, I’ve been known to wear a vintage dressing gown over my bikini. Note: terry towelling bath robes will not work here. Alternatively, the DSquared girls wore plaid shirts with their bikinis – tied at the waist – for a touch of grungy glamour. Too messy? Try a pair of Pucci’s white Bermuda shorts with your bikini – I will. Or follow Chloe Sevigny’s example and cover up with a white shirt dress.

To finish? Retro shades and panama hats are summer’s chicest final touches, and a pair of Havaianas will never let you down.

Shop our pick of summer swimwear here.