thePULSEBy Stacia Kindler
With longer, brighter days upon us, poolside and beach-bum dreams are now a reality ~ causing the frantic hunt for the perfect bathing suit among women everywhere. Don’t panic! Thankfully, this season is packed with a variety of swimwear for every shape and size. So whether you’re headed for the Bahamas or just to your local waterfront, there are plenty of swimwear trends to live easy in this steamy season.
Surprisingly, one-piece bathing suits are coming on strong this season, making multiple statements in a plethora of playfully unexpected ways. For starters, skintight, bustier-bearing, ’50s-inspired one-pieces are bringing a new name to midday modesty with alluring retro-inspired cuts and prints that are sure to flatter any style-conscious beach bum. Look for a well-constructed piece with an eye to floral- or nautical-themed prints to further your not-so-precious pinup look.
Perhaps the boldest statement in one-piece bathing suits hitting the stores in all the right places are the suits featuring striking graphic prints, widening our eyes with all sorts of almost-real life images of grizzly wild cats, breathtaking galaxies or seemingly tangible land and cityscapes. Super trendy and pretty damn cool, the most important accessory to pair with a suit like this is foolproof confidence.
High-waist bikini bottoms and cutout swimsuits are balancing the line between one- and two-piece swim attire this season, broadening the swimwear spectrum and creating more options than ever for every body type.
Cutout suits have been trending for the past few seasons, but becoming even more dramatic and inventive than we previously thought possible. This season, don’t look for the obvious side cutouts; instead, seek out the waved, zigzagged, strappy and abstract pieces that are vamping up ordinary swimwear trends this summer with edgy creativity and artful construction.
Still have your heart set on a bikini? Stomach-sculpting, high-waist bottoms will give a trendy update to the too-familiar two-piece while immediately rendering any beach-dwelling trendsetter into the retro bombshell everyone is talking about. The super-slimming and ultra-feminine cut is being seen almost everywhere, as the high-waist bikini bottom rises from decades of hibernation into the spotlight once again.
No matter what the biggest new trend in swimwear may be, some more classic beach-goers will always enjoy a basic two-piece. If you’re among those not ready to dive into one of these bold trends, you’ll notice the standard two-piece offers some texture trends to play with this season. Try a crochet-detailed bikini for a relaxed, boho vibe, or try one of the many fringed or ruffled options to create volume and curves in all of the right places.
Whether you’re a bold trendsetter of vintage silhouettes or a modern lover of the classic triangle bikini, clearly there are many options for dressing your sun-hungry figure this upcoming swimsuit season ~ the key lies in choosing which swimwear trend suits you and your summer best.
