Swimsuit season is almost here, and with it a parade of colorful, fun and flirty silhouettes for the beach. Don your sunhat and sunglasses and cover up with one of these cute and on-trend ideas for summer bathing suits.
Neon accents – Neon trim adds a wild vibe to swimsuits and can contribute just the right splash of color without making you look like a traffic cone. If you’re body-conscious, consider an all-black swimsuit with a touch of neon on the straps or bustier. This will flatter your curves and modernize your look. For a two-tone trend idea, try a black and white chevron bikini with neon edges. Chevron and neon together = total trendspotted.
Animal print – You may not be a cougar, but you can definitely dress like one at the beach. From graphic one-pieces with animal faces to bikinis and tank suits with leopard, jaguar, and zebra stripes, animal print is shaping up to be one of the summer’s hottest looks. Pair an animal print suit with a basic black or colored sarong to keep the focus on your suit.
Cutouts – Dynamic cutouts add mystery to any bathing suit without overexposing your assets. Look for a one-piece suit with side cutouts to reveal your curves. It’s the perfect compromise between a one piece and a bikini, which makes it ideal for that family vacation where you want to look sexy without revealing everything in front of Grandma. Don’t forget the sunscreen with a cutout suit; you could end up with some super weird tan lines.
Ruffles – Ruffles not only add a feminine touch to a suit, they can strategically add oomph for women lacking in the chest department. They were all over the runway for swimsuit season 2013. Do wear a ruffled suit in a fun color, like yellow or red. A pink ruffled suit can look too girly-girl. For cover ups, stick with denim shorts and steer clear of sarongs or cover ups that have ruffles. You don’t want to overdo it!
Crochet – Crochet bathing suit adds a retro edge to this summer staple. Look for a bikini that features a crochet top or bottom, since a one-piece in crochet may look a bit much. You’ll find lots of crochet in neon and other brights, which definitely updates the design from the 1970. To keep this look modern, pair with super-short denim shorts or sporty sweatshorts. Otherwise, crochet can look too flower child. Definitely test out your crochet suit for coverage before you hit the waves. The knit fabric can shrink up and become more revealing than it looks at first glance.
Bandeaus – The bandeau is in for 2013, as are retro silhouettes and prints. Combine a bandeau with any of these looks or look for a two-piece or a one-piece with a bandeau style top in your favorite color or print. Glamour suggests pairing a bandeau style top with denim shorts and an armload of bangles for a modern look that’s fun and balanced.
With all of these looks, do put on sunscreen and reapply regularly to keep your skin healthy. Bring a cover up and sun hat, and don’t forget the best beach accessory of all: Friends to share some fun in the sun with you.