8 Ways to Wear Your Swimsuit Out of the Water

Courtesy of Net-a-Porter; Revolve; J. Crew; Topshop

Ah, summer. The only time of year when spending the day clad in your bathing suit is not only possible, but often acceptable.

When it comes to summer fashion, our rule of thumb is: the less complicated the outfit, the better. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun with your look. And making your swimsuits pull double duty is not just a creative challenge, but it’s also an extremely functional way of dressing up (and packing lighter!).

If you’re a fan of the classic one-piece bathing suit, the easiest way to turn it into a post-beach-appropriate outfit is to pair it with a cool denim skirt or shorts. If you’d like to dress it up a little more, opt for a classic wide-leg white linen pant and oversized sunglasses.

And if you’d rather mix-and-match your bikini tops and bottoms, an easy combination would be to choose a top that looks like a crop top and wear it with a pair of beautiful cotton shorts or a bold maxi skirt.

And when it comes to accessories, you have endless options — a cool hat is basically a necessity in the summer. The same goes for a roomy tote and a pretty pair of flat leather sandals.

Now, check out eight easy-breezy ways to style your bathing suit on your next beach vacation.

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Coordinate Your Separates

Swimsuit Style Fashion Chic White Metallic

Courtesy of Intermix; Nordstrom; Zappos, MATCHES Fashion

Show a little skin in this scalloped crop top–style bikini top by Marysia Swim (matchesfashion.com, $175). Wear it with a pair of hand-embroidered Talitha shorts (intermix.com, $440) and a simple pair of slides (zappos.com, $100). And don’t forget to protect your eyes from the sun with Quay Australia’s gilded cat-eye shades (nordstrom.com, $55)

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Go Bold

Courtesy of Net-a-Porter; H&M; Shopbop

If there’s a season when you shouldn’t fear color, it’s summer. Opt for Melissa Odabash’s bright red bikini (net-a-porter.com, $105) and pair it with H&M’s maxi wraparound skirt in orange (hm.com, $35). If you need a tote to keep all your beach essentials, this Mystique pom-pom basket tote (shopbop.com, $198) with vibrant tassels will tie the entire outfit together.

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Keep It Cool

Swimsuit Style Fashion Cool Hipster Millennial

Courtesy of H&M; American Eagle Outfitters; Farfetch; Zappos

H&M’s bandana-inspired balconette bikini top (hm.com, $18) comes with removable straps and will keep you cool beneath a pair of American Eagle Outfitters’ laid-back shorteralls (ae.com, $60). These espadrille-inspired sneakers are the ultimate sporty summer shoes (zappos.com, $88). And to top it all off: a pair of Retrosuperfuture Paloma sunglasses (farfetch.com, $189).

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Red, White, and Denim

Courtesy of Net-a-Porter; Revolve; J. Crew; Topshop

The most patriotic color combination also happens to be the most classic for summer. Wear this red-and-white Solid & Striped one-piece (net-a-porter.com, $170) with a pair of Topshop’s Moto Cory denim shorts (topshop.com, $50) and J.Crew’s lace-up leather sandals (jcrew.com, $88) and you have yourself the most comfortable and easy-to-pull-off outfit. To dress it up a bit, just add earrings (revolve.com, $395)

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Black and White

Courtesy of Net-a-Porter; Madewell

Sometimes, a classic color combination is all it takes to elevate an outfit. This halter-neck Eres one-piece (net-a-porter.com, $425) would look so chic paired with another summer staple: a wide-leg linen pant (net-a-porter.com, $165) and black mule slides (madewell.com, $148). Don’t forget your Rag & Bone straw Panama hat, too (net-a-porter.com, $230).

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Patterns, Meet Neutrals

Swimsuit Style Fashion Patterns Bold Stripes Colors

Courtesy of Topshop; Net-a-Porter; Baublebar; MATCHES Fashion

We love this fun Stella McCartney swimsuit (net-a-porter.com, $245), but sometimes it can be difficult to style a bold print. While going for another print is an option, it’s a risky one, because you may end up with a busy and disconnected look. Instead, opt for a neutral skirt like this paper bag–style one from Topshop (topshop.com, $60) — it’s classic and it will balance out the swimsuit’s colorful stripes. Add a stack of tropical bracelets (baublebar.com, $42 for three) for even more fun, and a pair of platform espadrilles (matchesfashion.com, $595) is a must for the summer months.

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Look to the Past

Courtesy of Amazon; Giorgio Armani Beauty; Net-a-Porter; Topshop

Blend the ‘50s with the ‘90s by pairing Tory Burch’s navy-and-white polka dot swimsuit (net-a-porter.com, $250) with a denim A-line skirt (net-a-porter.com, $245). These wood block sandals (topshop.com, $48) add a summery pop of color, and a pair of cat-eye shades (amazon.com, $50) and a red lip (giorgioarmanibeauty.com, $38) should go without saying.

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Out of Office

Courtesy of MyTheresa; J. Crew Factory; Neiman Marcus; French Connection

This oversized Eugenia Kim sun hat (neimanmarcus.com, $485) gives major laid-back vibes with a knotted bikini top (mytheresa.com, $130), while a pair of casual graphic pants (factory.jcrew.com, $65) and metallic crossover sandals (frenchconnection.com, $138) complete the look.

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8 Ways to Wear Your Swimsuit Out of the Water