8 Ways to Wear Your Swimsuit Out of the Water
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.
Coordinate Your Separates
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.