The minimalist swimsuit
Why mess with perfection? With its perfect silhouette, square neckline and flattering cut, there’s a reason the Eres Aquarelle (£280, mytheresa.com) remains a bestseller. That said, other minimalist swimwear is available. I love the Curved Rib swimsuit by Toteme (£200) that sculpts the shoulders and would look good worn as a body, also, with black trousers or jeans.
Matteau does a range of perfectly ’90s-minimal maillots with a range of fittings. And the Trentasei (€190), by Italian brand Lido, is a great take on the classic one-piece with ultra-thin spaghetti straps. Jo Ellison
The cool-girl swimsuit
Hunza G’s reign as the fashion insider’s swimsuit of choice shows no signs of abating. Its signature crinkle-cut seersucker has also made it a favourite with pregnant friends as it stretches to fit fluctuating bodies. Opt for the bestselling Pamela or coverage styles (£175), if you need a little extra fabric on the thighs or a bit more chest support. For those who prefer to splash a few look-at-me prints, Ganni does a good slogan swimsuit with a cheery graphic, and its bikinis are particularly well-cut for those with less than ample bosoms.
Elsewhere Sézane, the brand making French-girl style accessible to the masses, is leaning into romanticism with its latest style, featuring a collaboration with Ysé on a black one-piece with some modest frills around the neck. And I am a new convert to Bellini Bikini, whose vintage-style prints and bead-adorned straps are mood-boosting without veering into naff “make mine an aperol spritz” territory. (Note: cool girls drink chinotto.) Ellie Pithers
The retro favourite
I am staunch advocate of the knickerbocker, or a high-waisted brief with a little retro kick. Favourites include London-based label Fruity Booty’s gingham selection (£55) with the matching balcony bra or Marysia’s scallop-edged bikini (£135) made from recycled materials. For ’90s fans, Roxy’s board shorts are foolproof, and if you are not fussed about tanning, I like these with the drawcord closure.
For a one-piece alternative, try Ysé’s Cabine (£100) and Bel Azur (£95) styles with a flattering U-shape underwire, which come in a handful of vintage prints and colours). Slightly more avant-garde are Brazilian designer Adriana Degreas’s high-leg halterneck suits (see also Taller Marmo’s slinky two-piece, €300). And Seabass’s collection of UV 50+ protective swimsuits come fitted with a cute sailor cape, great for extra cover-up across the shoulders and décolletage. They are also available in kids’ sizes. Inès Cross
The sporty swimsuit
For people who actually want to swim — or have to tend to small children, which means lots of getting in and out of the water and bending over — you need a reliable costume. And, crucially, a suit that is quick-dry. The trend for retro-looking sportswear has filtered through to swimwear: Salt Gypsy makes a range of surfwear that gives good coverage. I especially like the surf bottoms with white piped edges that recall ’70s athletic shorts. I also like the no-nonsense look of Ryzon’s performance swimsuit (£110) which is made in a (bonus points) compressive fabric, and claims to be resistant to chlorine, oil and sunscreen.
You can’t go wrong with the classic black highneck suit from Speedo (£46), with a flattering racer back. And if you are planning on doing a triathlon, this strap-back Kona Speed style by Zone 3 (£40) should keep you comfortably in the lead — in the style stakes. JE
The boho bikini
I bought my first kaftan last summer in an attempt to channel my inner Chloé girl, but was thwarted by too much billowing fabric. Australian brand Zimmermann offers ’70s flair with far less faff, with its line of punchy printed bikinis. This season is rich in paisleys, chunky stripes and crochet. I’ve currently got my eye on the Acacia tri bikini with crochet edging (£265). Missoni and Pucci boast similarly kaleidoscopic hues and shapes with varying degrees of coverage.
I tend to gravitate towards the Pucci’s balconette and triangle bras (their new Iride-print bikini top (£235) is easily adjustable and embellished with chain metal ties — just be sure to apply extra sunscreen across the neck and shoulders), while Missoni’s lamé and viscose blends can easily take you from the beach to sundowners. IC
The trend-setting swim set
No one cuts a swimsuit like Alaïa — and its latest “trikini” (£630), comprising bikini bottoms and a hooded bikini top, will allow you to indulge the “Bene Gesserit on the beach” impulse you never knew you had. If that sounds a tad radical, 1960s-style appliqué flowers are trending this summer, adorning swimsuits everywhere from & Other Stories to Maygel Coronel and Magda Butrym.
They pair particularly well with vintage swimming caps (let Miu Miu’s SS17 collection — now on show at London’s Design Museum exhibition Splash! A Century of Swimming and Style — be your guide). EP
The sun-sensitive rash vest
Let 2025 be the summer you embrace a long-sleeved rashguard. Finisterre makes sporty long-sleeved swimsuits and short wetsuits in pleasingly sophisticated colours, as well as “ocean-exploring” combinations of wetsuit-style tops and shorts that won’t make you feel like a goofy extra from Blue Crush.
I’m also a fan of the Dutch brand Wallien, whose wetsuits, surfsuits and surf-inspired swimwear comes with a sustainable caveat, with 50 per cent of the line made from Yulex 2.0 foam, a natural rubber that is touted as a cleaner alternative to traditional synthetic neoprene. And if you’re looking for a more flirty look, try Rivage, whose lightweight “swimdresses” offer greater protection from the sun and negate the need for a beach cover-up. EP
The itsy-bitsy bikini
Barely-there bikinis and cheek-baring bottoms have been dominating beach style for the past few years and the trend is still going strong this summer. Away That Day offers a range of high-leg thongs and itty-bitty tops in double-lined recycled nylon, while LA label Staud’s Sisley low-rise string bikini (£87) comes in shade-of-the-moment espresso brown and features adjustable sliders at the hip for the perfect fit.
For those who like their swimwear to deliver high-octane glamour, London brand Rat & Boa has an array of teeny-tiny bikinis in bold prints that are designed to be mixed and matched — such as its bestselling lime green Brasilia style (£95), whose triangle cups can be modified for your desired level of coverage (or lack thereof). For even weenier styles, look to Oséree, whose spangly microkinis are a hit with everyone from influencer Camille Charrière to Rihanna. Sara Semic
The supportive style
“Welcome to the D+ community” declares Form and Fold, an Aussie swimwear brand that only caters to a D and up, thanks to swimwear that’s engineered like lingerie. Hidden underwires and rigorously tested fits have refined the co-founders’ output so that styles fit as comfortably as your favourite bra, whether manifesting as a one-shoulder swimsuit or a contouring half-cup bikini.
Meanwhile Marks & Spencer wins plaudits for a post-surgery swimsuit (£35) that accommodates prosthetics post-masectomy, and Skims goes up to a H cup. Then there is Youswim, which claims to supply the only two swimwear styles you’ll ever need in a super-stretchy patented fabric accommodating UK sizes 6-28. EP
The basic bikini
Though the embellishments and cutouts might be great for poolside posing, most of the time I just want a plain, reliably good bikini that won’t disintegrate at first contact with sun cream/detergent or leave me with a web of unwanted tanlines. Cos’s swimwear, made from sculpting recycled nylon, comes in a range of minimalist colours and flattering cuts without the impractical bells and whistles.
Arket also offers great all-round bikinis in discreet colours that can work just as well for the gym pool as the Mediterranean coast. And for more summery styles, check out cult Australian label Bond-eye’s range of seamless bikinis. I especially like the reversible Quinn style (£79), which features a sporty square neckline and comes in an assortment of sorbet shades, from lemon to sugar-almond blue, which can be worn inside out for even more suitcase-wardrobe mileage. SS
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