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The ideal vacation wardrobe should never be confined to a time in place: what you pack for a week in the sun might be more expressive than your everyday uniform, but the majority of pieces that come along in your carry-on shouldn’t be all that at odds with your personal style that you couldn’t wear them long after your sun-kissed glow has faded.
Styling swimwear rewards this mix-and-match approach of pairing resort-ready fashion with city-friendly staples. A printed maxi dress is a perfect cover-up choice for a sunny day spent by the water, but when you trade in flip-flops for T-strap sandals, you have a look that’s also great for a lunch in the city. Genie pants and a one-piece will feel right at home on a barefoot island retreat, however, when switch out the top for a button-down and your cord sandals for ballet flats, you get something relaxed that also works splendidly for a summer Friday. Read on for nine swimsuit outfits perfect for any seaside scenario.
How to Style Your Swimwear:
The Little Brown Bikini With a Printed Maxi
Mix vibrant motifs and effortless silhouettes for a week of sun, sand, and surf in the Algarve. An airy maxi like Asceno’s will reward the less-is-more packer. Wear it with a little bandeau bikini and raffia sun hat for a morning exploring the hidden coves, then switch into crochet flats for an al fresco seafood dinner at your beach restaurant of choice.
The Sleek One-Piece With a Balloon Pant and Rope Sandal
For a laidback retreat in Formentera or Las Catalinas, simplicity reigns. Genie pants and a sleek one-piece reflect the nomadic spirit of slow island living. Rope sandals will come in handy for scrambling craggy outcroppings, otherwise, you’ll want to stay barefoot for as long as possible. A siesta in the shade and a shell-laden belt of washed-ashore treasures, worn low and loose on the hips, completes the picture.
The Colorful Bikini With Mini Shorts and Clogs
Polished practicality is key for the 40-minute drive it takes to get you poolside from Hôtel du Couvent to your lunch reservation La Colombe d’Or. Play with color the way the modern masters who sojourned there would and pair a vibrant bikini with equally spirited extras.
The Sheer Layer With an Embellished Bikini and Simple Flip-Flops
An impromptu trip to the nearest body of water means effortlessness is a must. A semi-sheer maxi and flip-flops is a fail-proof combination that works no matter the locale, or what the day has in store.
The Floral One-Piece With a Crochet Pant and Wrap Sandal
A day that starts at Jetties Beach and ends with lobster rolls at a local watering hole requires little more than relaxed separates you can quickly change into in the parking lot. A linen button-down and crochet pant offer a textural twist on the matching set, grounded by a printed one-piece in a similar color palette.
The Printed Bikini Set With Jelly Flats and a Mesh Tote
You’ve left the chaotic Taormina crowds behind in favor of Pantelleria’s tranquil sea breeze and restorative thermal hot springs. A printed swimsuit, cotton mini dress, and jelly flip-flops are your uniform for the foreseeable future; leave anything that can’t line-dry outside your dammuso at home.
The Vibrant One-Piece With a Printed Pareo
Five months and counting, your Ibiza trip finally made it out of the group chat! For a late lunch at Casa Jondal that might stretch into an early morning at UNVRS, a sun-drenched outfit (and perhaps a set of color-coordinating earplugs) that captures the electric energy of the island is just what your packing list needs. Start with a vibrant one-piece from Hunza G, then wrap a printed Pucci pareo around your waist. Complete the look with embellished sandals and a woven bag.
With a Kaftan and Oversized Raffia Tote
You’re moored at your port of call in Folegandros, where a secluded beach with crystalline waters awaits. Disembark from your private boat in something that can take you from the pebbled shore to the charming family-run taverna that’s just up the road. A gauzy kaftan evokes the very essence of summertime ease. Throw on Lisa Marie Hernandez’s airy linen maxi over Johanna Ortiz’s printed bikini, then fold in texture by way of accessories.
With a Maxi Skirt and Printed Bikini
Paradise found among the white sands and pristine turquoise waters that characterize many of Puerto Rico’s hidden beaches. Dress the part in pieces that reflect your natural surroundings with Zimmermann’s patchwork floral-print bikini, striped separates, and Dorsey’s paracord anklet.