These Swimsuit Trends Are Winning in 2018
To be honest, it takes a little dose of courage for me to slip into a swimsuit. Jeans, I’m comfortable in. A cool wrap dress? Any day of the week. But even though I live in L.A.—which is seemingly some sort of swimsuit capital with our Pacific coastline and pools on every block and all—swimsuit season always daunts me. So finding swimsuits I feel comfortable in and love that are on-trend is a big win.
But this summer, I feel like I’ve struck a stride. Without overthinking it, I wore a swimsuit for a recent staycation and holiday and felt pretty good in them. What I’ve learned—though it’s been a tough lesson—is to stick with what works for my body type. One-pieces are generally a great option, as long as they have modern-meets-classic cuts and come in solids or fun prints. Otherwise, I typically opt for high-waisted bottoms with coordinating tops. But the good news for me? All these styles are among the biggest swimsuit trends of summer 2018. Ahead see why I’m loving each style and shop my edit for each.
My leopard-print obsession knows no limits
My summer leopard-print addiction started with a leopard skirt—which has since been dubbed the It skirt of the summer. But I don’t think my love for the print needs to stop there. Personally, I bring it to every pool in L.A.
The most flattering bikini cut
You’ll notice that most of my swimsuit picks—well all of them except this one—are one-pieces. I don’t have an aversion to bikinis, but I personally think this season’s popular high-waisted styles are the most flattering.
Top and High-Waist Bikini Bottoms ($18) available in sizes 0X to 3X,
I can't get over smocking
What I love about smocked or shirred swimsuits most is that they really form to your body. This style I’m wearing from Reina Olga has quickly become one of my favorite styles because it’s “one size fits most” and truly hugs my body in the best way,
Classic one-pieces with barely there straps
I’m talked about this before, but I’m really a classic-style person at heart. As much as I try out new and emerging trends, iconic pieces from the past that are tried-and-true staples always call me back. Swimsuits like this are no exception.
Next: the under-$100 workout set I can't stop wearing.
Kristen Nichols is the Associate Director, Special Projects at Who What Wear with over a decade of experience in fashion, editorial, and publishing. She oversees luxury and runway content as well as wedding features, and covers fashion within the luxury market, runway reporting, shopping features, trends, and interviews with leading industry experts. She also contributes to podcast recordings, social media, and branded content initiatives. Kristen has worked with brands including Prada, Chanel, Tiffany & Co., and MyTheresa, and rising designers such as Refine and Tove, and her style has been featured in publications including Vogue.com, Vogue France, WWD, and the CFDA. Before Who What Wear, Kristen began her career at Rodarte, where she worked on styling, photo shoots, and runway shows, and at Allure, where she moved into print and digital editorial. She graduated from the University of Southern California, where she studied art history and business, and currently lives in New York.
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