Flip-Flops Are So Predictable—This Unexpected Flats Alt Will Make Bikinis Look the Most Elegant
Sorry, flip-flops—It girls vacationing in Europe are wearing this closed-toe-flats trend with bikinis instead.
It's not officially summer, but warm-weather dressing is top of mind as I plan to spend a few weekends in the Hamptons and a week in Spain in August. One part of my wardrobe I've got in order so far is swimwear. I have my classic black bikini and tried-and-true one-piece, and I've recently added a contrast-trim bikini and a tankini—two of 2026's top swim trends. In that realm, I still need to figure out how to style all these pieces in a fresh, elegant way. One styling technique that has landed on my Pinterest board and that I'm sold on involves skipping predictable flip-flops and pairing bikinis with ballet flats instead.
You might be asking yourself, Who is wearing bikinis with flats and why? And rightly so. The outfit combination sounds off, but if you think about it more deeply, it makes sense. For many weeks now, I've been going on tangents about unexpected outfit pairings and why they're the key to making an outfit look interesting and chic in 2026. Take stylist Allison Bornstein's viral "wrong shoe theory," for example. Her idea of choosing shoes that intentionally clash with the rest of the outfit gives fashion insiders an effortlessly cool, eye-catching look. The combination of bikinis and ballet flats is just that.
Whether on a remote island or in the South of France, the style set is backing the bikini-and-ballet-flats pairing. Naomi Campbell was spotted on the beach in Saint-Tropez wearing black mesh flats, a striped bikini, and a minidress. Bella Hadid took to Instagram to post vacation photos, and in one, she wore a graphic tee with a red-and-white bikini and red ballet flats. Another recent sighting was content creator Lucy Williams, who wore a black bikini with a see-through long-sleeve tunic, minishorts, and turquoise high-vamp flats.
Since not all ballet flats are created equal, not all will look stylish with bikinis. The ones that make the most sense are summer-friendly styles, such as those made from mesh, raffia, and lightweight leather, rather than suede or shearling-lined styles. For a clearer understanding, keep scrolling to shop the best bikinis and ballet flats and discover how these experienced dressers are thoughtfully pairing them.
How Fashion People Are Styling Bikinis and Ballet Flats
Style Notes: Bikini + Minidress + Mesh ballet flats
Style Notes: Graphic T-shirt + Bikini + Red ballet flats
Style Notes: Long-sleeve tunic + Shorts + High-vamp ballet flats
Shop the Best Bikinis
Don't sleep on Zara's expensive-looking swimwear.
Contrast-trim bikinis are trending right now.
I'll take an itsy bitsy teenie weenie brown polka dot bikini, please.
Shopbop's in-house brand Le Bop just dropped stylish swimwear, and it's already selling out.
It's giving French Riviera vibes.
Shop the Best Ballet Flats
These flats look just like The Row shoes that Kendall Jenner always wears.
These are so cool-girl coded.
Re-create Naomi Campbell's beach look with these mesh flats.
This color is stunning.
I love the juxtaposition between the mesh and the leather.
