Sexy! Classic! Elegant! This Swimsuit Is Peak Summer 2024

Woman wearing a low back swimsuit.

(Image credit: @kelseymerritt)

This is shaping up to be the year of elegance and sophistication. We are already seeing that play out in a number of ways—including the return of A-line silhouettes, top-handle bags, and opera-length gloves—and that shift in style will also impact how fashion insiders get dressed this summer. The aesthetic is already translating to pieces such as pointed ballerina flats, dresses with fitted bodices, pleated skirts, and jewelry-like timepieces. In the realm of swimwear? Low-back swimsuits.

The classic one-piece reached peak popularity in the '80s and '90s, but we are seeing evidence of its comeback. The silhouette achieves the classic elegance that has been on the rise in 2024, but the scooped low-back detail also adds an element of sexiness that is primed for the pool or the beach. Ahead, see the best low-back swimsuits to shop this summer.

Associate Director, Special Projects

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 content and 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, MyTheresa, and Luisa Via Roma, 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 assistant 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.