Fashion bloggers' best swimwear brands act like a sartorial summer pillar, propping up an entire hot-weather wardrobe. How can one possibly holiday (or Instagram) without them? But this isn't always the case for all of us. Because when it comes to pre-holiday planning, many of us tend to leave bikini shopping as close to our flight time as possible to avoid the frustrations that often come with stripping off in a poorly lit changing room. I’ll just pop into a store on my local high street the day before—it will be easy, we tell ourselves, often living to regret it when stood in the boarding queue with the same bikini you’ve brought for the past four years… And you didn't even like it much the first time around.
If you’re looking to get ahead with your swimwear shopping and would like to try something new, we have turned to 10 fashion bloggers and influencers who happen to 1.) go on some of the best beach trips that have ever hit Instagram and 2.) wear anything but a plain black bandeau. These are the people who have championed some of the biggest swimwear labels and helped make them a "thing," such as SameSwim, Marysia and Onia.
See below for the 10 influencers and fashion bloggers' best swimwear brands (and shop the key pieces)…
When prepping for a trip, Lucy Williams of Fashion Me Now tends to pack a capsule wardrobe of whites, navys, greys and striped pieces that will all blend together, creating endless outfit options. Her approach to swimwear is no different, favouring classic tan-friendly bandeau cuts and simple shapes in white, black and red.
California-based fashion blogger Shea Marie of Peace Love Shea has set up her own swimwear range SameSwim, which has been worn by Kendall Jenner, Hailey Baldwin and more. As the creator of the company, she naturally gets to test out all the bikinis first, meaning she has one of the best swimwear collections going.
Aimee Song of Song of Style, has spent her summer hopping between the South of France and Italy, and has a swimwear collection worthy of lounging at the Hotel du Cap. The black Marysia swimsuit she wore in the Philippines last month is Instagram-worthy, but it's also a practical choice for swimming in the sea.
Jessica Stein of Tuula Vintage is a travel and fashion blogger, meaning that it is basically in her job description to have a perfect swimwear collection. Year-round travel means she has a never-fading tan, and she favours white bikinis and swimsuits such as this halter-neck one-piece.
The founder of Avenue32 is so at ease wearing swimwear that this summer she has been dressing in her one-piece away from the pool and wearing it as a top out and about in London, paired with a Lisa Marie Fernandez check skirt. Her Marysia scalloped-strap white one-piece is the perfect style if you’re looking for a swimsuit that you can wear at home.
Related: 9 Exact Items the Mega-Bloggers Make Sure They Instagram on Holiday
Fashion editor Giovanna Englebert had the fashion wedding of the year (see the hashtag #batandgio for the evidence), and by the looks of Instagram she put the same level of detail to packing her honeymoon wardrobe. She has turned to Lisa Marie Fernandez for off-the-shoulder rainbow bikinis and a chic bikini twinset.
Model Iskra Lawrence books a lot of swimwear work, including her campaign for Aerie, and she wears bikinis in at least 50 percent of her Instagram posts. Her Topshop bikini is sadly now sold-out (the Iskra effect perhaps?). but Topshop has no shortage of other bright prints.
Man Repeller’s Leandra Medine is so good at styling swimwear that she has a Lisa Marie Fernandez swimsuit named after her. Impressive. Medine has a habit of backing emerging labels, such as L.A.-based swimwear designer Roxana Salehoun—the lady behind her Fourth of July Pepto-Bismol pink two-piece.
Mary Seng of Happily Grey has a typical Scandi style but with splashes of print and interesting details. When it comes to swimwear, she normally sticks to off-the-shoulder striped high-waisted bikinis, but she also has a thing for Onia’s graphic printed white-and–marble-effect one-pieces.
Having 1.6 million followers on Instagram means that Nicole Warne of Gary Pepper Girl gets invited on a lot of amazing trips. When it comes to swimwear, she keeps it simple, almost always wearing all-black one-pieces with cut-out detailing or a plunging neckline.
Shop the fashion pack's best swimwear brands:
A classic black like this swimsuit lasts and lasts.
Because we've always wanted a matching cover-up like this—so retro.
Make like Roberta and wear this as a top.
+ Monday Clovelly Ivory Bottom (£59)The clever wiring does all the work here.
+ Roxana Salehoun Tortoiseshell-Chain Bikini Briefs (£108)This L.A.-based brand has major vintage vibes about it.
Related: Summer Is Back! 16 Chic Dresses That You Can Wear Now And Well Into Autumn
+ Same Swim The Everything Bottom (£127)You can mix 'n' match with this brand in order to find the right silhouettes for your body.
White swimwear is actually the most flattering for everyone.
The strappy detailing makes this bikini look more expensive.
Simple silhouettes allow interesting prints to shine.Will you scoop up one of these winners? Let us know in the comments box below.
