The second the sun starts to crawl out from behind the clouds and hits our vitamin D–deprived skin, swimsuits are an article of clothing that instantly come to mind. Considering the fact that most of our swimwear hasn't seen the light of day for many months, chances are a few of the suits you once loved might now feel a tad outdated once you pull them out from storage. In case you are due for a little spring cleaning—we all are, to be honest—we're here to fill you in on the swimsuits you can safely toss should you want to make room for some new swim trends on the block.
With the guidance of some of the biggest swimsuit brands on the market, including Onia, Marysia, and Solid & Striped, we are here to present to you the old and the new swimwear trends of 2019. Now, just because these designers are claiming certain swimsuit trends are "out" doesn't mean you need to immediately throw them away; they are simply stating which sartorial swim trends are gaining steam for the summer season ahead. Or, if you're like me and you have way too many swimsuits for your own good, this list of what's in and out for the year will be your saving grace for making room for even more swim goodness.
Out: Muted Colors
"Muted colors are out because being bold is in!" — Amelia Lindquist, Design Director of Solid & Striped
In: 3-Piece Suit Styling
"I’m excited about three-piece suit styling a bikini with a matching cover0up. In our Spring II collection, this can be done with our printed cabana shirts. For our summer collection, which will be available in May, the same cabana silhouette will be offered, but I took the concept a step further and let it evolve into an anorak. I love the crossover of swim into apparel!" — Amelia Lindquist
+ Solid & Striped Ginger Bikini ($168)
Out: Inflexibility, Fast Fashion, and Stripes
"A swim trend that’s out of style for 2019 is not offering women options when it comes to choosing their own swimwear. We sell all styles as separates to give our customers the ability to mix and match, and we offer sizes 6 to 14. We also shoot on both a size 8 and size 12 studio model to give our customer a better idea of how their swimwear will look on their own body. Another trend we feel is so out for 2019 is quick-to-market Instagram swimwear brands made with disregard to the environment.
"Lastly, stripes are perennial, but there are so many more prints and patterns to feel excited about in 2019. Instead, this summer we're seeing petite floral prints taking center stage. Our Grasslands styles have been incredibly popular for customers wanting a ditsy spring floral print." — Rebecca Morton, Founder and Director of Peony
In: Swim Shorts/Boy-Leg Bottoms
"A trend of 2019 we're excited about is definitely '60s boy-leg bottoms and swim shorts. Peony released its first swim short in 2015, and it's been a peony signature shape since then. Our Cornflower one-piece offers the perfect amount of coverage and comfort to create a '60s Slim Aarons vibe, without cutting in." — Rebecca Morton
In: Thick Straps
"There is no denying itty-bitty bikinis are still having a major moment, but we've also noticed a shift toward customers opting for styles with thicker, more supportive and elegant shoulder straps. Our best-selling Cornflower Panelled Crop and sold-out Sonnet One Piece both feature thick shoulder straps, which our customers love." — Rebecca Morton
In: Gathering
"We’re also excited about gathering and ruching detailing on swim in 2019. Adding gathering and ruching to a swim piece adds feminine detailing but also functionality. Our pick for this summer is our Fields Gathered Bralette, which, due to the functional gathering and adjustable ties, is really flattering on most bust shapes." — Rebecca Morton
In: Sustainability
"We're incredibly excited to see more fashion brands embrace a sustainable production ethos in 2019. Peony is leading the market with its sustainable fabrications and processes, and we're proud to be part of a bigger movement to encourage transparency and ethical production in the fashion industry. Some of my favorite sustainable styles this summer are our Blossom Pintucked Bandeau and Hi Pant or our Grasslands String Tri and String Pant." — Rebecca Morton
+ Peony Grasslands String Pant ($64)
Out: Macramé
"Macramé feels a little passé but I could definitely see it coming back in style if it was executed in a novel, more modern way. I’m excited to see that textured swim is having a moment. We are continually developing novel, interesting fabrics with our suppliers globally." — Nathan Romano, Co-Founder of Onia
In: Non-Print Prints
"A big swim trend is focused around non-print prints, focusing on textured or printed fabrics. We're also seeing a rise in functional suits that have ample supportive features including underwire, removable pads, and form-fitting seaming details." — Nathan Romano
Out: Super-High Cuts
"Super-high-cut suits [are out]. It’s a bit too early '90s for me, and some things just shouldn’t be on full display. I prefer to leave that to the imagination." — Marysia Dobrzanska Reeves, Founder of Marysia
In: Sun Protection
"Sun protection! I've become more careful about sun protection for myself and my kids. For both the women’s and Bumby collections, I designed rash guards and an assortment of beach hats to protect against sun damage. I still love the beach, so now you can enjoy it a bit longer!" — Marysia Dobrzanska Reeves
Out: Basic Triangle Bikinis
"If I had to pick a swim trend that is fading it would be the basic triangle bikini tops and bikini bottoms. Swimwear is evolving into more novelty textures, add on accessories and playful details." — Alexandra Alvarez, CEO and Founder of Alix
In: Glitter
"Glitter, glitter, glitter! The more the better, it is the perfect trend for the girl who isn't afraid to make a statement." — Alexandra Alvarez
In: High-Waisted Bikinis
"The second would be the fan favorite, high-waisted, high-cut bottom (my Alton bikini bottom fits this trend seamlessly). The great thing about this style is that it covers just the right amount of your stomach, while the high cut elongates your legs, making it sexy but not too conservative." — Alexandra Alvarez
Out: Tropical Prints & Athletic Silhouettes
"This season tropical prints are out. Our customers are gravitating toward textures in place of large-scale prints, or prefer our Indian block-print inspired floral patterns. This year we’ve also noticed a true divide between swim and activewear. There are so many great activewear labels at the moment who are offering functional swimsuits for their customer that athletic silhouettes for predominant swimwear labels have become redundant." — Chloé Dunlop, Founder and Creative Director of She Made Me
In: Contrasting Textures
"I'm particularly excited about using contrasting textures to create detail in 2019. We’ve been working with lycra paired with cotton-crochet for two seasons now, but it's something our customer loves. Our Maalai pieces feature an intricate daisy-chain crochet technique (which took our artisans over two years to perfect), paired with lycra to create functional yet detailed swim styles." — Chloé Dunlop
+ She Made Me Maalai High-Waisted Bikini Bottom ($150)
In: Ring & Button Detailing
"Adding sophisticated elements otherwise unexpected to swim is another design element we're excited about in 2019. This season I'm particularly excited about button detailing and O-ring features on swimwear. We’ve introduced shell ring detailing on our Inika crochet bandeau, and buttons are a key feature in our Inika crochet off-the-shoulder top and Inika crochet high-waisted bottoms." — Chloé Dunlop
+ She Made Me Inika Crochet High-Waisted Bikini Bottom ($155)
In: Crochet Sets
"I'm always excited about matching crochet, and in 2019 we've noticed a shift toward matching sets across fashion in general. Recently, our customers have been purchasing our crochet swimwear in matching sets to have the ability to wear together, or to pair with other pieces they already own to make vacation packing easier." — Chloé Dunlop
+ She Made Me Essential High-Waisted Bikini Bottom ($155)
Out: Ruffles
"One trend that seems to be on its way out are ruffles on swimwear. We are excited to see more minimalist swimwear styles trending which are cleaner and more modern. For Anemone, clean lines and a simple aesthetic are the core part of our DNA." — Joshua Shaub, Co-Founder of Anemone
In: Underwire
"We are really excited about the underwire trend picking up in swimwear. Our underwire balconette has been getting a great response. It’s really flattering how the balconette lifts and gives a straight bustline. Our Balconette top is our most sought-after item and looks so chic mixed with a high or low-wasted bottom of different colors." — Lauren Arapage, Co-Founder of Anemone
