Beach season is finally upon us—whether you're actually heading off into the sunshine or simply dreaming of booking somewhere. And although swimwear shopping can be tiresome at best, the trends this year are hoping to put the fun back into bikinis. "S/S 18 is the year of haute swimwear, which means detail is key," Lily Russo, co-founder of Beach Flamingo, tells me. "I have always championed fun swimwear, and finally it's going mainstream. Whether it's leather braided straps, ruffles, belts, or beading, this season's trends are some of the most exciting yet." Keep scrolling to see—and shop—the key swimwear trends you'll see at every poolside this summer.
1. Rainbow Stripes
The rainbow stripes trend has now extended to swimwear, as we keep seeing colorful striped one-pieces and bikinis. So far these are proving just as popular as the jumpers—the & Other Stories one-piece above sold out in a matter of weeks.
& Other Stories Colour Pop Triangle Bra ($29) and Briefs ($29)
Related: Non-Scary Bikinis Exist, and I Found Them
2. High-Waisted Bikinis
"Over the last few summers, we've been a little distracted by tanning our tooshies in teenie-weenie Brazilian cut bikinis, but now high-waisted bikinis are having a moment," says Lily. "People's perceptions of high-waisted bikinis often have '1950s housewife' connotations, but there is nothing twee about them. This season, high-waisted bikinis are the high-fashion swimwear of choice for 2018."
3. Ruffles
"Statement ruffles have been on the rise for the last few seasons, but 2018 is the year ruffles go big," says Lily. "Turn up the heat in seductive silhouettes with cutout details, and don’t forget all the trimmings—adorn yourself with dramatic metal eyelets and intricate beading. Brit label Evarae uses technical fabrics to ensure its swimwear is practical too, and if you’re looking for something to take you from the beach to the bar, Brazilian labels Clube Bossa and Agua de Coco nail it every time. This is definitely one trend that instantly gives you confidence."
Related: The Best Places to Buy Swimsuits (and Why)
4. Sporty Leotards
"Thanks to brands such as Hunza G and Solid and Striped, the classic swimsuit is having a moment," adds Lily. "Taking its cues from the swimming lanes of an Olympic pool or the gymnast mat, go-faster stripes and belted leotard shapes are your reference points for this trend. These sporty-inspired suits have been reworked in of-the-moment primary hues and rainbow palettes to make them one of the most flattering and eye-catching trends of the summer."
5. Crochet Swimsuits
Crochet swimwear might make you a little (read: a lot) nervous, however, this is the bikini that we keep seeing on the Instagram set. This season it's about sand-colored, earthy bikinis that look like they've been hand-stitched at home.
6. Baywatch Red
When it comes to color, we keep seeing simple color-blocked red one-pieces everywhere—this is a trend that the high street is really getting behind.
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