I've Searched Through 1000s of Bikinis—These Are the Best Sets for Summer
Right about now, beach pics are probably creeping up on your feed, which can only mean one thing—it's finally time to think about swimwear. It's been a long time coming, but swimsuit season has fully commenced, and with it are a plethora of options and trends to consider.
As much as I adore a good one-piece (it's a classic for a reason), today, I'm strictly addressing the bikini fan club. A lot of swim brands exist out there, but I've narrowed it down to the suits that the fashion set opts for time and time again. Whether you're a minimalist seeking out the perfect black bikini or someone after a bright pop of colour in the form of a hot pink swimsuit, the selection below has different patterns and shades that you'll want in your beach bag this summer and every one after. All that's left is figuring out your ride to the nearest beach.
Shop These Summer Bikinis
1. The Best Black Bikinis
Style Notes: Introducing the swimwear version of the little black dress. You can never go wrong with a classic black bikini. It goes with every cover-up, dress and pair of linen trousers you pack. Not to mention, it's easy to dress up or down. Symphani's look is the perfect lesson in how to accessorize one of these swimsuits. A white cover-up, straw sun hat and gold jewellery make a winning combo.
If you told me this was three-times the price tag, I'd believe you.
2. The Best Striped Bikinis
Style Notes: If you're looking to toe the line between sleek basics and maximalist bikini, a striped pattern is the best of both worlds. It gives a little more interest without crossing over into the statement category. As Marianne proves, stripes are about as classic as a little black bikini. Plus, our favourite eternally stylish French girls love these swimsuits too.
If you like the idea of a light green swimming cozzy, this one is perfect.
Bandeau styles cut down on tan lines if most of your rotation features strapless tops and dresses.
3. The Best Cobalt Blue Bikinis
Style Notes: Cobalt blue has firmly cemented itself into summer colour palettes. It's reminiscent of the ocean (mermaidcore, anyone?) and offers a vibrant pop that's still gentler than neon shades. Even if you're one to stick with neutrals, Isabelle's styling of her bikini is convincing enough to add something a bit brighter to your own collection of swimsuits.
A few well-placed beads give this a tropical aesthetic.
4. The Best White Bikinis
Style Notes: Bright white hues always enter the chat when summer arrives. This colour is light, airy and perfect in bikini form. Take some sage advice from Monikh and pair it with loose trousers for an impeccably styled post-swim look, or slide a white bikini under a crochet cover-up dress.
These straps are fully adjustable *and* add a little something extra to your ensemble.
The chocolate brown wave pattern is the perfect level of contrast without completely taking away from the white bikini.
5. The Best Pink Bikinis
Style Notes: Pink bikinis are the definition of bold. This colour is back for round two after last summer's Barbiecore explosion. It's a playful tone not worth sleeping on. If you're short on inspiration, just look to Kim, who expertly paired her pink bikini with patchwork shorts (that have a matching pink shade) and a white linen cover-up.
Bubblegum pink always glows during summer—especially under a linen top.
I foresee this dusty pink colour becoming extremely popular this season or next.
Stripes give this already-cute bikini a little more texture.
Hunza G's classic Jean bikini with with more coverage in the bottoms. A dream if, like me, you prefer to forgo skimpy styles.
6. The Best Gingham Bikinis
Style Notes: Maybe, like me, you thought gingham swimwear was over? Turns out, we are wrong. Celebrities and fashion people across the globe are reaching for their gingham two-pieces this summer in classic red and navy colourways for a classy and elegant touch to their holiday wardrobe.
This piece was published at an earlier date and has since been updated.
Another Eres style that you'll come back to time and time again.
I really rate La Redoute for affordable swimwear that is also made to last.
Another cute red style with bows to complete the look.
Indya Brown is a fashion editor, stylist, and writer living in Los Angeles. While going to school at Columbia University in New York City, she got her feet wet in the fashion industry interning at Elle magazine, Harper's Bazaar, and New York magazine's The Cut. After graduating in 2016, she joined The Cut as a fashion assistant, eventually working her way up to fashion editor. There, she worked on a multitude of projects, including styling inbook feature stories for New York magazine's print issue, writing and pitching market stories for The Cut, and serving as fashion lead for The Cut's branded content. While New York has been her home for over 10 years, she moved to Los Angeles in the midst of the pandemic in 2020 for a new chapter. Now she is a fashion market editor for Who What Wear, focusing on emerging designers, rising trends on and off the internet, interior design, and BIPOC creatives and brands. Aside from her duties as a fashion market editor, Brown is also a freelance stylist and writer, working on national print and video commercial campaigns for Sephora, The Independent, and Cadillac. Her bylines also include Harper's Bazaar, Vox, and The New York Times. But once the computer goes down and the emails turn off, she's likely eating her way through Koreatown, hunting down vintage furniture, scoping out new outrageous nail designs to try, or taking a hot cycling class.
- Melissa EpifanoContributor
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