Summer fashion this year is just so much fun. Thankfully, the overconsumption and micro trend final bosses have slightly (said with caution) regressed for the season, and now that not everything is being deemed a “core," it finally feels like we're letting the trend cycle take its natural course. One of the biggest trends to witness this season has been an unquenchable obsession to bring the beach to the bar, even if there is no beach…and no bar.
Flip flops are dominating the retail space, toe rings our feeds, board shorts the streets, and the runways? They’re filled with swimwear being worn as everyday tops. Yesterday, I went to the bar in flip flops and a sarong. I took the subway from Manhattan to Bed Stuy. I did not encounter a body of water that I could/would submerge my body in all day. Didn’t care! There's a (perceived) freedom in wearing beach-adjacent clothes in the middle of the city at any given moment.
Alis Spring 2026
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OpéraSport Spring 2026
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Forza Collective Spring 2026
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At Copenhagen Fashion Week, pairing swimwear with ready-to-wear was all over the Spring 2026 runways at OpéraSport, Alis, Forza Collective, Rabens Saloner, and more. This confirmed the burgeoning trend we first spotted at Tory Burch, Miu Miu, and Dior’s Spring 2025 shows last year, where one-piece swimsuits were layered as styling pieces with wool trousers, skirts, and sneakers. I had a sneaking suspicion the trend would foist itself upon us if the weather got hot enough, and I was right.
This season, the one-piece silhouette has evolved to include bikini tops, too, for those who are partial to baring a little more skin. It’s not all just for the visual effect, either. When the city feels like the center of an armpit, it’s nice to imagine that even in the dampest of circumstances, your clothing isn’t going to cling to you, broadcasting your sweatiness to the world. At least, not on top.
Miu Miu Spring 2025
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Dior Spring 2025
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Tory Burch Spring 2025
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The best thing about the trend? There is no hard and fast rule on a specific silhouette. For those slightly more coverage-inclined, opt for your favorite one piece or tankini (remember those? They’re also back, FYI). If less fabric is in your remit, experiment with a string bikini or bandeau top with a cover-up style shirt or cardigan thrown over the top. I love to wear a pair of low slung jeans with a black triangle top and a check shirt for a casual moment, or a sporty racerback one-piece balanced out with a feminine mid-length skirt and potentially a scrunchie in the hair. You can get very sleek and try a strapless one-piece with a pair of dark wool trousers for an evening look, too. The options are really endless!
