To get full use out of each item we buy, it helps to explore all of its potential functions. To the untrained eye, a swimsuit is just a swimsuit. But for those hungry for new methods of sartorial experimentation, a swimsuit could also be a top, a bodysuit, or a layering piece. Our research proved that we were not the first to think this. Stylish people everywhere are reimagining the use of a bikini in a manner that is both intriguing and surprisingly practical—leave the beach and you’re already dressed for dinner. Below, we’ve rounded up three ways to style your swimsuit if you’re ready to blur the lines between swimwear and ready-to-wear.
Bikini Top + Full Skirt + Embellished Belt
Photo (R): Courtesy of @barbarasantiago.r
Designers will call anything a crop top these days, so why not constitute a bikini as one? To counteract the revealing aspect of the triangle shape, opt for a fuller skirt in a summery material like linen or a lightweight silk.
Inverted Swimwear + Statement Top + Green Trousers
Photo (R): Courtesy of @isthisfate
If you’re not ready to bare all in a bikini top, use it as a layering piece instead—perhaps beneath a glittering gold top as model Destiny Joseph does here. Counteract the flashiness of the top with trousers in a more muted hue and a wider silhouette.
Halter-Neck One Piece + Wide Leg Pants + Floppy Hat
Photo (R): Courtesy of @olivialopez
The difference between a bodysuit and a one-piece is in the eye of the beholder—and a little bit to do with the fabric, but who really knows but you? For a more sophisticated approach to dressing up your swimwear, try a halter-neck one-piece with a flowy wide-leg pant. Add a wide-brim hat to accentuate the sophisticated vibe.
