From Saint-Tropez to Sardinia: These 7 Elegant Swimwear Trends Will Be Everywhere

Few things in life are superior to a tranquil summer day spent lounging by the sea. It’s hard not to find everything about the experience utterly sublime—from hearing waves crashing in the background to watching the sunlight dance across your skin to slowly flipping through a good book to even spotting a few elegant swimwear trends. We’d even say that the latter can be one of the most compelling aspects of putting a few beach days on the calendar. As fashion people, we find great pleasure in people-watching and trend-watching by the water. Besides the runway, there’s no better place to get an idea of how the tides are shifting from a fashion perspective than by being outside by a body of water.

Of course, not everyone shares this perspective, as it can be quite stressful to find the best swimsuit, plan a beach-ready outfit, and figure out what trends will be hitting high tide come summertime. Luckily, that’s where we come in handy. After spending hours researching recent runway collections and social media posts, we’ve curated a list of seven elegant swimwear trends already surging among the style set. We’re sharing shopping recommendations too. Whether you plan to swing by a club in Saint-Tropez or dip into the crystal-blue waters in Sardinia, you’ll surely spot some of the most stylish people wearing these beachwear trends this summer (maybe even you). Without further ado, let’s dive in.

1. The New Nautical

Call it cliché, but there’s one classic swimwear trend you can always count on seeing in the summertime: nautical stripes. Please make no mistake. The Breton-stripe beachwear we’ve begun to see wash up on beaches more recently is far bougier than that of the past. Drawing inspiration from parts of the “coastal grandmother” and old money aesthetics, striped swimwear this season exudes an air of elegance through retro-cut bikini shapes, refined color palettes, and really preppy styling. The result is a new wave of nautical swimwear that proves the never-ending appeal of this particular summer-inspired print.

2. Wild Things

Nautical stripes aren’t the only print trend that’s managed to ripple through recent swimwear collections and into the real world. In fact, we’ve seen another one out in the wild. If you’ve kept up with recent trends, it should be no surprise that the critter-inspired patterns that invaded ready-to-wear shows have managed to do so throughout resortwear collections too. While it’s easy to assume that the allure of this trend can be attributed to its rapid takeover, that’s not the whole truth. Animal-print swimwear has managed to stick out from the herd because it’s been “tamed” in a way that makes the prints easier for anyone to adopt. Whether in the form of a classic-cut leopard bikini or a minimal zebra-print one-piece, there’s no shortage of ways for anyone to embrace their wild side this summer.

3. Pretty Pastels

If you hate wearing prints but still want your one-piece to pop this summer, pastel swimsuits should be on your radar. Unlike other beachwear trends, pastel swimsuits are a solid choice for the summer because they strike the perfect balance of being visually compelling and not leaning too much into summer styling tropes. Whether you opt for baby blue, powder pink, lilac, or butter yellow, a swimsuit in any of these pretty pastel colors will have everyone peering at you this summer (in a good way).

4. Contemporary Color-Blocking

For those who find sticking to a single color challenging, there’s another swimwear trend that will indulge your indecisive side. Although one might think that two-tone swimsuits are a little tired or over since they’ve been around for quite some time, that’s not the case. What makes color-block swimwear compelling is how it’s been given a contemporary spin through prominent contrast piping, reimagined retro silhouettes, unconventional color pairings, and, most importantly, creative styling. It’s one of the few beachwear trends that can check every box without making you choose between looking chic or cool or making you stick to a single color this summer.

5. Hardware Store

While colors and prints are one way to ensure that your swimsuit catches everyone’s attention this summer, they’re not the only way to achieve that aim. Another beachwear trend that has captivated the style crowd is what we call “hardware store”—swimwear with jewelry-inspired hardware, embellishments, and even beading. It’s not that this swim trend centers on a specific type of hardware. Rather, the through line across collections seems to be about reimagining popular silhouettes by adding precious trinkets. For example, the classic white one-piece suit becomes infinitely cooler with chunky silver hardware, the straps of a little black bikini become far more special with the addition of chunky stones, and a strapless bandeau suddenly gives siren energy with the incorporation of an oversize starfish metal appliqué. Basically, taking a trip to the hardware store (or buying an embellished suit) can make any boring beachwear feel bold again.

6. Soft Life

We love the addition of hardware, but certain summer days call for a softer approach. Enter the “soft life” trend into the chat. Blame the rise of cottagecore and the coquette aesthetic, but we’ve slowly seen more delicate swimwear take over shores, pools, and even backyards. What makes this trend distinct from other styles is that it seems to tap into the idea of leading a soft and relaxing life through swimsuits featuring eyelet, appliqués, ruffles, and light colors. If you were looking for an excuse to book that beachside vacation, consider this swimwear trend your permission slip to live a little softer this summer.

7. Back to the ’90s

By now, we’ve hopefully made it abundantly clear that a tidal wave of new swimwear trends will take over the shores of beaches everywhere. Arguably, the most elegant of them all isn’t new at all. It’s a blast from the past. Nothing can weather the constant shifting of tides, aka trends, quite like a minimal one-piece suit because it’s one of the few styles that can be worn anywhere, anytime, and by just about anyone. Whether you opt for a silhouette featuring a high-cut leg, square neck, or sculpting finish, it will make you look effortlessly elegant for the rest of the summer and beyond.