Fashion & Style Tips

Let’s talk about the least-loved shopping trip on the planet.

My client Lizzie had a yearly ritual. She would march into a department store, grab an armful of swimsuits, spend an hour in the fitting room, and walk out with nothing. Every single time.

So when we planned her shopping session, she tried to talk me out of it. “Let’s skip swimsuits,” she said. “It’s a waste of time.”

I laughed and told her, “Trust me. I’m the bathing suit whisperer.”

Swimsuits are one of my favorite things to shop, because I know which cuts and brands work for different bodies and different style adjectives. We skipped the guessing and went straight to the right options. By the end, Lizzie had the opposite problem so many winners that returning any felt impossible.

Here is what I have learned after 20+ years: this is not the category to cut corners. A great swimsuit is not about how little fabric it uses. It is about the quality of that fabric, the construction, the lining, and the fit.

Those details are what smooth, support, and stay put. Cheap material stretches out, slips down, and looks worn after a few wears.

So below, you will find the best bathing suits for your style adjectives one for each. Find your words, and shop with intention.

THE 10 LOOKS

1. BOHEMIAN — Mixing prints, materials and cultures

Bohemian style is about mixing prints, materials, and cultures. Therefore, your swimsuit should feel collected rather than coordinated.

Look for texture — crochet edges, beading, macramé ties, and a print that looks hand-drawn instead of machine-perfect.

Style it with: an open crochet kaftan, a woven straw hat, braided leather sandals, and layered gold jewelry. The more it looks gathered over years of travel, the better.

2. SOPHISTICATED — Structured, elegant and tailored

Sophisticated style is structured, elegant, and tailored. As a result, your swimsuit should have architecture seams that shape, straps that hold, a neckline with a clean line.

Skip the ruffles. Instead, let the construction do the work.

Style it with: a crisp white linen shirt worn open, tailored shorts, sleek black slides, and a structured tote. Quiet, polished, and completely intentional.

3. EDGY — Distressed materials, leather and darker colors

Edgy style leans on darker colors, hardware, and unexpected materials. Consequently, your swimsuit should feel a little tougher than the rest of the pool.

Look for high-shine finishes, metal rings, cutouts with sharp lines, and black on black.

Style it with: a sheer black cover-up, silver chains, chunky rings, and angular sunglasses. Confidence is the accessory here.

4. CASUAL — Easy, comfortable and chic

Casual style is easy, comfortable, and chic. Therefore, your swimsuit should be one you forget you are wearing.

Ribbed fabric is the hero here. It holds its shape, feels substantial, and looks far more expensive than it photographs.

Style it with: an oversized cotton button-down, denim shorts, flat sandals, and a canvas tote. Effortless, but never sloppy.

5. MINIMAL — Less is more

Minimal style believes less is more. As a result, your swimsuit should be defined by what it leaves out.

No hardware. No print. No ruffle. Just an impeccable cut in a clean, quiet color.

Style it with: a long linen robe, flat white sandals, and one piece of jewelry. This is where fabric quality matters most, because there is nothing to hide behind.

6. PREPPY — Knits, patterns and structure

Preppy style loves knits, patterns, and structure. Therefore, a high-waisted bikini in a classic stripe is exactly right.

The high waist adds polish and coverage. Meanwhile, the stripe keeps it crisp rather than fussy.

Style it with: a white cable-knit cardigan, tailored shorts, and pearl studs. Nautical without the costume.

7. TIMELESS — Elegant and simple

Timeless style is elegant and simple. In other words, it should look as right in ten years as it does today.

A black maillot is the little black dress of swimwear. Ruching adds a soft, forgiving line without dating the suit.

Style it with: a white kaftan, a wide-brim hat, gold sandals, and pearls. This is the look that never needs updating.

8. FEMININE — Girlish silhouettes and ladylike colors

Feminine style leans into girlish silhouettes and ladylike colors. As a result, details matter more than statements.

Look for ruffles, scalloped trim, soft ties, and a color that flatters rather than shouts.

Style it with: an eyelet-lace cover-up, delicate gold jewelry, and a straw bag. Sweet, but never juvenile.

9. GLAM — Sequins, shine and over the top

Glam style is sequins, shine, and gloriously over the top. Therefore, your swimsuit should catch the light before anyone catches your name.

Metallics, high-shine finishes, and hardware are all fair game. Restraint is not the assignment.

Style it with: a sheer printed kaftan, oversized hoops, gold cuffs, and big sunglasses. Then walk to the pool like it is a runway.

10. ECLECTIC — Mixing patterns and styles

Eclectic style is about mixing patterns and styles on purpose. Consequently, a matching set is the only real mistake.

Mix a check with a floral, or a stripe with an abstract. Keep one color running through both prints so the mix reads intentional.

Style it with: a striped shirt, statement earrings, and a patterned tote. More is more, as long as something ties it together.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Swimsuit shopping should not feel like an annual battle. The right suit already exists.

You simply need to know which cuts, brands, and details work for your body and your style adjectives.

Remember, this is the one category where spending less usually costs more. Quality fabric, thoughtful construction, and proper lining are what make a swimsuit smooth, support, and stay put.

When you invest in the right piece, you will not just look incredible. You will feel confident every time you put it on.