Women’s Wear Daily wrote about a new trend today (which actually started at least a year ago, but I digress): Swimwear that is very lingerie-esque.
My lovely followers know that I’ve been quite bathing suit crazy lately because of my vacation (which is just 20 short days away!) I’ve always loved swimwear (even as an awkwardly skinny, flat-chested teen.) There is something so awesome about finding the perfect pink girly bikini.
I check out the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue every year, and I noticed this trend a LONG time ago. I personally like this trend. Bathing suits can be boring, and I think adding things like bows, lace and other fun details makes the bathing suit less blah/plain.
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want to actually look like I’m wearing lingerie, but I think lingerie-inspired swimwear is pretty. I recently purchased a few suits at Target from the Rodarte line, and one of them has pretty girly ruffles, and the other has black lace detailing (click link for photos).
I still think they look like swimwear, but some people don’t like the lingerie inspired swimwear looks. I don’t really see the difference, I guess. It all covers the same amount of skin (in many cases, swimwear covers more!)
Beach Bunny Swimwear is a (super pricey) line that really takes lingerie inspired swimwear to the next level. They’ve been featured in SI too. Here are some of their looks:
What do you think? Is it too much or do you find these suits to be cute? Here are some more lingerie-inspired looks from SI (past issues):
So ladies, is this swimwear appealing to you, or do you like more basic looks? I love fun prints and bold looks for swimwear, so you can probably tell I’m thrilled that swimwear has gone in this direction. I can’t tell you how sick I am of solid color triangle top bikinis with side-tie bottoms- so classic, yet kinda boring (I do own some suits like this, but most are patterned)
xoxo,
Veronika.
These looks are beautiful but I think these particular suits do look like lingerie. I totally dig them though. I think if the lace / bows, etc are just toned down a tad then it won't look as much like actual bras and underwear. I would really like to see these in person though, as the pictures may be decieving.
These particular ones, the first few, really look like lingerie to me, but I still think they're cute–I love this trend but think I'd stick to the ones like Target has to offer.
I like the last image you posted. The other ones are cute on the models (obviously! What wouldn't be?!), but I don't think a regular person could pull them off. I do like the ones you got at Target though 🙂
Andi- good point! it's easier to pull something off when you have a great body!
Def not my style… but then again I'm not really a 'girly girl'… I'm more of a 'tomboy' and I love my collection of Roxy and J.Crew bikinis.
The Beach Bunny pics you posted don't bother me so much for the tops as the bottoms do… they really look like some underwear I own, which is not a look I'd want to rock on the beach…
E- I totally own some undies with lace trim like the ones in the pics. I love bikinis from J. Crew as well, but they are so pricey!
I hear ya, that's why I buy them on sale!
Personal trick – their suits are normally easy to mix and match so given the limited options with their swim sales, I'll go for solid bottoms and patterns tops, vice versa…
E- I LOVE to mix and match! I didn't used to own that many matching suits (which is why I bought so many recently).
*sigh* I love beach bunny swimwear, it's too bad they are ridiculously expensive! I LOVE lingerie inspired swimwear!
ally- the prices are insane. Sadly, it really limits their reach. I guess they only target high-end consumers.
I like the last one, actually I like all of them, but only realistically like the last one.
I would feel really awkward wearing those out to the beach, partially because I'm relatively certain at least half of my fellow beach goers would believe I was wearing actual lingerie, and thats no good.
Natalie- I think you have to rock those suits with confidence! You definitely can't care what other people think, or you'd never make it to the beach in one of these more daring designs! 🙂
I LOVE the first one and the last one. Overall, I like the ones you got a Target better 🙂
mjellis- the ones from Target are definitely more beachy and bathing-suit looking. I like that they are fun but still look like actual bathing suits.
I love it! I recently splurged on a Betsey Johnson bikini from Everything But Water that is lingerie inspired. My husband was mad about the price, until I put it on:)
ohhh I LOVE Betsy Johnson swimsuits! sooo cute!
All of the bathing suits are absolutely gorgeous, but I prefer the look of the Rodarte suits better. They seem a little more practical and almost more sweet than overtly sexy.
I LOVE that last one!!! Wow!
I think the suits are gorgeous (particularly the third one posted and the last one) but not necessarily my style. I tend to gravitate towards suits with polka dots or stripes. These suits are hot though!
katie- I love polka dota and stripes too! I find sometimes certain styles with prints like those can look a bit "young" though. I guess now that I'm older I feel a little silly in ROXY bikini intended for younger girls, but hey, if it looks good, it looks good, right!?
I think most swimsuits today are so skanky looking. These are just obscene. Just because it covers everything doesn't make it ok to wear in public. This is exactly what is wrong with young women today. Skanky does not equal sexy.
anon, I did not find the suits to look skanky, but everyone is certainly entitled to their opinion. I'm of the opinion that if you have the body to pull off a bikini, then you should wear one. The triangle tops above, with the lace, cover the exact same as a regular triangle top bikini from Target would, but they are maybe sexier because of the lace.
You also have to take into account the models and theid bodies- these are pretty women with great bodies, so of course the bathing suits look sexy!
I don't think there is anything wrong with looking sexy, especially on the beach!
Its not the lace that makes it skanky. Its the size of swimsuits nowdays. If I can tell that you wax, your swimsuit it too small. Whether or not you have the body for it. Would you want your daughters to wear suits like that? Or your sons having to look at that on the beach? I would hope not.
anon- should women wear high-waisted boy short bikinis, like we did in the 1920's?
I can't imagine wearing a swimsuit that covered so much that people wouldn't know whether I waxed or not.
IMO, those bikinis cover enough- as long as more than 50% of breasts are covered and I can't see each butt cheek I'm ok with it.
I don't think beach wear needs to be modest. It's the beach, after all.
I don't have children, but if my daughter wanted to wear a bikini, I would let her. I've always worn them and my mom (at 52) still wears them!
It's about comfort level. Either you can wear it or you can't. You clearly aren't comfortable with showing so much skin, which is absolutely fine with me 🙂
Of course women should not dress like prudes but the swimsuits in your original posts were just inappropriate. Even though I could pull it off, I choose to wear bikinis that don't make me look like a cheap whore.
anon- once again- take into account WHO is wearing them. The models are all tiny with huge boobs. Of course they look a little bit sexier than they would on the average woman.
I'm curious to see if you could kindly post links to examples of bikinis that you do not find offensive and ones that would not make someone look like a "cheap whore."
I would like to see what you consider to be appropriate swimwear for a woman.
Almost all of the swimsuits from JCrew are not skanky and still cute. I just dont see anything wrong with leaving something to the imagination.
hmmm…think about it like this: what if the
J. Crew swimsuits (the triangle tops ones, for example) were modeled by one of the women above? On a tiny body with huge boobs, almost ANY swimsuit can look a little revealing/overtly sexy (or "skany" in your opinion)
It's not the suit itself, it's who is wearing it.
I can't pull off certain dresses but my best friend can. On me, some dresses are just too short because I'm so tall, but on someone like my friend, the same dress looks cute and completely appropriate.
Anyways, I don't mean to get too far into this debate and I don't own any of the suits above, so it's certainly not personal, but I'm trying to prove the point that even suits from other designers/stores cover the same as the ones above. It's about who's wearing it, not the suit itself.
Nope, I am pretty sure that the lace ones you posted would still look skanky on a stick. Its not the people wearing them, its the fact that it leaves VERY little to the imagination with all that lace and string ties. Why would you want to walk around in public looking like you were wearing something that should be for your significant others eyes only?
I guess we will have to agree to disagree on this one 🙂 I don't think the suits above leave any less to the imagination than a regular triangle top bikini with bottoms that have side ties from J.Crew. Sorry!
Some of them are racy looking, but they cover the same amount, so that, to me makes them no worse than a regular non-lace/non-detailed bikini. If they covered way less than normal bikinis, I might agree with you.
I think if the same amount of your body shows, then it doesn't matter if your bikini is plain or has detail.
It's the same amount of skin, bottom line,and I don't think men notice (or care) whether your bikini has tie sides, a little lace on it, buttons, polka dots or stripes. Guys will look at any woman they find attractive wearing a bikini.
Appropriate for Vegas or some of the more provocateur-friendly beaches in Europe, but I would have my future mother privileges revoked if I strutted around the family-friendly beaches of the East Coast wearing something that looks like my husband should be peeling it off with his bare neked teeth.
My vote is: cute in theory, questionable in practice.
Kristen- I like your style! It's definitely not for everyone. That's why I'm glad there's in "in between" option like the styles at Target (by Rodarte) still girly and ruffly and lacey, but not over the top racy.
I do agree some of the suits above are racy, but I just used them as examples to illustrate the trend. Beach Bunny takes the trend to that next level which doesn't sit well with all consumers.
Personally, I like an in between kind of look when it comes to sexy swimwear, but I can see the appeal of the super racy ones too.
My giant bambino ended all chances of me ever sporting one of these. Thank goodness for adorable retro one pieces a la Charlotte York!
Love, love these! I'll definitely be buying at least one lingerie inspired bikini next year!! Who wouldn't want to show off pretty "lingerie"?
Great for a night in the bedroom with your husband. Not great for the beach – don't care what your body looks like!
Well this post has certainly stirred up some opinions, but I think it's great to have a healthy fashion-related debate once in awhile.
We will never all come to a concensus on what's beautiful, appropriate or fashionable- but that's why fashion is so incredible- what is gorgeous to one person is someone else's trash. Thanks for commenting everyone!
if you have it why not show it.
Most people love to look whether they
admit it or not!
mens swimwear