I used to be so guilty of buying those super cheap and trendy swimsuits every single spring because they looked so cute on my social media feed. I would end up with a drawer packed full of neon neon patterns and weird strap setups that were incredibly complicated to get into and would honestly look totally out of style by the exact next summer. Not to mention after like three trips into the ocean and a couple of spins through the washing machine the fabric would get all thin and loose and completely lose its shape. It was this constant annoying cycle of spending money on fast fashion trash that just ended up in the back of my closet. A few years ago when I was packing for a quick weekend getaway I realized I had absolutely nothing reliable to wear and I just made a pact with myself to stop the madness. I decided to hunt down one single perfect baseline swimsuit that wasn’t trying to follow any passing trends but was just beautifully made. It turns out that when you actually focus on the foundation of the suit instead of the flashy gimmicks you can find something that looks just as good five years later as the day you bought it.
Going back to the absolute basics of monochrome colors
The very first step to finding a swimsuit that will survive the test of time is being brutally honest about color because patterns are the easiest way to date an outfit. That super specific tropical floral print or the animal skin pattern might be everywhere this season but I promise you everyone will know exactly what year you bought it when you wear it down the road. I always tell people to stick to solid monochrome colors like a rich midnight black or a deep navy blue or even a classic olive green. These shades have this timeless and expensive look to them that never goes out of style no matter what the current aesthetic is. Plus the best thing about a solid baseline color is that it coordinates perfectly with whatever hat or sunglasses or beach cover up you already own so you never have to worry about clashing.
Finding the neckline that doesn't care about trends
When you are looking at all the options out there it is easy to get distracted by crazy cutouts or asymmetrical straps but those are the exact details that will make a suit feel old in a couple of seasons. You want to look for a classic scoop neck or a clean square neckline because these shapes have been around for decades for a reason. They are incredibly flattering on almost every single body type and they give off a very elegant and clean silhouette. A square neck in particular has this beautiful structural vibe that frames your collarbones without being overly revealing or trying too hard to be sexy. It is the kind of cut that looks just as chic on a boat in Italy as it does at a local community pool with your family.
Investing in the weight and thickness of the material
You can usually tell if a swimsuit is going to last five years within two seconds of touching the fabric because quality has a very specific weight to it. Cheap swimsuits always feel super thin and slippery and they rely entirely on a ton of elastic strings to hold their shape on your body. You want to look for brands that use a heavy matte nylon blend with a substantial double lining throughout the entire suit. When a swimsuit has a proper lining it acts like a gentle layer of support that smooths everything out and keeps its shape even after it gets completely soaked in salt water and chlorine. It shouldn’t feel like a suffocating corset but it should definitely feel like a real piece of structured clothing rather than a flimsy piece of underwear.
Checking the construction details before you buy
If you want a suit to survive years of summer vacations you have to pay attention to the tiny details like the stitching and the hardware. I always inspect the seams to make sure they are flat and double stitched because that prevents the fabric from unraveling when it gets stretched out. You should also be really careful about swimsuits that rely on a lot of metal rings or plastic slides to keep the straps together. Plastic snaps break easily under the summer heat and cheap metal will start to rust or turn green the second it hits pool chemicals. Choosing a suit with wide solid shoulder straps and no extra hardware might seem a little plain at first but it eliminates all the weak points that usually ruin a good swimsuit.
The incredible versatility of a high quality bodysuit double
One major bonus of owning a truly classic minimalist swimsuit is that it easily doubles as a high end bodysuit for your actual wardrobe. Because the fabric is thick and the cut is so polished you can easily throw on a pair of high waisted linen pants or a denim skirt right over it when you leave the beach. You look instantly put together for a casual lunch or a sunset drink without having to pack a whole separate change of clothes in your bag. A trendy suit with cutouts and ties everywhere looks ridiculous when you try to wear it as a top but a clean baseline piece blends in perfectly with your regular summer clothes. It is the ultimate packing hack for vacation because you are essentially getting two outfits for the price of one.
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