The swimwear styles to invest in now

Whether you’ve got glamorous plans in Portugal or you’re going to spend your summer tanning by the paddling pool, now is the perfect time to start curating you cossie collection.

And this season there are all sorts of lovely styles to choose from. From lockdown bod-friendly ruching, to itty bitty strappy numbers, and minimalism to psychedelic retro prints, there’s something for every taste and body shape.

Here are six of the key trends to know:

1. Minimal

(Alexandra Nataf for Matteau)

Clean lines and understated silhouettes feel elegant and modern for summer ‘21. Pair with simple sheer slip dresses and thick-soled flip-flops for a look that’s classic and cool.

(COS)

COS drawstring swimsuit, £49. Shop it here

(Matteau)

Matteau swimsuit, £230. Shop it here

(Sir The Label)

Sir The Label Emmanuele bikini top, £131. Shop it here

2. Ruching

(Isa Boulder)

For anyone that’s gained a couple of lockdown pounds (has anyone not?), this trend’s a blessing. Opt for shiny and metallic materials like those favoured by ruching aficionado Isa Boulder for maximum swimwear-as-eveningwear vibes.

IIsa Boulder metallic swimsuit, £190. Shop it here

(Monki)

Monki swimsuit, £30. Shop it here

(ASOS)

ASOS DESIGN ruched underwired swimsuit, now £25.60. Shop it here

3. Cut-outs

(Self Portrait)

They’re already a massive trend in clothing and for summer ‘21, cut-outs are a key swimwear trend too.

(Fisch)

Fisch swimsuit, £186. Shop it here

(Bondi Born)

Bondi Born swimsuit, £165. Shop it here

(Self Portrait)

Self Portrait swimsuit, £220. Shop it here

(Moeva)

Moeva bikini, £250. Shop it here

(Veronica Beard)

Veronica Beard swimsuit, £301. Shop it here

4. Retro prints

(Ayla Swim)

Plump for psychedelic 70s florals and geometric 80s prints for a summer that’s all kinds of groovy baby.

(Zimmermann)

Zimmermann triangle bikini, £195. Shop it now

(Browns)

Frankies Bikinis swimsuit, £180. Shop it here

(Emilio Pucci)

Emilio Pucci bikini, £285. Shop it here

(Arabella London)

Arabella London bikini, £335. Shop it here

5. Asymmetry

(Paper London)

Flash your favourite clavicle in asymmetric necklines. Ruffles, sparkly turbans and extra bling positively encouraged.

(Ganni)

Ganni swimsuit, £145. Shop it here

(Hush)

Hush swimsuit, £69. Shop it here

(Paper London)

Paper London swimsuit, £195. Shop it here

6. All tied up

Lea the Label (Lea the Label)

This summer’s itty bitty teeny weeny bikini’s come with tummy ties and strappy waists - the more spaghetti the better.

(H&M)

H&M bikini, £14. Shop it here

(Browns)

Reina Olga bikini, £130. Shop it here

(Jonathan Simkhai)

Jonathan Simkhai bikini, £210. Shop it here