Thong Bikinis, Cutouts, and 5 More Trends to Shop From Miami Swim Week

If the cutout trend proves anything, it’s that showing off skin is going to be in for a while. At Miami Swim Week, the runways flooded with models in mesh-panelled garments, revisiting the cutout’s sister trend, which includes using flesh-toned fabrics to create the illusion of exposed skin. The result? Sultry yet sleek swimwear that could easily work as going-out apparel. Ema Savahl’s couture swimwear show reimagined the brand’s painted-onto-the-skin technique, while Onalaja married mesh inserts with sequins to create a striped effect.

Hesitant to deviate from bikinis? This Norma Kamali Bishop Nude Insert One Piece Swimsuit ($275) just might change your mind, if only because these translucent mesh stripes make for one super-interesting garment.

Some brands just have this technique down to a science. You haven’t fully considered this trend if you don’t have these God Save Queens Ivy Top ($69) and God Save Queens Ivy Bottom ($55) on your list.

The skin-like base on this swimsuit is striking on its own, but the polka-dot motif on this Ema Savahl Ender Bubbles Black One Piece ($450) also creates an optical illusion that highlights your curves.

If the question of how to get the best bang for your buck is on the table, here’s your answer as far as resort wear goes: sarongs as skirts. Not the ultrasheer, ultra mini, you-wouldn’t-catch-me-wearing-this-anywhere-other-than-the-beach kind. Instead, designers posed an updated kind of sarong. The design is relatively opaque and can rival any skirt in a nonaquatic setting. Heading on a trip? With this trend, you’ve got a top contender for your waterside activities and dinner outfit all in one.

There’s something about sarongs that just makes prints stand out, and we think it might be the chic, gathered-at-the-waist shape. This Zara Printed Sarong ($46) pretty much proves this theory.

This Just Bee Queen Issa Skirt ($395) comes together with a statement ruffled gathering rather than a tie front, morphing the idea of a sarong into an actual skirt. In other words, this skirt is one of the most versatile resort wear items you can invest in.

When you’re not on the beach, style this Cupshe Love Struck Ruffle Maxi Pareo ($35) with a black bodysuit and strappy heels to transform the garment entirely.

Nostalgia seeps its way into every corner of fashion, and swimwear is no exception. Remember the chunky belts of the 2000s? According to brands such as Poster Girl, which sent a line of bikinis complete with belt-like details down the runway during Miami Swim Week, they’re back. Designers interpret the trend in a number of ways, from a bikini top with belted shoulder straps to a one-piece cinched with a buckle to styles that may incorporate such details solely for aesthetic rather than function. Nevertheless, they command attention and are worth considering for your poolside ‘fit.

Surely among the edgiest of bikinis you’ve seen, these Heart of Sun Swim My Darling Bikini Top ($98) and Heart Of Sun Swim My Darling Bikini Bottom ($90) are for anyone seeking a biker-inspired swim look. Naturally, the design and placement of the belts make the set easily customizable and adjustable, too.

Hands down, this Rose Swimsuits Sweet Buckle Belt High Waist Scoop Neck Bikini Two Piece Swimsuit ($28, originally $55) is as Barbiecore as it gets.

For a crisp, clean, and modern approach to the trend, try out the Jonathan Simkhai Noa Belted Underwire One Piece Swimsuit ($195). Add a floppy straw hat and raffia beach tote to round out the easy look.

Animal prints are always in style, but this season, swimwear designers made a strong case for embracing these animal-themed patterns. Whether it was a take on the classic leopard print, tiger-printed swimsuits complete with matching cover-ups, or embroidered depictions of animals, many brands fully encourage you to unleash your wild side.

Between the playful, deep-V silhouette of this Monday Swimwear Clovelly Top ($98) (complete with a supportive underwire) and the simple yet stylish matching Monday Swimwear Byron Bottom ($77), this set will command plenty of attention.

Chunky chain straps, a chic zebra print, the side cutout of all side cutouts – these are just a few things that make this Same Los Angeles Gold Chain One Piece ($255) a literal work of art

The Montce Tigre Micro Scrunch Hunter Triangle Bikini Top ($92) and Montce Tigre Micro Scrunch Brasil Bikini Bottom ($88) are the updates you need to the classic bikini. With double straps at the hip that you can wear as high or low as desired, this set may come with the best fit yet.

Gone are the days when tie-front, robe-like swimsuit cover-ups were your only options. Sheer dresses are starting to step into the resortwear spotlight. Take styles showcased at Ema Savahl, featuring three-dimensional floral details, or Acacia’s minimal and refined take on the sheer dress with designs that feel all at once ready for the beach and primed for a lunch date. With the right garment underneath, this trend champions a style you can take off the shore as well.

Want all eyes on you on vacation? This Melissa Simone Amira Maxi Dress ($200) will all but make sure of it.

One brand has had fashion-forward beach dresses at its core since its inception. The Louisa Ballou Heatwave Dress ($455) comes with a split colorway in hues that are just begging to be snapped for the ‘gram.

“Angelic” is the only word that comes to mind for this dreamy Gigi C Michelle Mesh Coverup ($110). Pair it with a white bikini and stacked gold jewels for a date-night-ready ensemble.

Finally, permission to not match! Well, kind of. Brands such as Cupshe and Sinesia showcased bikinis you might not typically think of as sets: printed bottoms paired with solid tops, marrying colorblock hues, and the like. This customizable trend lends itself to your individuality.

This Akosha Triangle Top ($108) is reversible and thus ideal for endless mixing and matching. Try styling it on its striped side while juxtaposing it against the subdued, burnt-orange print on these Akosha Cinco Bottoms ($128). Meanwhile, the striped waistband – which is adorned with gold-toned ringlets, no less – ties it all together.

The easiest way to make this trend your own is to play with simple colorblocking. Take one color from this Los Angeles Apparel The Ophelia 2-Tone Ring Bikini Top ($52), and pair it with bottoms of the same color, like this Los Angeles Apparel High Cut Thong Bikini Bottom ($32).

Mixing and matching is most fun when working with vibrant colors and prints, like this Leni Swims Zia Halter Top ($67). Tack on solid-colored bikini bottoms, such as these Leni Swims Capri Cheeky Bottoms ($45, originally $67) in orange, and you’re golden.

“Dopamine dressing” and “Barbiecore” may be buzzwords of the moment, but brands such as Riot Swim, Bodhi, and Beach Bunny are proof that there’s still a place for the subdued and minimal. These brands were among the bunch offering up flesh-toned swimsuits in various shades of nude, and they’re far from boring. In lieu of saturated hues, you’ll find excitement in crafty design – think unexpectedly high cuts and deconstructed interpretations of the typical bikini silhouette.

Swim shirts, like the one that’s part of this Iconic Swim Riptide Bikini ($34) set, are growing in popularity. And in an especially wearable tone such as Iconic Swim’s chocolate hue, prepare to increase your cost per wear by pairing it with trousers or jeans even when you’re not hanging poolside.

This Sage Swim Julieanna Set ($100) may be one of the daintiest bikinis you ever did see, and that’s exactly why you can expect it to stand out in a crowd. Layer over a mesh cover-up and a floppy hat for a weekend getaway ‘fit.

With an ultra high-legged cut that exaggerates the hips, a plunging neckline, and expertly placed ruching details, this Riot Swim Echo One Piece-Coconut ($150) is a prime contender for your pool wardrobe. When you’re not waterside, wear it under your favorite denim with chic espadrilles.