SWIMWEAR TRENDS 2011

Suit by Paul & Joe

PATTERN-MAKER. Although solid-color swimwear is classic and versatile, we know that many of you are looking for something a little more exciting and want a more unique piece of swimwear this year. Fortunately, patterned swimwear abounds this spring, with styles ranging from simple, two-color patterns to kaleidoscope-resembling pieces. You may have your work cut out for you in deciding just which suit to make yours.


Some of the items in Milly’s 2011 collection channeled looks from earlier decades, such as the high-waisted two-piece suit in a brown and white pattern. Bluegirl kept it sweet with a romantic ruffled bikini in a blue and yellow dot pattern, accented with small ruffles and bows. A pink dress coat topped off the look during the show.

For more skin-baring opportunities, check out Paul & Joe’s itty bitty bikini decorated with a geometric pattern in yellow, white, black, blue, and pink. Vanessa Bruno’s green, pink, and black bandeau bikini is another way to show off a well-toned stomach.

If you’re not up for committing to just one swimwear trend, you can incorporate patterns into one of your other favorite spring 2011 looks, for example, slimming cutouts. Vanessa Bruno showed a number of patterned suits during her spring show, including a one-piece style with cutouts on the waist. A strap around the waist accented the pattern, a checkered theme in yellow and brown. Emilio Pucci’s geometric-based patterned suit, also a one-piece, included large cutouts on the waist.

Suit by Agua De Coco

COLD SHOULDER. One-shoulder swimwear styles are a great way to combine the sexiness of shoulder-baring bandeau styles with the practicality and versatility of strappy suits. Although strapless styles are great for lounging on the beach and walking around poolside, Bold Bandeaus are not always the best choice when faced with a dip in a wave-filled ocean.


White Sands Australia included a one-shoulder suit during its spring 2011 show that featured a large side cutout and a black and white floral pattern. For a classic look that also helps camouflage a tummy, consider Agua De Coco's grey one-shoulder style featuring rouching all over the body of the suit. Swimwear Anywhere and Paul & Joe also included one-shoulder styles in their 2011 collections; Swimwear Anywhere's suit was covered in a blue and purple geometric pattern while Paul & Joe's suit featured a pattern with tribal roots.

If you're looking for an edgier or more unique style, you don't have to look very far. VPL included a one-shoulder suit in its 2011 spring collection; this yellow and brown item combined a bandeau top, a one shoulder strap, and a cutout on the suit bottom. Tsumori Chisato's one-shoulder number featured a bright yellow shoulder strap, a black body, and a large printed eye surrounded by red eyelash-like accents.

Suit by Michael Kors

ELEGANTLY WAISTED. While some of the spring 2011 swimwear trends, such as Sexy Cutouts and A Hint of Lingerie, require a bit of a daring streak, we here at SwimwearTrends.com know that not all of our readers are up for making such bold statements. Fortunately, there are lots of swimwear trends to choose from to make spring 2011 your most fashionable swimwear season yet without having all eyes on you. Why not accent an otherwise simple suit with some Serious Hardware? Whether a simple O-shaped ring between the triangles of a bikini top or elaborately woven pieces on both sides of a bikini bottom, hardware make a great statement. Complement your adorned swimwear with accessories in a similar style, such as a pair of woven sandals or large, gold jewelry.


There was a lot of hardware on the runways during the spring 2011 fashion shows. Beach Bunny Swimwear showed a simple white bikini accented with brown hardware between the two triangles of the bikini top and on both sides of the bottom. The look was complemented by turquoise bracelets and dangling earrings. Caffe Swimwear featured two accented looks: a white bikini with gold hardware pieces and a one-piece cutout style decorated with gold along the sides. Rag & Bone showed a daring black style with two large buckles on either side of a cutout over the chest. For a more subdued look, consider Michael Kors' brown one piece suit completed by a large, brown belt or Poko Pano's simple brown bikini with woven hardware on the bottom side.

Suit by Beach Bunny Swim

LINGERIE-LIKE. If you're looking for a bit of a controversial swimwear trend for the coming spring, or searching for something with that "wow" factor, take a hint from lingerie. Many designers showed swimwear during their spring 2011 fashion shows that closely resembled lingerie pieces; in fact, some of them so closely mirrored lingerie styles that it was hard to tell the difference between the two.


The delicate and subtle detailing, feminine colors, and flattering shapes of lingerie have been mirrored in these new lingerie-inspired swimwear styles and if you dare, purchase yourself a beautiful new piece of swimwear cut from the same cloth as your favorite lingerie and let your femininity speak volumes.

Agua De Coco's grey style resembled a simple strapless bra and a matching swim bottoms, enhanced by a simple geometric stitching pattern in the same shade of grey. Beach Bunny Swimwear's show featured two pieces resembling items of lingerie, but with very different looks. The first style, an all-black bandeau and matching bottoms, featured lots of lace and a sheer look across the chest. The second number, in a brilliant teal blue, was a halter style accented with black lace. Lisa Blue's lingerie-inspired swimsuit was designed in feminine hues of pink and purple, while Poko Pano's version stuck to the classic and sexy lingerie color of black. Marysia's lingerie-inspired swimwear was a tribute to earlier decades and featured a high-waisted bottom and a delicate top with modest coverage.