Swimwear Trends for Summer
You may think it's all about the skin you're showing on the beach this summer, but it's also all about what swimwear is covering your skin. The truth is, the kind of swimwear you wear will say a lot about how good your exposed skin looks. So what's new in 2012? What trends are out there, and how will they fit you the best?
Ruffles - Not Just for Shirts
Ruffles are making a comeback in the fashion world in 2012, and not just in shirts. Ruffles are showing on bikinis and swimsuits, edging top and bottom. They can show up anywhere, which seems to be the point of the ruffles - you never know where they're going to crop up. They are nice distractions from the usual sleek lines of swimwear, which gives a fun, casual look to the swimwear.
Vintage
The high-waisted two-piece is back for 2012, as are "boy legged" swimsuits. High-waisted bikini bottoms are not the "granny pants" you might have come to dread. In cute patterns like gingham checks and florals, the higher waist looks tasteful and shapely this year. Boy legs, which are basically very low-cut bottoms that go around the upper leg (rather than arching up over the hip), can be found on one-piece swimsuits in 2012.
Another vintage element employed by swimsuit designers this summer is the fuller cup on the top. This style adds shape and curve to the swimsuit, and is the opposite of the minimal "string bikinis" of the recent past.
Crochet Swimwear - Really
The crochet and knitting movement is on, and it's entered the realm of swimwear. The open-weave look of crochet actually creates a versatile piece - some crocheted bikini tops or monokinis (monokinis are one-piece swimsuits with cut-out sides) can be worn with pants, skirts, or shorts. The ruffled look is sometimes combined with the crocheted material as well, adding a cute, whimsical flare to the swimsuit or bikini. Crochet is also a fashionable and tasteful way to distract viewers from any flaws you want to hide.
You'll see mostly white when it comes to crocheted swimwear, but black and even some pink is showing up as well.
The Digital Age: Prints
Swimwear has almost always come in printed varieties, but this year it's gone digital. In modern, contrasting colors, digital prints are the spirit of the age. Sometimes you'll see vintage artwork printed on one and two-piece swimsuits; other times, digital prints mimic textures. Digital prints also give swimwear a sporty look, even featuring zippers on the front of some styles.
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