Ask A Stylist: Less Is More, More Or Less
The art of discernment when it comes to beachwear
Recently a paid subscriber asked a valid question about bikini dressing on the beach. Thrown by a sea of young barely-there-bottoms on vacation, she queried whether she had missed some kind of beachwear memo. In light of Cannes Film Festival’s recent radical revision of dress codes - the revealing naked dress trend is officially banned alongside excessive voluminous outfits - it does seem that a bit of modesty and conservatism is suddenly en vogue. Someone, somewhere, wants to draw a bodily line.
From my vantage point it does appear that in 2025 the scope of bodily exposure is wholly unprecedented: little is left to the imagination and what was once considered a fashion faux-pas is now another woman’s feminism. In Spain recently I couldn’t help but notice the varying styles of women on the beach. Some were substantially covered while others favoured merely a gesture of cloth. There seems to be a widening gap in what appears to be appropriate, fashionable and genuinely wearable beachwear. It also made me think about the increasing trend for body shapes to fall in and out of favour. Plus size modelling, with its briefly welcomed catwalk interlude, has now seemingly quietened with the reign of GLP-1 induced thinness. On the flip side, if you can mould your body with fake boobs, bums and lifts galore, it seems one should justify the results (or costs) by letting it all hang out.
The art of discernment when it comes to dressing is highly personal but these are my top observations about what looks chic, effortless and stylish for beachwear. Luckily many designers have taken a nod towards retro-inspired swimwear this summer with slightly more coverage than we’re used to seeing. Mostly, it’s about playing with proportions that work for your body type and crucially, not being swayed by trends that fail to suit you.
Swimwear is wholly personal and should be based on your body shape and taste. You want to think about enhancing your best assets, regardless of trends. My ‘rule’ with
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