What to pack to make a splash this summer.
At this time of year, the lure of sun, sea and new-season swimwear is hard to resist. But before you reach for your passport, remember that every good holiday begins with a trip to Bond Street, where beach-ready styles await.
From Gucci's skimpy, tangerine-coloured bikini to Ralph Lauren's flattering scoop-back swimsuit, designers lean into colour-blocking, graphic prints and shapewear themes in their vibrant summer 2024 collections. Florals add impact on swimsuits at Loro Piana and Dolce & Gabbana, while black-and-white zebra prints make the news elsewhere. As for embellishments, expect plenty of beads, fringing and other crafty touches. And there are logos galore on beach shoes, bags and bikinis, most notably at Loewe, Dior and Louis Vuitton.
Whether you are mixing with the art crowd in Hydra, cruising around the Balearics or simply lounging by the hotel pool, let our swimwear edit do the hard work for you.
Make Waves with Colourful Beach Accessories
Summer calls for bright and breezy beach and poolside accessories. Created by artist and Hermès collaborator Matthieu Cossé, this colourful terry cloth beach towel, £600, with its lively Tropiquet print, will keep the holiday vibes going long after you are home. Or how about a pair of hot-pink mules? Louis Vuitton's new Pool 55 Flat Comfort Mules, £555, are made from waterproof rubber and come in zesty shades of tangerine and lime. You'll need a bag to carry all your beach-time essentials, in which case, not only does Loewe's large font tote bag in raffia, £1,450, pack a lot in, but it also looks great thrown together with a white linen shirt and denim shorts.
The Statement Swimsuit
Whether you are sunning yourself by the pool or reading the latest page-turner in the shade, swimsuits featuring a block of colour or punchy prints are bound to turn heads. In addition to his usual blue and white stripes, Ralph Lauren brings the sunshine in the shape of this striking lace-up design, £189. Elsewhere, Burberry opts for adding signature checks on this scoop-back swimsuit, £420, which comes with a matching drawstring bag. For the ultimate statement piece, Stella McCartney's zebra-print cut-out swimsuit consciously crafted from recycled swimsuit nylon, £310, takes the wild things trend to a whole other level.
The High-Waisted Bikini
Bikinis that support, sculpt and look good in any beach or pool setting, is the name of the game this season. Once again, designers raid the shapewear archives to create flattering two-piece swimsuits with a twist. Trust Dolce & Gabbana to put the sass into its latest swimwear collection. The duo's new Majolica-print balconette bikini top and bottoms, £575, can't help but bring out the 1950s siren in you. Max Mara's jersey and Lurex one-shoulder bikini top, £165, and matching bottoms, £130, gently shimmer under the sun thanks to the addition of light metallic fibres. And when it comes to the ultimate cover-up, Ferragamo's chic Venus-print kaftan, £745, will take you from ship to shore in style.