When it comes to knowing the season's trends, be it for clothes or accessories, the more information you have the better. For those planning to invest in new swimwear, or perhaps just browsing, knowing the most popular swimsuit styles may help you narrow down your picks when it comes time to checkout. For spring/summer 2020, you'll find that a lot of swim brands gravitated towards certain designs like tie-dye or bumped up their suit offerings in animal print, thus showing us that these swim trends will dominate at the pool or beach. Not feeling either? Maybe you're more of the ruffle bikini variety. Whatever the case, we've pinpointed all the swimwear trends to know and shop for the season. (Don't worry, this info is easy to digest!).
•••
For more stories like this, including celebrity news, beauty and fashion advice, savvy political commentary, and fascinating features, sign up for the Marie Claire newsletter (subscribe here).
Tie-Dye
Our fascination with tie-dye garments hasn't disappeared as adults. As someone who hosted an at-home tie-dye party last summer, I'm itching to do it again. Though I'll stick to tie-dying tees and socks, the brands ahead have it down to a science when it comes to crafting tie-dye swimsuits.
L*Space Tie-Dye Beach Wave Bikini Top
This icy-blue bandeau bikini has a lace-up back for a sexy detail from behind. The swimsuit is completely hand dyed, which means no two pieces will be the same.
Frankies Bikinis Skylar One Piece
Show as much skin as you want in this high-leg, plunging neckline one-piece swimsuit. It has the cheekiest bottom for a "sun's out, buns out" look.
Rope Details
Maritime-inspired elements like a rope around the waist gives swimsuits that nautical vibe, whether you're at the pool or beach. Feel anchored in your swimwear look with a cute pair of slides and a sunhat.
SAME The Lady One Piece
This striped one-piece swimsuit has an easily removable rope belt, so you can wear it as a regular bodysuit if you wish. This suit should be enjoyed poolside or beach side.
Lisa Marie Fernandez Yasmin Belted Swimsuit
Feeling down? Slip into this sunshine-yellow swimsuit for an instant dose of positivity. The one-piece is made from a soft and comfortable cotton blend with a rope-style belted waist.
Underwire Bralette
Looking for extra support, or just a little lift in your bikini top? Our prayers have been answered this season by underwire bralettes. Expect this structured style to come in all colors and prints.
Tory Burch Lipsi Printed Underwire Top
This underwire bra top features four-way stretch for a comfy fit and SPF 50 sun protection, though you should still slather on actual sunscreen for extra precaution. Wear it with matching bottoms, or mix and match.
Cult Gaia Cindy PVC-Trimmed Underwired Bikini
The defining detail in this Cult Gaia swimsuit? The PVC straps. They give the bikini an almost naked look on your body, like the fabric has somehow plastered itself to your skin and stuck. Cool? Very.
Textured Swimsuits
Textured bikinis and one-pieces like those made from ribbed material or seersucker will have their moment in the spotlight for spring/summer 2020. In lieu of crazy florals or colors, you might find yourself gravitating towards this more minimalist style. Ready for a refresh? I am.
Solid & Striped The Nina Belt
Solid & Striped has offered belted swimsuits in its collections for a few seasons now, and its latest variation is a ribbed style. Since this is one of the brands that always sets the swimwear trends for the year, you should buy this before everyone else does.
Hunza G Nancy One-Shoulder Seersucker Swimsuit
Celebrities like Rosie Huntington-Whiteley are fans of Hunza G's super-minimalist swimsuits. This one features a crinkled seersucker material that's woven with metallic threads, so you'll shimmer and shine at the pool.
High-Waisted Bottoms
"High-waist and high-cut bikini pants are on trend for a few seasons now and will remain [that way] for spring/summer 2020," said Mytheresa's Fashion Buying Director, Tiffany Hsu.
I can breathe a sigh of relief. Personally, I only wear high-waisted bikini bottoms (long torso problems) and now there will be even more styles to choose from. Brands like Veronica Beard (pictured left) are offering bright pieces next season to signal the more optimistic feeling warm weather brings.
Veronica Beard Azoia Tie-Waist Bikini Bottom
Tabacaru Swim Blair Black
In search of a classic black-and-white swimsuit to wear forever? Here's your next go-to packable bikini, perfect for a summer in the Hamptons or for relaxing on the beaches of Portugal.
Animal Print
Animal print has presented itself as part of a trend in every season, whether it's in footwear or clothes. For 2020, expect this omnipresent print to pop up in your swimwear, from zebra-printed bikinis to tiger-striped one-pieces. You can already find these readily available at most retailers.
MIKOH Leopard Moni Bikini Top
It's very easy to slip into an animal print swimsuit and feel like you're in a Flintstones episode, but this bikini won't make you feel like that. The one-shoulder style keeps the swimsuit cool and modern while the low-rise sexy bikini bottoms draw attention to your hips.
Gucci One-Shoulder Leopard-Print Swimsuit
Your confidence is unmeasurable, which is why this Gucci logo animal printed one-piece needs to be yours. With this on, you'll stand out the most at the beach.
Ruffle Sleeve
For a feminine touch on all your swim pieces, look for ruffle sleeves. When the breeze from the ocean reaches your spot on the beach, your ruffles will gently flap in the wind. This small detail will revamp any plain two-piece and give it a more contemporary look.
PILYQ x Helen Owen Peach Ruffle Top
Not big on loud prints or color when it comes to your swimsuits? This peach bikini top with ruffles on the shoulders will suit your taste for something subdued but not boring.
Johanna Ortiz Watercolor One-Shoulder Ruffled Bikini Top
On the opposite end of the spectrum of subdued is this stunning Johanna Ortiz creation. This ruffled one-shoulder silhouette features dramatic ruffles and comes in a refreshing mint green color. Wear with the matching belted bottoms.
Neutrals (Tans/Chocolate Brown)
The new neutrals in swimwear are tans and chocolate brown, as evidenced in this Cult Gaia spring 2020 shot. These hues are soft, inviting, and warm, all of which will pair well with your sun-kissed skin. This is a classic color you can rock for seasons to come.
& Other Stories V-Cut Bikini Top
Not sure how the brown shade will look on you? Test it out first with this affordable option from & Other Stories, which has a sexy plunging neckline.
Lisa Marie Fernandez Magdalena High-Waist Bikini
This LMF swimsuit combines two trends in one: a high-waisted fit with a chocolate brown coloring. As someone who owns two Lisa Marie Fernandez designs, I can vouch for the brand's quality and comfortable fit.
Off-the-Shoulder
Some don't mind tan lines, others make sure to remove their tops (and bottoms) to avoid lines. If you're in the latter group, you'll be happy to know that off-the-shoulder styles are back in for spring/summer 2020. Off-the-shoulder swimsuits will highlight your décolletage while preventing visible shoulder lines when you pull the garment down your arm.
Agua Bendita Celia Bikini Top
This off-the-shoulder design gives me the ultimate vacation vibes. Not to mention that it's one of the most Instagrammable swimsuits you can own. Find a nice, leafy palm tree backdrop and snap away.
Self-Portrait Off-the-Shoulder Two-Tone Ribbed Swimsuit
This ribbed off-the-shoulder swimsuit is designed to hug your curves with sexy elements such as cutouts in the front and the back. The two-tone colors also helps you make a fashionable statement.
Ruched
A little bit of ruching in swimsuits goes a long way. The design is known for its slimming effects on one's frame. Whether you prefer ruching in the midsection or on the sides, you'll find plenty of one-piece and bikinis that offer this detail.
CAMI AND JAX Margot One Piece
The ruching on this one-piece is ever so slight around the midsection. The design is anything but matronly, however, thanks to its a thigh-high cut and plunging V-neck.
Norma Kamali Bill High-Wasited Bikini Bottom
You can't talk about ruch designs without mentioning Norma Kamali. The designer is a genius when it comes to crafting soft and stretchy swim fabric and high-waisted styles like this one. For more coverage on your sides, pull the material into a skirt-like fit.
Flirty Florals
This is probably the time to revaluate your swimsuit stash and get rid of your less-beloved floral bikinis. Your collection could use an edit, especially as brands get ready to release more flirty floral pieces. Expect to find everything from bold leafy blossom prints to smaller, daintier flowers that appeal to your dreamy spirit.
Zimmermann Zinna Spliced Floral Bikini
Everyone's definition of flirty florals is a little different, but what immediately comes to mind for me is this Zimmermann bikini. Multi-colored florals coupled with ruffles—what's more flirty than that?
Faithfull The Brand Frida Ruffled Floral Print Bikini
Flirtatious florals don't always have to be in-your-face. Instead, they can take on a more petite and delicate feel like the ones scattered on this ruffle bikini.
Small Gingham Print
After florals, my second-favorite print for swimsuits is gingham. The checkered pattern is a warm-weather clothing staple, which is why gingham swimsuits will always have a home in my closet. This season, you won't have to look far to find this small print covering one-pieces and bikinis.
Vitamin A Yasmeen One-Piece Swimsuit
Give your solid black one-piece swimsuits a break for this gingham print option. The muted shades are suitable for the color adverse while the pattern provides just enough interest to render this swimsuit cool and fun.
Solid & Striped The Brigitte Gingham Bikini Top
This lime green gingham print bikini from Solid & Striped is exclusive to Mytheresa, which means you won't find it everywhere. The design is perfect for channeling all those feel-good summer day vibes at the pool. Get the matching gingham print bottoms too.