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Prairie Girl
13.99 euros
Your Guide to the Trendiest Bikinis of Summer 2026
You can never have too many swimsuits. Meet our guide to the most stylish bikinis and bandeaus of the summer season 2026. La Cotorra scoured dozens of online stores just for you and picked out what's currently in stock and available at great prices.
A quick cheat sheet on choosing a swimsuit for your body type:
- Pear shape (narrow shoulders, fuller hips): shift the focus upward. Choose tops with detailing, ruffles, or bold prints. High-cut bottoms will visually lengthen the legs.
- Fuller bust: your saviours are wide straps, underwire, and moulded cups. Avoid thin halter-neck ties, so as not to overload the muscles.
- Athletic build (straight silhouette): create the illusion of curves. Ruffles, hip ties, and flattering cuts work well. Tie-side bikinis will add visual volume and highlight your curves.
Top 5 Major Trends of Summer 2026
The biggest runway trends always trickle down into beachwear. After the fashion world drew inspiration from the mood of a French vacation (bandanas, broderie anglaise blouses, and straw bags), the cottagecore aesthetic made its way to swimwear. Trending now: ruffles, gathers, cute floral prints, and puff sleeves. It's the perfect romantic trend, with an emphasis on comfort thanks to soft cups and a high fit.
Clean lines, an impeccable cut, minimalism. These monochrome pieces look like you've just stepped off a private yacht in Monaco. While the rest of the fashion world leans into maximalism, this trend celebrates the "old money" aesthetic — luxurious yet understated. A perfectly tailored one-piece or a simple triangle bikini in a rich shade — this is where true quiet luxury shows through.
Time to get out the wetsuits: in 2026, you don't need to be a professional surfer to wear sporty swimwear. Trending now are looks you can go straight from the beach to a party in: boardshorts, crop tops, and sports sunglasses paired with zip-up swimsuits and water shoes.
No beach season is complete without the year's signature shade. Against a backdrop of bold prints and sporty aesthetics, summer 2026 is firmly settling into a warm, earthy palette. Terracotta, warm sand, deep bronze — these sun-warmed tones beautifully set off a tan.
Thin-strap styles remain the most popular silhouette in the world. But if the classic version feels too safe for you, take a look at the new generation of string models. Right now, ultra-long ties that wrap around the waist in several layers, and intricate criss-crossed straps that create a striking silhouette are at peak popularity. It's not the most obvious choice for an even tan, but for striking poolside shots, it's a compromise worth making.
Trends from Previous Years Still Going Strong in 2026
A neutral swimsuit is a wardrobe staple that pays for itself a hundred times over. But contrary to popular belief, black and white don't suit everyone. Before restocking your wardrobe, check in with your colour type. For those with a soft, warm complexion, stark black can look washed out. In that case, deep chocolate, coffee, and caramel tones are the ideal choice. The brown palette has held onto its lead in beach trends for several seasons running, bringing a relaxed chic and an upscale boho feel to any look.
The main advantage of a neutral palette is its phenomenal versatility. Fabrics are similar across most brands, so you can easily mix and match a top from one brand with bottoms from another.
Once the basics are covered, it's time to add some colour to your beach days. On vacation, it's much easier to take fashion risks — try on neon fuchsia or electric blue. And a bright palette is far more versatile than you might think: soft sky blue, the trendy shade of butter, or a rich burgundy look stunning on all kinds of body types.
Patterns are an uncompromising hit of the vacation wardrobe. They make it easiest to master the art of mix & match: just take a small floral top and balance it with plain dark bottoms. What's more, the right print is the fastest way to teleport yourself into your southern fantasies. No solid colour captures the mood of the French Riviera quite like gingham, or the mood of Amalfi quite like vivid floral motifs.
It has to be said, the classic strapless tube top won't hold a fuller bust particularly well. Models with removable straps partially solve the problem, but in its original form, this style is ideal for those with a smaller bust. If your figure calls for more serious engineering, look for tops with a silicone strip along the top edge (it holds the fabric in place just as well as straps) or bandeaus with hidden underwire.
On the other hand, when it comes to an even tan, bandeaus have no rivals.
If you want to feel as relaxed and confident as possible on the beach, choose a retro, high-waisted silhouette. Bottoms like these gently shape the figure, and thick fabrics or careful draping let you subtly smooth out the stomach area. A small insider tip: styles like these can run slightly small at the waist even if they fit well at the hips, so it's worth trying a size up.
And a few more swimwear care tips:
- Rinse your swimsuit right after the beach or pool. Salt and chlorine break down the elastic fibres.
- Forget the washing machine. Hand wash only, with a special gentle detergent.
- Dry in the shade. Direct sunlight burns out vivid pigments and damages the fabric's structure.
