5 of the Best: One Piece Swimsuits

It’s not often that the British sun graces us with its presence but the past two days in England have been beautiful!  What better way to celebrate the sunshine than by hitting the coast with the girls or persuading that one friend with a pool to host a cocktail party? If there was ever an excuse for showing off the summer body you’ve been working for since March and dusting off your mum’s thigh baring 80s one-piece it’s certainly now.

The swimsuit is undeniably the hottest swimwear trend of the summer and there are countless options to choose from. As usual, I do like to keep things simple which means that if I do buy into a trend, the colour palette needs to be neutral so that there is more longevity and I can wear it for more than just one season.

Here is a selection of my favourite monochromatic swimsuits that will fit any budget and  feature details such as romantic ruffles, sporty straps and Parisian polka dots. When the weather decides to turn wintery again in a few days, wear your one-piece under boyfriend jeans as a body substitute and I guarantee nobody will notice the difference!

Zimmermann halter top
net-a-porter.com

For Love Lemons swimsuit swimwear
nelly.com

New Look swimsuit swimwear
newlook.com

One-shoulder Bodysuit $34.99
£26 – hm.com

Tavik Swimwear one piece bathing suit
£150 – shopdashonline.com

Best of MFW

 Fashion Week only starts getting interesting for me when the shows start in Milan. Italians just seem to get fashion and they do femininity and charm so well without it being garishly girly.

They also seem to understand the influence that the past decades have on fashion and are great at updating vintage styles whilst making them appeal to a younger crowd. There were lots of shows I loved for the S/S 16 collections but I have shared my favourites below.

Francesco Scognamiglio

This collection was similar to Givenchy in the way that there was an abundance of delicate details, fine fabrics and strong romantic notes. I rarely stray from wearing black or white and a monochromatic colour palette is something that I believe looks both classic and polished.

Ruffles can look overstated but Scognamiglio managed to get the balance just right, pairing sheer slip tops with tailored trousers and babydoll dresses with sock boots, giving looks a mod doll element.

By mixing Victoriana details with 60s shoes and modern styles, Scognamiglio successfully created an array of looks ideal for the cool girl, unafraid to channel her softer side.

Fay

Fay is a brand I had heard of but never followed too closely. That was until I saw the designs showcased for S/S 16. Reminiscent of Isabel Marant‘s understated French girl image, the looks were layered, tiered and belted in shades of navy, stone and dusty pink with prints that looked as though they had been influenced by North Africa.

The masculine military coats looked great with patterned skirts and I particularly liked the silver trimming on the deep blue jackets. After seeing this collection, I am really looking forward to seeing what else the brand has to offer.

Philosophy

Philosophy is a brand that always seems to hit an equilibrium when combining masculinity with femininity. Soft ruffles and Victorian details were still present from the previous collection, but there was not one fussy frill in sight. The nude slip dresses were breezy and beautiful while pointed ankle boots offered an edgy element making the looks perfect for city strolls in the summer.

I love the neutral shades that the creative director, Lorenzo Serafini, uses throughout his collections for Philosophy. The looks he creates are much more wearable than many other brands while there is always a strong hint of Italian Romanticism in the silhouettes and details – a clear homage to the brand’s heritage.