Swim Skirts Are Summer’s Most Nostalgic Trend

Some aesthetics might require a think piece or two to understand why it’s popular (looking at you, mermaidcore), but that’s not the case with this summer’s swim skirt trend. You’ve likely seen two-piece bikini sets that include a frilly skirted bottom or, even better, swimsuits that come with an extra matching skirt across your FYP and on Instagram. While swim skirts are nothing new—neither are matching cover-ups for that matter—they’ve often been associated with a more mature look or modest styles. But this summer, they’re getting the fashion treatment.

In a world were cheeky bikinis dominate, there are moments when an extra bit of coverage is necessary, especially as we head into peak summer vacation territory. 2000s babies might wince at the idea of wearing a skirted bottom after surviving tankinis in the early aughts, but brands like Frankies Bikinis are putting a fresh twist on the stule. Ahead, everything you need to know about the trend.

The Trend

As temperatures rise, more and more are trends are starting to feel solution-based. Linen waistcoats and trousers have become the answer to hot days required in the office, and the return of flip-flops was due in part to the desire for something simple. Similarly, the swim skirt trend is the answer to all our bathing suit coverage anxieties. It’s undeniable that putting trust in a small piece of fabric to keep you safe from a wardrobe malfunction (especially near a large body of water) is anxiety-inducing. This is especially true when on a family vacation or pool party. Cover-ups can offer partial coverage, but you’ll eventually have to peel them off if you’re headed into the water. This is where swim skirts come in, and add a boost of confidence when you need a little bit more security.

Even if you don’t want a little more coverage, the style is just so darn cute. Our current obsession with girly silhouettes and nostalgia may also have something to do with the popularity of swim skirts. The feminine ruffles tie perfectly into the coquette trend, bringing a silhouette that’s been all over the runways to the beach. Less frilly styles still have a nostalgic quality to them, as they feel like something right out of shows like Aquamarine or H2O. And of course, they add a little extra something to your vacation photos.

How to Wear It

The easiest way to style the swim skirt trend is in a matching set. Thankfully, brands like Frankies Bikinis, Black Bough, and Heart of Sun Swim have a handful of chic prints and solid shades that scream summer. There is also a range of different swim skirt styles—Frankies offers a more literal take on the trend, with bikini bottoms shaped with a frilly skirt silhouette. Other brands, like Black Bough, offer an extra skirting piece to match the two-piece bikini set.

If matching sets feel too on-the-nose, opt for Solid & Striped’s neutral shades of black and white that you can mix and match with a bathing suit you already own. Or, for just the suggestion of a skirt, try styles with ruffles at the hips like the J. Crew x Maryam Nassir Zadeh Ruffle Bikini or Belle the Label’s Margot One Piece.

No matter what style you choose, finish off with a chic pair of sunglasses, and you’re ready to close out summer in style.