Your Guide to the Hottest Swimsuit Trends of 2016 

Thomas Slack

There's nothing like chic swimwear to usher in summer. But before you embark on your annual hunt for the one- or two-piece that you can slip into for weekend getaways and shoreside excursions all season long, we highly recommend going in with a plan in place. Enter: Our ultimate swim guide to the hottest trends of 2016. Bring the off-the-shoulder trend to the beach with a bare-shoulder swim tops, or experiment with prints, like bold rainbow stripes and island florals. But if minimalism is more your speed, there's a ton of options there, too, like sleek, clean maillots and bikinis stripped free of frills. From cut-away silhouettes to denim-like fabrics, shop every single swimsuit trend, below.

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Bold Stripes

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Sport an athletic streak with these bold and playful stripes.

Shop the pieces (from left): Solid & Striped one-piece, $160; net-a-porter.com. Marysia suit, $352; marysiaswim.com. J. Crew top, $52; jcrew.com. J. Crew bottom, $44; jcrew.com.

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Denim

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Denim to swim in? Yes. Swim has gotten the all-American treatment with denim-look pieces that are formulated to withstand water.

Shop the pieces (from left): Lisa Marie Fernandez two-piece, $400; lisamariefernandez.com. Seafolly suit, $192; nordstrom.com. Karla Colletto one-piece, $290; modaoperandi.com.

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High-Cut

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Flaunt your legs with these super retro high-rise suits.

Shop the pieces (from left): Araks x Quentin Jones top, $190; araks.com. Araks x Quentin Jones bottom, $135; araks.com. Norma Kamali one-piece, $560; matchesfashion.com. Thapelo one-piece, $233; matchesfashion.com.

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Off-the-Shoulder

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Bring the off-the-shoulder trend to the beach with these shoulder-baring pieces. 

Shop the pieces (from left): Lisa Marie Fernandez one-piece, $430; lisamariefernandez.com, Giejo top, $118; shopgiejo.com. Giejo bottom, $99; shopgiejo.com. Aerie suit, $50; ae.com.

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Cutaway

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Take your swim game to the next level with this cutaway silhouette that boasts a chic high neckline. Style with a pair of high-waist jeans for a playful daytime look. 

Shop the pieces (from left): Ward Whillas top, $195; wardwhillas.com. Ward Whillas bottom, $135; wardwhillas.com. Rachel Comey one-piece, $300; matchesfashion.com. Lululemon suit, $108; lululemon.com.

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Island Florals

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It's instant vacay in a suit. Get tropical with these colorful statement prints.

Shop the pieces (from left): Bikyni top $50; bikyni.com. Bikyni bottom, $50; bikyni.com. Mara Hoffman suit, $226; marahoffman.com. Topshop one-piece, $68; topshop.com.

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Cut-Outs

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From asymmetric slashes to open panels, there are no ordinary cut-outs.

Shop the pieces (from left): Flagpole suit, $375; flagpoleswim.com. Alix suit, $265; alixnyc.com. La Perla suit, $240; net-a-porter.com.

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Minimalism

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For the minimalist, go for a beautiful rich color in a delicate shape.

Shop the pieces (from left): Her Swim one-piece, $150; herthelabel.com. Matteau Swim top, $95; matteau-swim.com. Matteau Swim bottom, $95; matteau-swim.com. Bower suit, $225; stevenalan.com.

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Deep Plunge

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Turn heads in a sexy plunging neckline. 

Shop the pieces (from left): Zimmermann one-piece, $375; matchesfashion.com. Cocodune one-piece, $182; cocodune.com. Proenza Schouler one-piece, $300; net-a-porter.com.

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Neoprene

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Master the surfer look with these neoprene suits. Bonus: They're perfect for any water activities you have planned.

Shop the pieces (from left): Mikoh top, $128; mikoh.com. Mikoh bottom, $128; mikoh.com, Tory Sport suit, $195; torysport.com. Triangl two-piece, $89; triangl.com.

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