Swimsuits

How Much Coverage?
Photo: Tom Schierlitz

Swimsuits

01 of 26

When Only a Bikini Will Do

When Only a Bikini Will Do
Tom Schierlitz

For those who dare to bare, a bevy of wild prints awaits in bikini land: brilliant stripes, fab florals and glorious checks. Select from halter or triangle tops, underwire or bandeau, and bottoms with varying amounts of coverage.

Polyester-spandex top ($44) and matching bottom ($38), Guess Swimwear; guess.com.

02 of 26

When Only a Bikini Will Do

When Only a Bikini Will Do
Tom Schierlitz

Nylon-spandex, Diesel, $50; diesel.com for store locations.

03 of 26

When Only a Bikini Will Do

When Only a Bikini Will Do
Tom Schierlitz

Polyamide-elastane, Vix Swimwear, $136; vixswimwear.com.

04 of 26

When Only a Bikini Will Do

When Only a Bikini Will Do
Tom Schierlitz

Nylon-Lycra, American Eagle Outfitters, top and bottom, $24.50 each; ae.com.

05 of 26

When Only a Bikini Will Do

When Only a Bikini Will Do
Tom Schierlitz

Nylon-Lycra, Letarte by Lisa Cabrinha, $152; letarteswimwear.com.

06 of 26

When Only a Bikini Will Do

When Only a Bikini Will Do
Tom Schierlitz

Nylon-Lycra, Melissa Odabash, $148; mollybrownswimwear.com.

07 of 26

Not Your Mother's One-Piece

Not Your Mother's One-Piece
Tom Schierlitz

With cutout details, high-leg designs, look-at-me prints and vampy embellishments, the new generation of one-piece suits is infinitely racier than earlier versions.

Nylon-Lycra, Milly, $210; neimanmarcus.com.

08 of 26

Not Your Mother's One-Piece

Not Your Mother's One-Piece
Tom Schierlitz

Nylon-Lycra, Armani Collezioni, $385; giorgioarmani.com for stores.

09 of 26

Not Your Mother's One-Piece

Not Your Mother's One-Piece
Tom Schierlitz

Nylon-spandex, Elizabeth Hurley Beach, $228; at select Saks Fifth Avenue stores.

10 of 26

Not Your Mother's One-Piece

Not Your Mother's One-Piece
Tom Schierlitz

Nylon-Lycra, Anne Klein New York, $118; everythingbutwater.com.

11 of 26

Not Your Mother's One-Piece

Not Your Mother's One-Piece
Tom Schierlitz

Nylon-Lycra, Red Carter, $145; redcarter.com for store locations.

12 of 26

Not Your Mother's One-Piece

Not Your Mother's One-Piece
Tom Schierlitz

Polyamide-elastane, Heidi Klein, $189; heidiklein.com.

13 of 26

No-Show Whites

No-Show Whites
Tom Schierlitz

This summer, cool shades of white are in, but adding water can lead to transparency, which is not cool. Here, then, are the best white suits-we water-tested all of them.

Nylon-Lycra, Juicy Couture Beach, top and bottom, $79 each; at select Saks Fifth Avenue stores.

14 of 26

No-Show Whites

No-Show Whites
Tom Schierlitz

Nylon-spandex, Belabumbum, $89; 347-678-8380 or belabumbum.com.

15 of 26

No-Show Whites

No-Show Whites
Tom Schierlitz

Polyamide-jersey, OMO Norma Kamali, $550; 800-852-6254 or normakamalicollection.com.

16 of 26

No-Show Whites

No-Show Whites
Tom Schierlitz

Polyamide-elastane, Vix Swimwear, $148; 858-300-2443 or vixswimwear.com.

17 of 26

No-Show Whites

No-Show Whites
Tom Schierlitz

Nylon-spandex, La Blanca, $106; at select Saks Fifth Avenue stores.

18 of 26

No-Show Whites

No-Show Whites
Tom Schierlitz

Nylon-Lycra top ($100) and bottom ($95); Malia Mills, 800-685-3479 or maliamills.com.

19 of 26

The Best Active Suits

The Best Active Suits
Tom Schierlitz

Athletes, both serious and recreational, expect the latest technical innovations-and these suits do not disappoint. Some have reinforced bra straps, while others use cutting-edge water-repellent fabrics.

FOR SWIMMING, BEACH VOLLEYBALL AND RUNNING It might appear glam with its graphic cutout, but this suit is made of a water-repellent fabric that dries faster and boasts elaborate stitching for a better fit.

Nylon-Lycra, Speedo, $98; speedousa.com.

20 of 26

The Best Active Suits

The Best Active Suits
Tom Schierlitz

FOR SWIMMING, BEACH VOLLEYBALL, AND DIVING A supportive halter-style top and a fuller bottom that resists riding up make this bikini ideal for strenuous sports like volleyball or diving.

Nylon-Lycra, Hydra, $65; hydraswimwear.com.

21 of 26

The Best Active Suits

The Best Active Suits
Tom Schierlitz

FOR SWIMMING, RUNNING, AND BIKING Triathletes, take note: The top has a full-support bra with reinforced straps, the bottom is padded for cycling, and the material dries rapidly, giving you the edge you need.

Polyester-Lycra top ($48) and bottom ($38), TYR; 800-252-7878 or tyr.com.

22 of 26

The Best Active Suits

The Best Active Suits
Tom Schierlitz

FOR SWIMMING, WINDSURFING, AND SAILING With its aerodynamic design, strong navy hue and racing stripe, this fluid-looking one-piece is going for gold in the pool. It's also a perfect option for sailing a catamaran.

Nylon-Lycra, Nautica, $88; nautica.com for stores.

23 of 26

How Much Coverage?

How Much Coverage?
Tom Schierlitz

Is there such a thing as swimsuit appropriateness? You bet. Poolside at the Wynn Las Vegas is not the same as an alfresco lunch at your mother-in-law's club. It's about the degree of coverage and the allover design.

ITSY-BITSY DOES IT Save the skimpiest of bikinis for lying poolside with a steamy Jacqueline Susann novel, when a tunic cover-upis within reach.

Nylon-Lycra and cotton, Delfina, $240; at Sunday, 631-749-5550.

24 of 26

How Much Coverage

How Much Coverage
Tom Schierlitz

ABOUT A BOY BRIEF A floral motif, generous bikini top and boy-cut briefs make this suit irrefutably seaworthy. Wear it while frolicking on the beach at a tropical resort.

Nylon-spandex top and bottom, $52 each, Calvin Klein; waterwatereverywhere.com.

25 of 26

How Much Coverage?

How Much Coverage?
Tom Schierlitz

HAUTE SEASON Submerge in a rose-petal bath in this glamour-girl bikini with adjustable top and ruched shorts, fit for an upscale spa. The sybaritic gold hue cries out for a just applied fake tan.

Polyamide-spandex top ($140) and bottom ($155), Eres; 800-340-6004 or eresparis.com.

26 of 26

How Much Coverage?

How Much Coverage?
Tom Schierlitz

MODESTY BLAZE A conservative locale dictates the maximum coverage, as in this elegant one-piece, which works at a country club, a family get-together or even a work function.

Nylon-spandex, Tory Burch, $195; toryburch.com for store locations.

For more summer fashion, from cover-ups to flip flops, click here to check out our Product Finder.

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