Lines in the sand

Gone are the days when you would buy your swimsuit or bikini purely for swimming.

Now swimwear is a key staple of your summer wardrobe and not necessarily just for holidays. As swimsuits in particular have developed with body-enhancing technology, much like lingerie, it's become far more flattering and easy to team with other pieces, such as tunics, kaftans and summer skirts, not forgetting shorts, wide-leg trousers and harem pants.

Festivals have had a major influence on summer fashion in recent years, with the bikini babe meets global backpacker meets British camper look all combining to create lots of easy-to-wear, low maintenance, quirky yet sexy options.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

It's simple to get the look and it can be modified to suit your age. For example, lithe young things can take a halter-neck string bikini and team with a short, cotton print skirt or frayed shorts, flip-flops or sturdy boots depending on terrain and temperature, plus bangles and beads – and they're good to go.

Adapt this basic look by going for a tie-dye or plain print swimsuit, perhaps in purple or pink, and team with ethnic print sarong or maxi kaftan, adding your beads and bangles and not forgetting a lovely embroidered and sequinned ethnic-style bag. Same idea, just as effective but far more flattering and suitable for all ages.

If it's sleek glamour you're after, think St Tropez, which teams sexy, streamlined swimwear with bold, bright colour and lots of glitz and gleam. This is a look that actually does work better for the over-30s than for youngsters, as it is sophisticated and fairly pared-down, relying on key statement pieces to do the talking. A large gold bangle is a must, as are huge sultry shades and high sandals for posing. For cover-ups, go for a fabulous extravagant butterfly-shape kaftan in a bold splashy print or look out for harem pants.

If quirky is more your style, you can reflect this by going for a retro 1950s' style swimwear look. Your swimsuit has to be your starting point here, so

look for seaside stripes or polka dots, wide straps

and sweetheart necklines and bows.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Team with high-waist shorts and wide-leg trousers or cropped flat-front trousers.

Again, it's the accessories that make the look, so find cute straw totes, ditsy sandals and flip-flops, turban-style headbands and maybe a flash of red lipstick.

Fashion assistant: Amber Hodge.