The 2024 Swim Report: Every Trend to Know

Headed into summer, there are plenty of upcoming trends and shopping items on our radar that span the range from vacation-worthy pieces primed for a suitcase to pieces destined to be worn by the best-dressed wedding guests. Naturally, at the onset of summer, we’re also thinking about swimwear and the key pieces to shop this season and there are some noteworthy trends that have landed on our short list for summer 2024.

This season, swimwear is veering into a few camps. On one hand, we are seeing the resurrection of elegant prints with the influx of vintage Hermès and classic silhouettes like ‘90s scoopneck one-pieces that resonate as shoppers continue to prioritize investment-worthy buys. On the other side of the spectrum, there are childlike florals and seaside-inspired designs that have playful elements at the forefront. Whether you’re looking for a trend-forward piece that taps into what is new in the swimwear market or are interested in a timeless design that you’ll have in your closet forever, there is something for everyone. Ahead, shop the eight biggest swim trends to know for summer 2024.

Scarf prints are taking shape as one of the key patterns in swimwear for summer 2024. Vintage one-pieces from Hermès designed with sea motifs of shells and starfish are in hot demand. Just-dropped versions are also arriving at retailers. Brands including Tory Burch, Loewe, and Pucci have new-to-the-market swimsuits designed with prints that evoke the look of a vintage scarf, whether it’s a winding rope pattern or a heritage motif. The prints evoke a sense of other-era elegance that is resonating right now, so it’s not surprising to see the prints gaining traction.

It’s been about a year since The Little Mermaid came back to the big screen. Along with it, came the unexpected ‘mermaidcore’ microtrend. Fast forward to 2024 and we’re seeing the trend take on new legs. Design details are pushing the aesthetic forward. Adriana Degras has shell-shaped tops. Patbo, the seaside piece affixed to a waistband on a one-piece. Lspace, a seashell built into a bandeau top. Regardless of the execution, the trend is sticking.

Call it the Chanel effect. Ever since the French fashion house resurrected archival swimwear designs on its spring/summer 2022 runway designed with two-tone contrast trim, the swimsuit style has been in big demand. So much so that luxury product sourcers have been unable to fill requests for the original Chanel styles. If you’ve been trying to track one down, the good news is that there are plenty of options to choose from for summer 2024. New versions have now entered the market, often in black and white colorways that pay homage to the original. Some brands are also playing with updated color pairings, including a beautiful blue-on-blue iteration from SIR. Simple, minimal, and very chic.

Your ‘inner child’ might be core to your summer wardrobe. And that might mean embracing things you loved when you were young—those pieces that speak back to the child within you. The fashion crowd is taking this heartfelt message into their personal wardrobes by turning their swimsuit drawers into a flurry of childlike prints and motifs. Even the most serious dressers who are known for wearing all-black and elevated tailoring will be caught at the beach in playful prints that capture a sense of innocence.

One thing we are seeing across the fashion space is a return to investment-worthy classics and that shopping mentality is translating to swimwear as well. Pieces from brands like Eres stand the test of time and prove to be smart buys to wear long beyond one season. ‘90s-inspired sccopneck one-pieces, simple triangle string bikinis, and pieces with elegant metal hardware have long-lasting design and silhouettes that give them a long shelf life. While there are styles available at every price point, this is a space to spurge on a high-quality piece that you have have in your closet for good.

A key color prevailed in the fall/winter 2024 collections: dirty martini green. The shade appeared over and over on the runways, including the sheer hosiery looks in Anthony Vaccarellos’s Saint Laurent collection, separates in Matthieu Blazy’s Bottega Veneta, and jackets with cape details in Chemena Kamali’s debut collection for Chloé. While we predict it will be big in the second half of the year, the color is already making a big impact across fashion, including the swim space. The rich olive tones are versatile and wearable, acting as an easy neutral, and has a similar elegance to rich tones such as burgundy. With strong market available already, this is a swimsuit color trend we expect to be big this summer.

With 89% retail sales increases, we’re definitely in the Miu Miu boom. And there is no doubt about how that this is translating to style this spring and summer. None of us could’ve anticipated that their most recent runway show would display sporty bikini briefs styled with suiting—but the Italian fashion house did and by summer, fashion people will be fully embracing this trend wearing shorts and more modest swimsuit bottoms to the beach. Trust me, there are no complaints about this movement coming from us.

There’s no better place to take notes for your swimwear collection than from your underwear drawer. Specifically, balconette bras. The sexy silhouette entered the territory of swimwear many seasons ago but has established itself as a mainstay. The silhouettes are primed for women with bigger busts as it offers more support than other styles. Classic, elegant, and timeless, this is a key style to invest in.