I Live In Paris—and These Are the 4 Swimwear Trends I Always See In the Riviera

August 11, 2020 at 06:00AM

Holidays (or shall I say les vacances), despite the relaxed connotations surrounding the concept is a serious subject in France and no one does holidaying quite like the Parisians. Living in a country with one of the most amount of paid holiday days in the world, the Parisians really know how to take advantage of it. I have never lived in a city before where it feels like almost the entire population migrates south for the month of August. And yet this is not to say that they don’t work hard the rest of the year, they just make the most of their time off and really know how to holiday. Even in this COVID-19 era it’s been a hot topic of conversation.

Parisians do tend to love one pieces because they are the easiest to wear and often tend to be one of the most flattering styles for all body shapes. They’re especially great if you love swimming: there’s an unlikely chance that a one piece will pop off when you jump into the sea or pool. And when I think of a brand that creates the perfect one piece, Eres immediately comes to mind. The Parisian brand has been around since the 70s and it was the first to sell a collection of swimwear all year around. Their one-pieces are a Parisian’s wardrobe summer staple. If in doubt, go for classic black.

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The high-waisted style is a firm fixture on French beaches, in back gardens and of course on Instagram. I personally love styles by French brands such as YSE, who make styles with the real curves of a woman’s body in mind.

The stretchy crinkled seeksucker material made famous in the 80s by Julia Robert’s cut-out dress in Pretty Woman and resurrected a few years ago by Hunza G, is undoubtedly one of the most flattering and comfortable fabrics for swimsuits that I’ve ever worn. The same goes for smocking, as both fabrics won’t cut into your skin. And a myriad of brands, including H&M have since followed suit (excuse the pun)—such as with the lime green underwired smocked style recently seen on Anne-Laure.

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Contrary to popular belief, Parisians wear quite a bit of colour and that includes swimwear. Try brands such as Ganni, Rixo and Faithfull the Brand who have made a name for themselves with their quirky patterned fabrics, prints and cuts. I also love Parisian brands Ephemera and Rouje.

Next up, see our guide to the key trends for autumn winter 2020. 

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Author Marissa Cox | Whowhatwear
Selected by CWC