Welcome back to “So You Want To…” the monthly fashion column dedicated to vibes, whims and general fun! This month, the vibe is summertime! Well, to be specific, bathing suits! It’s early June, and for those of us looking forward to the long, lazy months of summer ahead, it is absolutely time to get involved with some poolside slash oceanside slash lakeside swimming wear!

As a former swimmer (butterfly, yes, very impressive and no, I have not even attempted it in at least a decade) and human woman with no less than five ocean themed tattoos, I take bathing suits very seriously! While I do think there is a place and time for a fabulous suit that is held together with nothing more than a a few strings and a wish, I personally have no time for a suit that cannot hold up to hours of frolicking in the ocean. So behold a bunch of suits that have the structural integrity to stand up to some serious wave action and that are absolutely gonna keep you looking fresh and stylish!

One Pieces

1. Old Navy: Cutout One Piece ($40) // 2. Beefcake: The Dream Boat ($99) // 3. Aerie: Cut Out Tie Asymmetrical One Piece ($45) // 4. Modcloth: Cut Out Tie Asymmetrical ($70)

Perhaps due to my former swimmer lifestyle, it took me a minute to be able to see one piece bathing suits as anything other than utilitarian suits designed for the least amount of drag and guaranteed to leave me with a year round circle tanline on my back. But one piece swimsuits are cute as hell these days! I thought the cut out trend would move on, but it seems as though that lewk is certainly here to stay! And peep this super cute 1920s style one from Beefcake swimwear!

Bikinis

1. Modcloth: The Ali Bikini Top ($55) // 2. Athleta: Conscious Crop Bikini Top // 3. J. Crew: Active Long Line Swim Top ($75) // 4. Aerie: Crossover Triangle Bikini Top ($20)

Here’s the thing about bikinis — the mix and match possibilities are so much fun to play with! It’s quite rare that I think about them as a matching set, and instead I make sure I have a couple of neutral bottoms (tag yourself) that will go with whatever color vibe strikes my fancy that year. For those who want a more compression type top, this crop top from Athleta has great reviews for both comfort and support!

Trunks

1. Universal Standard: Sunny Swim Shorts ($64) // 2. TomboyX: Trunks – Rainbow Leopard ($25) // 3. Old Navy: Printed Swim Trunks ($22) // 4. Outplay: Choroni Boardshorts ($41)

Who would the dyke population be without the chance to rock a bikini top with a banging pair of trunks? Confession, I fully believe that all swim trunks should be like, just a bit short of garish. Sure, you can get a basic black or navy, but these are for summer fun! Let your freak flag fly! Look at these almost scary octopus ones, they simply whip and I won’t hear another word on the subject!

Cover-Ups

1. Bsubseach: Chiffon Beach Bikini Cover Up ($25) // 2. Aerie: Long Sleeve Dad Shirt ($31) // 3. Old Navy: Oversized Raw-Hem Pullover Hoodie ($40) // 4. Aerie: Midi Slip Cover Up ($50)

It wouldn’t be a bathing suit round up without a dedicated cover-up moment! You need something to toss on for a quick saunter to the beach bar, or something to keep you from getting too chilled as the sun starts to set! I am always on the look out for ones that have pockets, because there is something so perfectly summery about handing a teen at the poolside snack shack a damp ten for some chicken fingers. And can you ever go wrong with a a raw hemmed summer hoodie? I submit that you cannot!

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