At last! Swimsuits with sleeves
Worried about baring your bingo wings on the beach? HANNA WOODSIDE has the answer . . .
FOR too long, swimwear has meant going sleeveless. Short of a wetsuit or a Nigella Lawson- style burkini, we have had to accept that. But now, the long-sleeved swimsuit has landed. It’s the next step in fashion’s march towards modesty. Already, necklines have crept higher, and we haven’t had bare arms all summer thanks to swishy midi dresses with three-quarter-length sleeves.
But long-sleeved swimwear is practical, too — not least because it protects shoulders and arms from sun burn.
In the High Street, Marks & Spencer has a long-sleeved rash vest in a floral
design (£29.50, in stores nationwide), which you could combine with bikini bottoms to try the trend.
Boden’s rash vests and bottoms, pictured here in red and navy stripe (above, £40 and £25, boden.co.uk), achieve the same effect, as does heidi Klein’s nautical vest (above, £ 145, heidiklein.com) worn with the matching high-rise bottoms (£95).
Another trick is to look for designs made from Uv-blocking materials. U.S. brand Cover’s swimwear blocks 98 per cent of Uv rays. Its navy one-piece (£190, net-a-porter.
com) is simple but modern. While Perfect Moment’s athletic- inspired swimsuit (above right, £165, perfectmoment.com) has a zipped neck, allowing you to protect the decolletage, or flash a little cleavage.
If you want something that’s a bit more ‘yachting in St Tropez’, look up Aussie brand UNE PIECE, which offers designs with pop-up collars in stylish prints (£112,
unepiece.com). The Twist swimsuit (above left), with a v-neck, is sexier still. Capture Riviera chic with the snow leopard print one-piece plus a floppy sunhat.
Worried a long-sleeved style is too Amish? Remember, even supermodel Gigi hadid has been spotted trying the trend. Sometimes, covering up is more seductive.