USA TODAY International Edition
One- piece swimsuits are on the rise
‘ Baywatch’ underscores summer trend
Baywatch introduced a new generation to lifeguards CJ, Stephanie and Summer over the weekend, and with them, an iconic swimsuit in pop culture: the red one- piece.
The timing of the Seth Gordon- directed reboot couldn’t have been better, sartorially speaking.
“The one- piece has really been a big trend,” says costume designer Dayna Pink. “I peeked again at the original show, did research on bathing suit trends and what was happening, and said ‘ OK so where is it going?’ ” The direction Pink led the Bay
watch crew parallels that of the swimwear industry over the last few seasons. One- piece suits with modern details such as visible zippers, cut- outs, bold prints and colors, as seen on stars Alexandra Daddario and Kelly Rohrbach, are on the rise. Polyvore, a community- driven fashion app, has seen a 282% increase year- overyear in searches for one piece swimsuits.
Similarly, fashion retailer Swimsuits for All has seen a 26% year- over- year increase in searches for one- pieces. Though the classic silhouette has been a staple for the brand — which has gained notoriety with ads featuring curvy model Ashley Graham and for catering to customers seeking a wide range of sizes — vice president of creative and branding Sara Mitzner says they’ve expanded into a new market they’re calling “sexy and bold,” which includes one- pieces.
Inventory and sales in that category have more than doubled in the last year, Mitzner says.
What constitutes a sexy and bold one- piece? The suits in the brand’s new Baywatch- inspired campaign featuring Graham, Teyana Taylor and Niki Taylor certainly fit the bill. “A one- piece is flattering on all body types and ages,” Mitzner says. “I think that’s what makes it so sexy. The suit itself has a highcut leg, no one doesn’t want longer, sexier looking legs.” The Baywatch- style suits are only part of the overall uptick in swimwear that’s more maillot than bikini. Though the skimpy two- piece has dominated American beaches since it hit North American shores in the early ’ 60s, onepieces have returned in periodic bursts over the years. Farrah Fawcett’s rust- colored suit, seen in posters on many a teenage boy’s bedroom wall, and Bo Derek’s nude look in 10 helped make the leotard- looking style a must- have in the late ’ 70s and early ’ 80s. Pamela Anderson made the original Baywatch suit legendary in the early ’ 90s. And such stars as Taylor Swift helped bring back retro, Marilyn Monroe- style pieces 15 years later. This month, Miss District of Columbia Kara McCullough became the first Miss USA in 21 years to win the pageant’s crown wearing a one- piece in the bathing suit competition. McCullough’s suit has become a top- selling suit for Yandy, second only to another one- piece with a deep, plunging Vneck in black and white. “We believe that real women feel sexy and confident in what they’re wearing, and it isn’t and shouldn’t be based on the least amount of coverage,” Yandy CEO Thom Brodeur said. “It gave us an opportunity to put that point of view out loud on a national telecast, to say that we think it’s cool, not just about being on trend.”