Find the one

To play it cool by the pool this summer, ensure your costume has no drama. Karen Dacre hails the silent swimsuit

IN 2018, the possession of a body is the only prerequisite required for a woman or man to be considered “beach body ready”. Amen. But that doesn’t mean the swimwear market is any easier to navigate. For many of us it’s among the most complex part of our wardrobes to get our heads around because it’s both unfamiliar and loaded with options. Swimsuit or two-piece, high-cut or high-waisted, black with neon florals, white with dodgy cut-out panels certain to leave your tummy looking like a backgammon board. Truly, these are shark infested waters.

It’s from this mayhem that this year’s prevailing swimwear trend has sprung. Dreamt up for those who spend their winters in low-key navy sweaters and expertly cut black trousers, swimwear for minimalists is making waves. At least, it’s making very chic little ripples because this is a look that’s all about understatement.

In neutral and muted shades that include everything from navy to earthy khaki green, the quiet swimsuit is to your beachwear wardrobe what your favourite pair of jeans are to your everyday one — it’s designed for those days when you don’t feel like standing out from the crowd.

Body confident or not, we all have days when a high-cut sequin-trimmed bikini borrowed from the poolside of the Love Island villa isn’t at the top of our wish list. It’s for those instances that a low-key cossie with a great cut is your friend.

Make no mistake though, these swimsuits are far from austere. In fact the perfect quiet cossie demands a high-quality fabric and the loving touch of a designer who knows their way around the female body. Among them are Portuguese label Haight, which specialises in timeless beachwear that won’t look out of date before your tan fades, and French expert Eres which counts minimalist swimwear as part of its DNA. This clean and serene approach to swimming style is also bubbling up at the top end of the high street, particularly within Swedish sister brands Cos and Arket that favour simplicity ahead of sequin trims. And at sportswear brands such as Speedo and outdoors label K-Way that are, perhaps unsurprisingly, masters at this no-nonsense swimwear look.

To find the swimsuit of your dreams