Self, meet fake-tanner. Fake tanner, Self.
Mamas - is anyone else in love with the bikini mix/match trend? It's been around for a few years...but it wasn't until recently that I realized how perfect this trend is for moms.
I never bought maternity swimwear...so my old bikinis got put through the ringer when worn all summer by a huge-bellied me. And once the baby was born? My bikini tops were pulled on for nursing, and my bottoms were worn down by sand, pool bottoms, and stretched further by an errant tiny foot. Oof! Not to mention, the, uh, 40-something lbs I gained with each pregnancy.
As my luck(no such thing) would have it...I never seem to wear out the same top and bottom at the same time. Of course, right? Right.
But here's the problem: Now that I'm a mom, come summertime I'm almost always in my suit. It's kinda like being a kid again. Funfunfun!! But the daily wearing of suits means that I need more than one. And unlike kid suits, mine can cost some serious cash. So to replace every year? Ugh. Especially since I worry that each summer is my last to rock a bikini.
It's the bending, Mamas. The bending.
But allowing myself to mix-and-match bikini separates means that I can use my not-too-grubby pieces for at least one more summer (doesn't that sound sexy?). And since I'm not restricting myself to a specific bikini top or bottom...I can shop the sales (FTW!!).
I'll admit, I've tried a few combos that looked...not good. Picture an awkward underwear-at-the-beach scenario. (Shockingly, I can't find a single picture.)
But here's a bit of bikini mixin' inspiration:
Mix Patterns
(Sources, clockwise from top left: Victoria's Secret Madi Push Up, Volcom Dot Bikini Top, J.Crew Dot Brief, J.Crew Seersucker top and floral bottoms, Old Navy geometric print Top and bottoms)
This? Is fun. Here are the rules I try to keep in mind:
- Scale - big dots mixed with little dots or thick stripes mixed with thin stripes
- Stripes with almost any other pattern always look good
- When combining patterns, they should have at least one color in common
(We've talked about pattern mixing before.)
Color-Block Your Solids
I love these examples from Victoria's Secret. Pairing two different brights, or two slightly different tones of the same shade are fab ideas. Or just pick two colors that you love and go with it.
(Sources: Victoria's Secret Belle Bandeau and Abby Triange Bikini Top)
One Solid, One Print
This is where I've accidentally wandered into underwear territory. If I'm wearing one of those solid bikini tops - the kind with an underwire? One that looks a bit bra-ish? Yes. Those. They sometimes look exactly like a bra when paired with mis-matched bottoms. Or maybe it's just me.
Here are a few cute combos:
(Source, clockwise from top left: Victoria's Secret Madi Push-Up, Target bikini top, J.Crew dot hipster, Topshop black bikini top, J.Crew fanfare bikini, Calypso Celle bikini top, Carve ruched bikini bottoms)
Incidentally, I need a new bikini bottom to match a top like this:
Mine does not have the weird dangly thing
Sooo...what say you, Mamas? I can't decide:
(J.Crew Feather Paisley Hipster and foldover bikini, Victoria's Secret Triangle bikini bottom and Foldover Low-Rise bottom)
Help me, Mamas! And do tell....are you feeling the mix/match, or does it look too much like underwear?
xo,
S
