The 5 swimwear trends dominating beach style right now

Summer 2026 has a clear swimwear personality: more theatrical, more textured, and more interested in what you wear over the bikini than under it. Five trends have broken through the noise this season — from a full aesthetic rebrand of mermaidcore to gingham's unlikely second act — and they're already shaping what's selling out in boutiques and flooding Instagram Explore.

The biggest narrative shift in swimwear this season is the death of classic mermaidcore and its replacement with something editors at ELLE are calling the "summer siren" aesthetic.1 The difference is in the execution: where mermaidcore leaned into literal shell bras and iridescent leggings, the summer siren version is built around crochet, netting, nautical motifs, and gauzy fabrics that read as effortlessly beach-adjacent rather than costume-adjacent.

The entry points are affordable. Zara's ribbed button halter tops ($36) carry the shape language, while Massimo Dutti's double crochet knit top ($130) offers something with more structure. At the luxury end, Jade Swim's Rayne Top ($165 at Mytheresa) and Asta Resort's Fernanda Crochet Cardigan ($270) sit at the aspirational edge of the trend.

The siren extension goes beyond swimwear into cover-ups and beach accessories. Shoes with shell hardware (Farm Rio's Shell Flat Sandal, $248; Simkhai's shell-beaded strappy heels, $575) and bags in summery materials like Missoni's striped terry shoulder bag and novelty shapes like JW Pei's Nerys Shark Bag complete a look that says "I just came from the beach" even when you haven't.1

Gingham had a moment in summer 2025, and rather than fading, it's getting a second wind.2 Bella Hadid's recent Saint-Tropez yacht vacation photos showed her pairing gingham shirts over an assortment of bikinis — a styling trick that works because the pattern grounds the look while the swimwear underneath does the colour work.

The pattern's appeal this season is its contrast with the maximalism everywhere else. Gingham is recognizable but unfussy, which makes it a go-to for anyone who wants to wear something with a defined identity without committing to sequins or tropical print. Hadid wore a total-look Massimo Dutti set on one occasion, then switched to a wide array of bikinis layered under the gingham shirt — showing that the styling move is versatile rather than prescriptive.

One distinct visual theme running through Instagram and TikTok this season: metallic triangle bikini tops and bandage-style swimwear with a near-plastic sheen.3 The look sits closer to "fashion editorial" than "pool day," which is precisely the point — the boundary between swimwear and going-out wear has essentially dissolved.

The metallic bikini shows up alongside gingham as another of Hadid's vacation choices: a metallic triangle top paired with simple bottoms, leaning into the high-shine trend without any of the maximalist noise of sequin-all-over looks.2 At a broader level, the "glossy, kind of plasticky" descriptor circulating on social media points to a specific finish — less Studio 54 glitter, more sculptural sheen.

After a few seasons of quiet neutrals and reef-safe earthy tones, summer 2026 is loud on colour. Fashion watchers tracking Instagram and TikTok trend signals consistently name purple and pink as the breakout shades of the season, followed by a general explosion of saturated tropical palettes.3

The practical translation for swimwear: if you're buying a new bikini and want it to feel current, a violet or fuchsia base keeps you squarely in the moment. It pairs naturally with the crochet and netting textures of the summer siren trend — colourful open-knit cover-ups over jewel-toned swimwear is a repeating combination in current styling content.

Tropical prints are also performing well. The pivot from muted tie-dye (2024) to punchy florals and graphic botanical prints is visible in current brand drops, and it aligns with the broader beach fashion energy of the season, which is more "Amalfi Coast" than "wellness retreat."

The most interesting structural shift in beach fashion is happening in layering. Sheer skirts over swimsuits, sarong-as-skirt styling, and even balloon-leg pants worn over bikini bottoms are all gaining traction as genuine going-from-beach-to-bar solutions — not just afterthoughts.3

The Frankie Shop's Mio Sheer Crepe Balloon Pants ($195 at Mytheresa) exemplify one pole of this trend — structured, fashion-forward, and designed to work with swimwear underneath. Monday Swimwear's St. Tropez Sarong ($78, now heavily discounted at $31) shows the more accessible version.1 Oceanus's Mia's Marina Skirt ($354 at Revolve) sits at the premium end of the category.

This is partly a practical shift — more beach destinations are enforcing resort dress codes — and partly aesthetic. Wearing a bikini top with a full sheer skirt and a shell-adorned sandal produces a look that's beach-coded without being read as underdressed at a seaside lunch.