It’s a good week to wear your bathing suit as a top

If ever there were a time to take the season’s pre-eminent trend for a test drive, it’s this week

I got back from Colorado late Saturday night and was greeted by New York’s signature summer balm. It was a grateful reunion with the sauna (although dryer than I’m used to!) after nearly 6 weeks out of city, and a welcome reminder of one of summer’s big trends.

LMND top, Yasmine Eslami black swimsuit (she’s a different vibe, but pretty good and you would be surprised at how flattering the Christopher Esber cut outs can be; just size up 1x), here are some short black shorts and the sandals are Flowze; Chanel sunglasses

Sankkid bathing suit top (festive alt choice!, here’s no.2), The Row raffia belt (here’s one from Gabriela Hearst and another from J. Crew), High Sport pants, Khaite sandals

A bathing suit as top doesn’t quite hit the same when you’re not melting on the concrete pavement with nary a body of swimmable water nearby, no matter the fact that this is an island.

It’s going to be a nice, hot stretch — cool enough in the mornings for an overlying shirt or two

LMND blue shirt, The New Arrivals (weird name to try to google search) sequined mesh t-neck, here’s a bikini top, Doen shorts (see also: this top, this bandana, these) and I affixed my own brooch to the front (another good one if you’re after a taste of the southwest)

Took about a year to find the shoes; seeing these on Brie Welch nailed my coffin. These shorts in khaki are the most realistic, still very short alt

But HOT throughout the rest of the day.

Skims bandeau bra (not exactly a bathing suit), All Three column skirt (here’s one from Toteme, plus another on sale, one in jersey from Khaite, another in ivory from Wardrobe.nyc — this shape is going to be important for fall), Ancient Greek Sandals flip flops, Dries van Noten scarf bag

LMC x Aflalo ‘mezuza’ necklace, Ysso bangles; I think this bag from Hermes was the original inspo

So if ever there was a good time to wear your bathing suit as a top — never mind just the one piece, I’m taking bandeau, bikini, tankini, et al —

Khaite sunglasses, Vanessa Sposi bikini top, Loulou de Saison skirt, ye trusty Etsy belt, Tod’s loafers (this is a great color from The Outnet; orange there too)

Now is it. I’ve styled out a few of each (barring the tankini, I don’t have one YET) for different occasions, to offer a range of ideas to get you going. And if the heat isn’t good enough reason to try, just imagine the cost per wear benefit you get from treating your suits as situational evergreens.

The Skims bra returns with a sheer St. Agni skirt styled as an overlay with black cigarette trousers. Then you know me —

I love a semi-precious stone.

Ray-ban sunglasses, Marisa Klass beads

A cape by my friend Valerie, from Merci C’est Vintage, with a black sporty bathing suit top (she’s right for this purpose too), Kallmeyer capris (try these on sale from Toteme? With this bikini top while you’re at it?) and Khaite’s best shoes, bar none.

In the flesh! At the tailor yday wearing a lurex suit from Ethiquette, Aflalo’s ‘Brein’ shirt and white poplin pants from my collab with Soeur ca 2024. These from The Row are kind of similar, or try these from Rue Sophie. Shoes are here.

In the Wayfair selfie mirror on the day before in a cotton voile b-down, Pucci swimsuit (love her too) and a Belle the Label skirt (maybe this from J. Crew for something shorter? Or I looooove this one too. I’m falling down a rabbit hole); Jude red sandals

These sunglasses are Chanel

Aflalo shirt, Lido bathing suit (good shape alt; good gradient alt), Maccapani pants, Khaite sandals, Altuzarra clutch

Christopher Esber suit (the black makes a good case for evergreen bodysuit), The Frankie Shop shorts, The Row shoes; and our summer diamond anklet is styled as an arm band

I think the key here to make it look complete is the belt. Lido strapless suit, Levi’s white jeans (Aflalo’s ‘Orwell’ is pretty great too), Chanel flats (these from Aeyde look great),

Bateau neck from Pucci (she works again here; but see this one with built-in SPF for color and shape), Doen silk skirt (lol to this, these are still around, and I’m compelled to show you this), Flowze sandals

Looks like this with a cropped jacket

Tom Ford leopard suit, Officina del Poggio belt (just got this one), Argent seasonless wool trousers (can’t unless the pairing of these with this), AGS jelly thongs

Nili Lotan top (I’d get this one), Missoni swimsuit, Sach Atelier belt, Alex Mill cargos (they’re gone but these from J. Crew are good and weighty)

Alex Mill cargos (they’re gone but these from J. Crew are good and weighty); The Row’s ‘Signum’ flat; saw someone at the store wearing these with flowy silk pants and I’ve been thinking about them ever since.

A few good suits, if you’re feeling inspired —

• Fruity Booty bikini top, $85

• Jade Swim bandeau top, $63

• Sara Cristina magenta and pearl one piece, $380

  • Why is this cut out suit still $970?, $970

  • A tan line’s worst nightmare, $427

• Oseree tankini, $177

• That’s it.

Still getting my feet under me, but it’s good to be back! I missed you,

Leandra