Retro Bikini

What makes a bikini retro?

Retro swimwear takes its shapes from the classic decades: the high waist band, the sweetheart cup, the scalloped edge, the polka dot. The cuts are the vintage ones — the fit is the modern one.

This edit runs 37 styles, from about $25 to $61, across the shapes that made the old patterns work.

Retro styles in this edit

• High waist bands with a straight retro waistline
• Polka dot and gingham prints on the classic shapes
• Ruched fronts with a gathered vintage panel
• Floral prints in the retro color families
• Sporty retro hybrids for a modern take on the shape

How to style retro swimwear

• The high waist wants a simple top — a plain halter or a crop top lets the band be the shape of the outfit
• Vintage accessories finish the look: a straw hat, a simple belt bag
• Pair the set with denim for off the beach — the high waist bottom is a waistband, and it reads well under shorts

Retro fit vs vintage fit

A true vintage piece fits the body it was cut for — narrow at the waist, small in the cups. A retro piece re-cuts the same shapes for a modern body: the band is wider, the cups have more room, the stretch is chosen for recovery.

You get the silhouette of the old pattern with the fit mechanics of current swimwear.