Fashion: Summer’s essential beachwear

If you’re struggling with what to pack for this year’s beach holiday, trend-savvy fashion writer Katie Dailey is just the lady to steer you right. Clued-up for what’s hot in 2018, here she rounds up the biggest and brightest beachwear trends

Frill seekers

It started on shirts, then cascaded onto skirts, sundresses and shorts. Now the statement ruffle has hit swimwear, making poolside posing an infinitely more glamorous affair. Look to the likes of Paper London and Lisa Marie Fernandez for dramatic sweeps of fabric to turn your one-piece into a showpiece.
Top picks: Coconut swimsuit by Paper London (pictured, £195) and Arden swimsuit by Lisa Marie Fernandez (£375)

Visit the British Airways eStore to earn an exclusive 10 Avios for every £1 spent at Net A Porter

Matchy matchy

St Tropez swimwear giant Vilebrequin has long matched sartorialist to son with luxury swim shorts in adult and children’s sizes. Now parent/child twinning is officially a thing, with cool London beachwear label Prism designing a mini line of leopard print swimmers to match its women’s collection. Meanwhile, men can join in the fun with Love Brand & Co.’s coordinating father and son swimwear, with five per cent of revenue going to charities that support the survival of elephants and their habitats.
Top picks: Men’s swim shorts (pictured, £135) and boy’s swim shorts by Love Brand & Co. (pictured, £70)

The hot shoulder

The artfully exposed shoulder is a major catwalk trend that has crossed over to the beach lounger. Avoid tan marks (or move them further down the arms) with a chic two-piece in summer’s coolest swimwear shape. With its Bardot straps, the style is more for the sand dweller than the performance swimmer – front-crawlers take note.
Top picks: The Vera swimsuit by Solid and Striped (pictured, £145) and this black stripe bikini top by River Island (£20)

Visit the British Airways eStore to earn an exclusive 8 Avios for every £1 spent at River Island

Perfect coordination

If you’ve mastered statement print swimmers, you may be ready to dip a toe into menswear’s next beachwear trend. The swim-set matches summer shirt to swim-short, for a debonair, if daring, holiday look. Play it a little safer in one of Orlebar Brown’s coordinating pastels (pictured), or take the plunge in full matching print.
Top picks: Matching floral shirt (£25) and shorts (£18) by River Island

Happy feet

Espadrilles may signal the start of your summer holiday, but they’re often in tatters by the end of it. Opt instead for one of the espadrille/summer shoe hybrids that have padded softly onto the shelves this season. The best ones offer a soft upper and a textured trim, with an all-important rubber sole to withstand a few splashes by the pool.
Top picks: Suede espadrilles by Mulo (pictured, £135)

Visit the British Airways eStore to earn an exclusive 6 Avios for every £1 spent at Mr Porter

Ride the weave

One of summer’s most irresistible trends is the folky finish of woven fabric – on bags, shoes and even earrings. Inject a little summer colour into your holiday wardrobe of white linens with a coloured raffia – popping up in markets everywhere from Positano to Marrakech. Failing that, your nearest high street will offer an at-home alternative with plenty of summer-holiday character.
Top picks: Sandals by Dolce Vita (£125) and Jute tote bag by Zara (pictured, £29.99)

To top up your Avios balance with selected retailers and enjoy an increased Avios redemption rate at Net A Porter, River Island and Mr Porter, visit the BA Avios eStore

Have an opinion on The Club that you’d like to share? Let us know

This article has been tagged Fashion + Style, Travel Tips