Claire's Picks

Bikinis Worth the Closer Look

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Most bikinis look fine on a hanger and disappointing by the pool. The ones we've pulled together here are different. These are the bikinis we kept returning to because something about them stopped us mid-scroll. A really clever tie detail. A cut that does something unexpected but genuinely flattering. A print that holds up in real sunlight rather than washing out in it. We care about construction more than most people expect a fashion site to. Fabric that keeps its shape when wet matters. Straps that actually stay where you put them matter. A top that provides real support without looking like it's trying too hard to provide real support matters enormously. We've included styles across the full range, from minimal triangles for people who know exactly what they want to more structured options that work harder. Some are bold, unapologetically patterned. Some are the kind of clean, quiet design that photographs brilliantly precisely because nothing is competing for attention. All of them reward a closer look, which is exactly the point. A great bikini is one of the few things that earns its price every single time you wear it.

Claire's Top Picks

Bikinis You'll Be Glad You Packed VILEBREQUIN UK Women Bikini Bottom To Be Tied Vbq Monogram - Flore - Blue - Size Jump to section ↓

£100.00 VILEBREQUIN UK

Green Bikinis Worth Packing for the Beach GODDIVA_UK Goddiva Multi-tie Bikini Jump to section ↓

£35.00 GODDIVA_UK

Halter Neck Bikinis You'll Be Glad You Packed EGO (UK) Halterneck Trim Detail Ruched Bikini Set In Green, Women's Size Jump to section ↓

£20.00 EGO (UK)

High Leg Bikinis Worth the Tan Lines LA REDOUTE UK Aravina Bikini Bottoms Jump to section ↓

£4.20 LA REDOUTE UK

High Waist Bikinis That Hold Up in the Water MADE IN PARADIS UK High-waisted slimming bikini bottoms for women Lisca Uvita Jump to section ↓

£30.54 MADE IN PARADIS UK

Navy Bikinis You'll Be Glad You Packed BONMARCHE UK Bonmarche Navy Crochet Print With Gold Trim Bikini Top, Size: Jump to section ↓

£18.00 BONMARCHE UK

Orange Bikinis That Fit Where They Should INSTOCK UK In Sexy Solid Color Swimsuit Set Ladies Beach Bikini Swimwear, S, M, L, , X - Orange Jump to section ↓

£5.99 INSTOCK UK

Bikinis You'll Be Glad You Packed

Packing a bikini you're not fully sold on is a particular kind of holiday regret. You wear it because it's what you brought, but it sits wrong or gaps somewhere or the colour looked better online, and suddenly you're thinking about it every time you're at the pool. We wanted to fix that. This collection is built around bikinis we'd actually be happy to unpack. The ones with proper structure in the top, with ties that don't loosen the moment you move, with prints and colourways that look as good in real light as they do in photographs. We've included supportive underwired options for anyone who needs more than a triangle top can offer, and some brilliant minimal styles for those who want clean lines and nothing fussy. Sizing runs across a solid range and several of our picks let you mix top and bottom separately, which is how it should work. A bikini is not a small purchase and it travels with you. It deserves to be right. These are the ones worth the suitcase space.

VILEBREQUIN UK Women Bikini Bottom To Be Tied Vbq Monogram - Flore - Blue - Size £100.00 VILEBREQUIN UK

SPARTOO.CO.UK Calvin Klein Jeans BIKINI X women's Knickerspanties in Black £67.00 SPARTOO.CO.UK

SPARTOO.CO.UK Tommy Hilfiger BIKINI women's Knickerspanties in Red £18.70 SPARTOO.CO.UK

MISSPAP_UK_IE Bottega Veneta Women's Turquoise Polyamide Bikini £404.00 MISSPAP_UK_IE

MISSPAP_UK_IE DKNY Women's BIKINI BRIEF in Black £16.15 MISSPAP_UK_IE

INSTOCK UK New Solid Color White Bikini Women suit Low Waist Lace £13.68 INSTOCK UK

EGO (UK) Triangle Bikini Set In Cream Sequin Crochet, Women's Size £21.00 EGO (UK)

INSTOCK UK Women Swimsuit Colored Maple Leaves Knitted Bikini Skirt Three-Piece Set Split Swimsuit Bikini - Asian Sizes £22.68 INSTOCK UK

MISSPAP_UK_IE DKNY Women's BIKINI BRIEF in White £16.15 MISSPAP_UK_IE

INSTOCK UK Bikini Burn Ovatol® £123.00 INSTOCK UK

SOCK SHOP Women's Pack Ambra Bare Essentials Bikini Brief Rose Beige - £7.99 SOCK SHOP

SWEATY BETTY UK Sweaty Betty Wrap Front High Waist Bikini Brief, Black, Women's £35.00 SWEATY BETTY UK

Green Bikinis Worth Packing for the Beach

Green is doing something genuinely interesting in swimwear right now and we think it deserves a proper edit rather than just picking up whatever is left on the rack. The colour works brilliantly against tanned skin, it reads as fresh without being garish, and it photographs beautifully in natural light. That combination is harder to find than it sounds. We have been pulling together our favourite green bikinis across shades and styles because the range matters enormously here. Olive sits differently on the body than emerald, and sage reads completely differently again. Each has its own argument for being packed. Some of the pieces we have chosen are classic and clean, the kind that will work for years. Others lean into the moment with a bolder cut or a more saturated colour that feels exactly right for now. What unites them is that they earn their place rather than just filling space. The best bikini is not the one you feel acceptable in. It is the one you actually want to put on when you get to the beach.

GODDIVA_UK Goddiva Multi-tie Bikini £35.00 GODDIVA_UK

BONMARCHE UK Bonmarche Tie Dye Bikini Brief - Green - Size £2.40 BONMARCHE UK

YESSTYLE_US_GLOBAL Set: Plain Bikini Top + Bottom + Cover-Up Top + Skirt Set - Top & Bottom & Skirt - Green £32.85 YESSTYLE_US_GLOBAL

EGO (UK) Triangle Micro Bikini Set In Khaki Green, Women's Size £20.00 EGO (UK)

BONMARCHE UK Bonmarche Green Shirred Bikini Brief, Size: One Size £2.80 BONMARCHE UK

HUNKEMOLLER_UK Hunkemöller Aqua Non-Padded Underwired Bikini Top Green £15.00 HUNKEMOLLER_UK

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Sea Green Trim Detail Underwired Bikini Top £6.00 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

HUNKEMOLLER_UK Hunkemöller Doha Cheeky Tanga Bikini Bottoms Green £5.10 HUNKEMOLLER_UK

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Emerald Green Ombre Print Long Tie Side Bikini Bottoms £3.50 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

HUNKEMOLLER_UK Hunkemöller Azua Non-Padded Underwired Bikini Top Green £28.00 HUNKEMOLLER_UK

EGO (UK) Halterneck Beaded Bikini Top In Green Abstract Print, Women's Size £7.00 EGO (UK)

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Sea Green Whip Stitch Triangle Bikini Top £12.60 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

Halter Neck Bikinis You'll Be Glad You Packed

The halter neck does something for a bikini top that other styles simply do not. It lifts, it defines, it creates a shape that looks intentional rather than accidental. And for anyone with a fuller bust, it offers real support without sacrificing anything on the style front. That combination is rarer than it should be. We have been pulling together our favourite halter neck bikinis because this style rewards a proper edit. There is a lot of variation within it. Some halters tie at the neck and give you adjustability. Others have structured cups that hold their shape in and out of the water. The best ones manage to look genuinely good when you are wearing them poolside with a sarong as much as when you are actually swimming. Colour matters here too. A strong halter neck in a really good print or a clean bold colour photographs beautifully and looks deliberately chosen rather than grabbed off a rail. These are the bikinis worth organising your packing around. Not as an afterthought. The halter neck is the swim style that earns its own dedicated space in the case.

EGO (UK) Halterneck Trim Detail Ruched Bikini Set In Green, Women's Size £20.00 EGO (UK)

YESSTYLE_US_GLOBAL Set: Halter-Neck Bikini + Wrap Swim Skirt + Short-Sleeve Cover Up - Bikini & Skirt & Cover Up - Tangerine £24.57 YESSTYLE_US_GLOBAL

SNEAKIN UK Women's multi-position push-up triangle bikini top Selmark Miami £43.92 SNEAKIN UK

YESSTYLE_US_GLOBAL Set: Halter-Neck Bikini + Wrap Swim Skirt + Short-Sleeve Cover Up - Bikini & Skirt & Cover Up - Pink £17.75 YESSTYLE_US_GLOBAL

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Black Chain Trim Triangle Bikini Top £9.80 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Leopard Print Basic Triangle Bikini Top £5.60 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

MADE IN PARADIS UK Non-wired padded triangle bikini top for women Lisca Puerto Rico £28.11 MADE IN PARADIS UK

SNEAKIN UK Underwired bikini top for women with an open back Lisca Isola Rossa £38.68 SNEAKIN UK

JUICY COUTURE UK JUICY PINK TOWELLING HALTER BIKINI SET - M Pink £60.00 JUICY COUTURE UK

JUICY COUTURE UK JUICY PINK TOWELLING HALTER BIKINI SET - X Pink £60.00 JUICY COUTURE UK

HUNKEMOLLER_UK Hunkemöller Giselle Triangle Bikini Top Green £12.50 HUNKEMOLLER_UK

JUICY COUTURE UK SUMMER GREEN TOWELLING HALTER BIKINI SET - Green £60.00 JUICY COUTURE UK

High Leg Bikinis Worth the Tan Lines

The cut is doing real work here. A high leg bikini bottom lengthens the leg visibly, pulls in the waist optically, and creates a silhouette that a regular cut simply cannot compete with. It is not subtle and that is entirely the point. We have been fully convinced that this is the most flattering swimwear shape going, and we have pulled together our favourites to prove it. What makes a good high leg bikini is not just the cut but the confidence of it. The colour has to be right. The fabric has to hold its shape when wet. The top has to balance the bottom so the whole thing reads as considered rather than assembled. We have been strict about all of that here. Some of these are bold prints that own the poolside. Others are clean block colours that photograph beautifully and work just as well on an actual beach as they do in your imagination. All of them earn their place in a proper summer wardrobe. The tan lines, for the record, are a small price for looking this good.

LA REDOUTE UK Aravina Bikini Bottoms £4.20 LA REDOUTE UK

EGO (UK) High Leg Crinkle Detail Brazilian Bikini Bottoms In Green, Women's Size £1.00 EGO (UK)

LA REDOUTE UK Elmina Brazilian Bikini Bottoms £4.80 LA REDOUTE UK

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Mushroom Boomerang Bikini Bottoms £9.80 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

PUBLIC_DESIRE_UK_ Scrunch High Leg Bikini Bottom Pink £1.00 PUBLIC_DESIRE_UK_

MADE IN PARADIS UK High-waisted cut-out bikini bottom for women Lisca Calvi £29.68 MADE IN PARADIS UK

MADE IN PARADIS UK Adjustable high-cut bikini bottom for women Lisca Calvi £21.14 MADE IN PARADIS UK

SNEAKIN UK High-waisted cut-out bikini bottom for women Lisca Roma £31.67 SNEAKIN UK

MADE IN PARADIS UK High-waisted cut-out bikini bottom for women Lisca Malaga £25.46 MADE IN PARADIS UK

BOUX AVENUE Boux Avenue Ibiza piped high leg thong bikini bottoms - Black Mix £20.00 BOUX AVENUE

BOUX AVENUE Boux Avenue Ferrara ruched high leg bikini bottoms - Black £24.00 BOUX AVENUE

HUNKEMOLLER_UK Hunkemöller Yucatan High-Leg Bikini Bottoms Black £7.00 HUNKEMOLLER_UK

High Waist Bikinis That Hold Up in the Water

Most high waist bikinis look incredible on a hanger and fall apart the moment you actually get in the water. The bottoms roll down. The top rides up. You spend the entire time adjusting rather than swimming. We have strong feelings about this and they have shaped exactly how we put this collection together. High waist bikinis done properly are genuinely one of the best swimwear silhouettes going. The cut is flattering across a huge range of body shapes, it offers real coverage without looking modest in a dowdy way, and the proportions work particularly well with a statement top. The retro reference is there but the best versions wear it lightly. What we looked for here was structure that actually holds. Thicker waistbands that stay put. Fabrics with enough recovery to keep their shape after hours in chlorine or salt water. Fits that were designed for movement, not just photography. These are bikinis you can dive in, swim in, and wear confidently on a boat without a second thought. Looking good in swimwear should not require constant maintenance. These are the ones that do the work for you.

MADE IN PARADIS UK High-waisted slimming bikini bottoms for women Lisca Uvita £30.54 MADE IN PARADIS UK

FERRARIS BOUTIQUE UK MAX MARA BEACHWEAR SAMANTA BRICK RED BIKINI BOTTOM £44.00 FERRARIS BOUTIQUE UK

BONMARCHE UK Bonmarche Women's Navy & Purple Tribal Striped High Waist Bikini Brief, Size: £2.80 BONMARCHE UK

MONSOON Cindy Molten Detail High Waist Bikini Bottom Black £21.00 MONSOON

OXYGEN_CLOTHING Ovelina High Waisted Bikini Pant £13.50 OXYGEN_CLOTHING

HUNKEMOLLER_UK Hunkemöller Panama High Waisted Bikini Bottom Purple £20.00 HUNKEMOLLER_UK

MONSOON Kyla Tie Front Bandeau Bikini Top Pink £28.00 MONSOON

YESSTYLE_US_GLOBAL Plain High-Waist Bikini Set Dark Green £22.86 YESSTYLE_US_GLOBAL

MONSOON Kyla Tie Front High Waisted Bikini Bottom Pink £24.50 MONSOON

MONSOON Kyla Tie Front Bandeau Bikini Top Blue £17.50 MONSOON

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Brown Snake Print Bandeau Bikini Top £4.75 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Black Hibiscus Print Triangle Bikini Top £8.40 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

Navy Bikinis You'll Be Glad You Packed

Navy is the one swimwear colour that never needs justifying. It works on every skin tone, photographs beautifully in bright light, and doesn't show the wear that white does after a day in the sun and salt water. We've always had a soft spot for a navy bikini specifically because it manages to look both effortless and put together at the same time, which is a harder combination to achieve than it sounds. This edit brings together the navy bikinis we'd genuinely pack ourselves. Some are classic triangle styles with that clean, timeless silhouette. Others have more structure, underwire, thicker straps, real support for people who actually swim rather than just pose at the water's edge. We've included options across price points because a good navy bikini doesn't have to cost a fortune, it just has to fit properly and hold its shape after repeated wear. The navy ones always do the heavy lifting on holiday and somehow still look sharp on the last day as the first. Pack one and you'll understand exactly why we keep coming back to this colour.

BONMARCHE UK Bonmarche Navy Crochet Print With Gold Trim Bikini Top, Size: £18.00 BONMARCHE UK

LA REDOUTE UK Pack of Carrubo Bikini Bottoms £7.50 LA REDOUTE UK

GODDIVA_UK Goddiva Multiway Bikini £30.00 GODDIVA_UK

SUPERDRY_UK Superdry & Co Women's Logo Racer Back Bikini Top Navy Eclipse Navy - Size: £26.99 SUPERDRY_UK

GODDIVA Ruffle Brief Buckle Bikini - Navy by Goddiva £5.00 GODDIVA

SOCK SHOP Love Luna Pair Teens First Period Bikini Briefs Navy White - £9.99 SOCK SHOP

BONMARCHE UK Bonmarche Navy Plain Bikini Swim Top, Size: £14.00 BONMARCHE UK

SUPERDRY_UK Superdry & Co Women's Contrast Classic Bikini Bottoms Navy Eclipse Navy - Size: £22.99 SUPERDRY_UK

BONMARCHE UK Bonmarche Women's Navy Blue & White Tile Print Twist Front Bikini Top, Size: £3.60 BONMARCHE UK

SUPERDRY_UK Superdry & Co Women's Logo Classic Bikini Bottoms Navy Eclipse Navy - Size: £22.99 SUPERDRY_UK

GODDIVA_UK Goddiva Side Tie Bikini With Buckle Detail £30.00 GODDIVA_UK

BONMARCHE UK Bonmarche Navy Tie Dye Print With Gold Trim Bikini Top, Size: £18.00 BONMARCHE UK

Orange Bikinis That Fit Where They Should

Orange is one of those colours that looks genuinely extraordinary against warm skin tones and surprisingly brilliant against pale ones too. It has an energy that red does not quite have, something more playful and sun-soaked, and on a beach it reads as confident rather than trying. The problem is that finding an orange bikini that actually fits properly is harder than it should be. Tops that gap at the sides. Bottoms that roll down the moment you move. We have done the searching so you do not have to. Every piece in this edit has been chosen because it holds its shape and stays where it is supposed to stay. Not just while you are standing still but when you swim, when you sit, when you actually use it. We have included a range of cuts because different bodies want different things, from fuller coverage bottoms to minimal triangle tops, and across the full orange palette from burnt terracotta through to bright tangerine. A bikini that fits correctly is not a luxury. It is the entire point. These are the orange ones that get that right.

INSTOCK UK In Sexy Solid Color Swimsuit Set Ladies Beach Bikini Swimwear, S, M, L, , X - Orange £5.99 INSTOCK UK