[This post is sponsored by Target.
All content herein solely reflects my personal thoughts and opinions.]
Summer (and a vacation getaway) offers so many fun activity opportunities, you want to dress to be ready for whatever may come up. During my recent vacation to Hawaii, I spent each day in a swimsuit since a dip in the water was an easy prospect at any moment. But I didn’t just throw shorts on with my swimsuit. I had fun making outfits with it, depending if I was making a morning grocery run for fresh pineapple, having a picnic on the beach, or dressing up for a romantic sunset dinner.
Sure, you could just throw shorts on over your suit, but with just a little creativity, you could do so much more. Here’s how to make your swimsuit a key element of your summer wardrobe.
Selecting a swimsuit that is versatile and visually appropriate as a top is the first challenge. Don’t worry if it takes you a little time to find the right piece; it took me some time to try out various pieces at Target. I loved the vivid colors of a strapless bikini top that could be worn as a crop top, but the wide horizontal swath with a center-heavy ruffle shortened rather than lengthening my torso. A sporty top had fun strap detailing in the back, but I would have preferred a front with slight padding for my modest chest. Lastly, a rich blue structured halter top seemed to have all the right elements, but the décolletage cut was a tad too stiff, awkwardly pushing into my chest.
After considering a number of bikini tops, I found my solution in a classic one-piece with lightly-padded cups, a sophisticated black and white striped palette, and flatteringly-curved front and side contrasting panels. It’s suitable for a range of body types, and has the benefit of working beautifully as a top.
To represent how I’d wear it as part of my vacation wardrobe, I tested it out on the weekend. Saturday morning, I pulled on athletic leggings, a soft chambray shirt, and nude wedge heels for a grocery run. A ponytail pulled through a wool baseball cap and sunglasses completed the casual weekend uniform, no makeup needed.
In the afternoon, we headed out for a neighborhood walk and late lunch. It was quick and easy to dress up my look by pairing the swimsuit with a flared black and white striped skirt, a crocheted crop sweater, and metallic turquoise accents. I was thrilled to find this modern iridescent sculpture that perfectly matched my color scheme, and spent some time playing with it. (I especially loved how the reflecting light splashed a bright aqua across my skirt, and a rainbow sliver onto my skin!)
We wrapped up our weekend by relaxing at home. While my husband indulges in watching sports, I like to curl up in my cozy niche with my computer. I went for pure comfort with a light, soft wrap transformed into a draping skirt, and a lace crop top.
It’s surprising to see how seamlessly a swimsuit can be integrated with everyday wear, isn’t it? It can add quite a bit of flexibility to your wardrobe. Leveraging it as an outfit piece while on vacation is especially smart.
Could you now see wearing a swimsuit in new ways? Have fun finding your summer swimsuit at Target and making creative looks with it!
xoxo and aloha,
Find your style @TargetStyle! This post is sponsored by Target; all content solely reflects my personal thoughts and opinions.
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This is such a great idea! Loved seeing the different outfits you created throughout the day from just one bathing suit!!
What an awesome idea. I wish I read this post before the weekend, because I was totally looking for a way to combine a pool day with a day time outfit. Oh and girl, you rock that one piece!
Wow! what a cute and creative idea! You look stunning by the way.
You look great. This is a really good way to maximize the use of swimsuit by combining it with other outfits.
That’s a nice idea, I’d love that for my wife. She loves wearing a bathing suit when we go to the beach
What a cute idea to wear a suit with the skirt and cardigan and also the wedges. How creative. You look great!
Okay, I’m not going to lie. I wasn’t feeling it with the first outfit but the second with the shorter skirt was too flipping cute! Love it!
Great ideas! I especially love the one paired with the striped skirt and cardigan.
That’s a neat idea! I’ve also seen people wear bikini tops with jean jackets and high waste skirts, it looks really hip!
This is an awesome idea indeed and I have done this with my swimsuits. I consider it a part of mixing and matching my clothing. You totally rocked all the looks I have to admit. Very cute ideas. Thanks for sharing.
I absolutely love this post! You look simply stunning in your swimsuit, keep up the great work! 🙂
My wife loves wearing her bathing suits when we travel. Comfortable and can be used either way.
Wow,I never would have thought to try something like this. I love it! I don’t think anyone would even think it was a swimsuit with how you styled it. Nice job.
You did a spectacular job with that swim suit as the basis for all the looks you created for different parts of the day and for different occasions.
I love the way you mixed and matched the swimsuit with other outfits. I never would have thought of it.
That’s such a great style idea. Each outfit looks great with the bathing suit top!
Now that is very clever and you look gorgeous in every outfits! I wish I can pull that off, lol!
I never would have thought about wearing a swimsuit as clothing. I love the way you paired it with the skirt.
Although I think a one piece would get annoying with bathroom breaks.
No….I can’t see it lol, maybe in my 20’s. You did a great job on this though, I love that you can’t even tell that it doesn’t actually go with that skirt! Lots of cute ideas.
Oh I can certainly see it but I probably won’t do it. Maybe 20 years ago but I no longer have the body of a 20 year old. 🙂