Emily Ratajkowski’s Vacation Wardrobe Is Peak Mermaidcore

As you might know from this week’s baby-holding investigation, Emily Ratajkowski is on vacation for her 30th birthday. For the celebration, which appears to have taken place on a tropical island, the model-designer packed a very on-theme wardrobe with several mermaid-inspired looks.

On Monday, Ratajkowski uploaded a beachside photo of herself in a crystal-embellished bra and matching skirt from Versace’s sea-inspired spring ‘21 collection. Her bra top featured green, shell-shaped cups and orange-and-blue, ruffled hem. Her bright orange, midi-length skirt showcased a gold clasp with a seashell on it.

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A post shared by Emily Ratajkowski (@emrata)

Given the recent popularity of mermaidcore — a TikTok trend that’s an amalgamation of mid-2010’s seapunk, New England nautical-wear, and Sara Paxton in Aquamarine — Emrata’s look isn’t surprising on its own. After all, the look is perfect for a beach vacation. What’s applause-worthy is her dedication to the trend.

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A post shared by Emily Ratajkowski (@emrata)

Her second mermaidcore look arrived in the form of a blue, bustier dress embroidered with a galaxy of colorful, beaded starfish. Like its predecessor, the dress was also from Versace’s spring collection, which was inspired by the sea goddess Medusa. With it, Ratajkowski wore a pair of iridescent purple heels from Femme Azucar, a Los Angeles-based footwear brand. Overall, she appeared straight out of an episode of H2O: Just Add Water (“Cleo!”). 

After spending so much time at the beach, there’s no telling whether or not Ratajkowski will return to dry land. In the off chance she does, we hope she continues wearing mermaid-themed fashion.

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Plunge Head First Into Summer With These 22 Low-Back Swimsuits

The swim scene has come a very long way. Where itty bitty string bikinis were once de rigeur for looking sexy at the beach and by the pool, we're now opting for on-trend bathing suits that don't show off too much skin and rather show off just enough. To prove it, we're calling out the Goldilocks of swimsuits: one-pieces of the low-back variety. High up front (to avoid any wave-induced slippage) and low in back, these pieces officially end the days of compromising coverage for sex appeal.

The world of low-back one piece swimsuits is nearly limitless, with everyone from Reformation, Urban Outfitters, and most recently Everlane throwing their hats (or maillots) in the ring. While you may not get the line-less tan you're used to, it'll all be worth it when you don't have to spend any time adjusting and re-tying your string bikini after every dip in the water.

To help you find a swimsuit that's just right for swapping out that summery sundress as soon as you hit the beach, we've laid out all the best not-too-revealing, not-too-conservative, low-back one-pieces in the collection ahead.

At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.

Reformation Wave Scoop Back One Piece, $, available at Reformation

ASOS DESIGN Recycled Twist Strappy Low Back Swimsuit, $, available at ASOS

Aerie Real Me Ruched Scoop One Piece Swimsuit, $, available at AE

Farm Rio Tiny Fruits One Piece, $, available at Farm Rio

Kona Sol Textured High Neck High One Piece Swimsuit, $, available at Target

Malai Abstract One-Piece Swimsuit, $, available at Anthropolgie

Everlane The Square-Neck One-Piece, $, available at Everlane

Out From Under Erica Scoop Neck Printed One-Piece Swimsuit, $, available at Urban Outfitters

J.Crew Ruffle Scoopback One-Piece Swimsuit, $, available at J.Crew

Madewell Maillot One-Piece Swimsuit in Speckled Tiger, $, available at Madewell

Lively The Tank One Piece, $, available at Lively

Nike Hydrastrong Lace-Up Tie Back One-Piece, $, available at Zappos

O'Neill Balian Piper Ditsy Cap Sleeve One-Piece Swimsuit, $, available at Nordstrom

Ashley Graham Hotshot One Piece Swimsuit, $, available at swimsuitsforall

Frankies Bikinis Marie Ribbed Underwire One Piece Swimsuit, $, available at Frankies Bikinis

& Other Stories Printed Swimsuit, $, available at & Other Stories

Dixperfect 90s Trend One Piece Swimsuit, $, available at Amazon

Lisa Says Gah x OOKIOH Savannah One Piece, $, available at Lisa Says Gah

Summersalt The Ruffle Backflip, $, available at Summersalt

H&M Neon Swimsuit, $, available at H&M

lovewave The Everette One Piece, $, available at Revolve

Eberjey Palapas Loreta One Piece, $, available at Shopbop

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Alexander McQueen’s New Collection Features Anemone Prints & Punk-Inspired Party Pieces

Sarah Burton is looking to the healing power of nature for Alexander McQueen’s newest collection. On Tuesday, the British designer showed the fall 2021 line, featuring balloon shapes, puffed sleeves, and dramatic volume that exude the kind of beauty we’ve missed for the past 15 sweatpant-clad months. 

“It feels like now is a time for healing, for breathing new life, for exploring echoes from the past to enrich our future,” Burton wrote in the collection notes. 

Burton incorporated anemone prints into most of the collection’s pieces with blown-up and abstract florals appearing on pink-, black-, and red-hued garments. “Anemones are the most ephemeral flowers, here made permanent in cloth,” wrote Burton. Anemones are also one of the species most impacted by climate change as extreme heat waves continue to bleach their vibrant colors. Water was another big theme of the line, resulting in layered white-and-silver off-shoulder and T-shirt dresses that resembled sea foam.

“More than ever, a sense of humanity, of the team, working together with a single aim – to make something beautiful, something meaningful – feels both precious and important,” wrote Burton.

While this collection is intended to heal, it also revealed some darker themes with punk-inspired leather and denim pieces like moto jackets, belts, and dresses, all juxtaposed with the romantic shapes that have characterized Burton’s work at Alexander McQueen. 

The voluminous shapes in this collection are one of the biggest — and most dramatic — trends of this fall, signaling a departure from the skimpy silhouettes we’ve seen this spring. There are also some party pieces for the post-vaccination holiday season (a proper one, hopefully!) with flowy dresses shaped by crystal-encrusted bodices and an asymmetrical T-shirt dress with a bedazzled train. 

Adornment is necessary in times of uncertainty, so the return of layered and oversized shapes is not surprising. Let’s play a little dress-up, shall we?

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Sophie Turner Wore Designer Gym Shorts With This Summer’s Top Bikini Style

Three days after debuting her return to Sansa Stark’s red locks on Instagram, Game of Thrones star Sophie Turner is back on the platform with a new (fashion) look. On Wednesday, Turner shared her outfit of the day with her 15.1 million Instagram followers, which included a blue, striped string bikini top — a top swimwear trend for 2021 — and royal blue gym shorts — another fashion favorite for summer — from Louis Vuitton (casual). She added a blue-and-red military-style jacket with gold buttons and a cottagecore-esque phone case from Casetify to complete the heatwave-ready look.

Turner, an ambassador for the French fashion house, captioned the slideshow: “Oh Louis my love,” followed by an array of matching blue emojis, including a butterfly and a dolphin. 

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A post shared by Sophie Turner (@sophiet)

As the temperatures rise to the 100s in some parts of the country, more and more celebrities are stripping down to the bare minimum, with A-listers like Lizzo and Megan Thee Stallion turning to their bikini drawers for sartorial solace from the heat. At the end of May, the “Truth Hurts” singer was photographed outside of a restaurant in Los Angeles wearing a blue, crochet bikini top, which she styled with baggy, ripped jeans and Nike sneakers. Meanwhile, Megan Thee Stallion posted photos of herself from a recent vacation on Instagram, wearing a blue string bikini with Tarzan-style bottoms. Hailey Bieber and Kim Kardashian have, too, been frequenting the skimpy swimsuit style. 

With a full summer season ahead of us, we’re taking a cue from Turner (and more), and styling the string bikini on and off the beach.

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