I will be honest: The idea of shopping for a swimsuit used to terrify me. Everyone has their own insecurities, but as a plus-size person, those insecurities felt so much more heightened. I focused so much on what I wanted to cover up that it took the joy away from being in the water. Over time, after following influencers, models, and folks that I just thought were cool and shared the same body shape and size as me, I realized that if I can love and admire them, then I can feel the same way about myself.
Do you remember that iconic scene from Hulu’s Shrill, where Aidy Bryant's character attends the Fat Babe Pool Party? That scene made such an impact on me and so many plus-size women I know. To just exist, to be fully present and enjoy the sun kissing your skin, that, to me, is bliss.
It doesn’t matter how much or how little coverage your swimwear or activewear has, just as long as you feel comfortable and cute! I like switching it up and have several swim pieces to choose from. Swimwear can be super-versatile, and thankfully, there are plenty of styles to choose from in plus sizes. Ahead are 30 of the best plus-size swimsuits from one-pieces to bikini separates that are sure to make a splash.
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Since launching her eponymous fashion brand in 2010, Sally LaPointe has become known for electric, neon-adjacent monochrome looks that pack a punch. That said, for a while now, the New York-based designer had noticed that customers were buying her downtown cool garments in shades of cream and white for an unexpected occasion: weddings. “Not just like the wedding [day],” she tells Refinery29. “But everything around the wedding, so rehearsal dinner, the brunch after, and bachelorette.” With that in mind, the designer launched her debut bridal collection — the LaPointe way — available now.
While a wedding line may seem unexpected from a brand known for its bold colors (even the label’s e-commerce site is shoppable by colors), it’s one that LaPointe finds fitting given the rise of elopements and micro-weddings following the pandemic: “I think about the timing right now with everything that’s going on that created this new bride.”
LaPointe’s bridal debut speaks to this reality, one that has forced many brides to rethink traditions and has allowed designers to bet on more fashion-forward trends like suits, mini dresses, and black gowns. There are no ball gowns or princess skirts that often define bridal wear. Instead, LaPointe’s bridal collection features a sheer trench coat and pants, a bias-cut skirt and oversized bridal suiting adorned in feathers, a cut-out bodysuit styled with low-rise pants, and a strapless leather crop top.
“There’s a very big challenge to the idea of tradition,” she says. “I think that that’s a lot of what my brand is about — being kind of unapologetic and doing your own thing, your own vibe.” With a slew of separates, the brand, which counts Oprah Winfrey, Megan Fox, and Adele as fans, is offering pieces that can be mixed and matched for all nuptial occasions, much like LaPointe’s clients did before.
How did a designer who has come to be loved for her saturated color palettes feel about offering a lineup of mostly white and cream pieces? According to LaPointe, that is “the most exciting part.” She adds this new phase will “highlight all other aspects that you might not pick up first when you see my clothes, because that color hits so immediately.” Indeed, all the recognizable details that make up the brand’s effortlessly cool DNA are still there and fully on display, including the detachable feather cuffs, sequins, and silky fabrics.
For the collection’s campaign, LaPointe made a case for a wedding night out, with images showing her brides partying in downtown Manhattan. LaPointe admits this setting would be her ideal wedding day: “I like the idea of a small, intimate dinner and like having fun out in the town with your friends,” she says.
Ultimately, with the new launch, LaPointe wants brides to be able to celebrate their wedding day on the most authentic day possible and “be equal parts cool, equal parts badass.”
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Over the past few years, Staud has become one of fashion’s It brands, thanks to its party dresses, statement-making handbags, and collabs with labels like New Balance. Now the LA-based company is about to walk down the aisle. On Wednesday, Staud announced the launch of its first-ever bridal collection that includes nuptial-ready looks featuring some of the year’s top wedding dress trends, from feather details to high-necks and thigh-high slits.
“The Staud Bride collection was inspired by weddings throughout history that still feel both timeless and relevant for today,” designer Sarah Staudinger tells Refinery29. “I wanted to evoke that same emotion in the clothes themselves.”
In line with the brand’s signature aesthetic, the collection includes an array of corseted mini dresses and two-piece sets, as well as heart-shaped handbags and platform heels that are designed to take a bride from a pre-wedding brunch to the moment they say “I do.” Bridesmaids and wedding guests will also be able to sample from Staud’s new offering, which includes bold black-tie gowns in green and orange shades, as well as bright pink pantsuits and light blue mini-skirt sets. “In designing this collection I really saw an opportunity with our customers and their desire for something fresh and new with real value for both brides and their guests,” Staudinger says.
While Staudinger looked back to the past to create the collection, she was also inspired by her own nuptials, which took place last year in St.Tropez: “It was one of those things that felt so natural to develop, having recently gone through a wedding process myself and understanding the needs of my friends and family.”
With prices starting at $295, the Staud Bride collection is now available at Staud’s New York and Los Angeles locations and online.
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Over the past few years, fashion trends have reflected a collective need to seek out joy, from dopamine dressing to chunky jewelry. And lately, it seems the industry is literally throwing a party for itself — or, at least helping people dress like it — through tinsel textures.
At Paris Fashion Week, tinsel also made a few appearances, with designer Isabel Marant making silver and black sweaters, paired with metallic pants and sheer tights, the life of the party. Actress Greta Lee also endorsed the trend in The City of Light, wearing a pair of tinsel-embellished heels that looked like cheerleading pom poms to attend the Loewe show.
While the material might remind you of childhood piñatas and birthday hats, designers have proven it can be an elegant choice. Jason Wu’s take on the trend (pictured above), for the brand’s spring 2023 lineup, includes a mid-length fringe dress that shines with every move, while LaQuan Smith’s fall 2023 iterations go from a halter gown to an evening blazer paired with a satin mini skirt — neither of which would look out of place at an elegant evening.
Next time you hit the party aisle, maybe consider taking some tinsel home. It might come in handy for 2023.
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