Ever stand in front of your jam-packed closet, staring at more than enough clothing options, and think: I have nothing to wear? Same. But perhaps the issue isn’t that you’re out of viable choices. You just need a fresh dose of outfitinspiration to help you see your wardrobe in a new way. That’s where Outfit Dump comes in. Every month, we supply you with enough ideas to fuel your style until the next drop comes along.This month, we are looking at the ways to wear a swimsuit off the beach.
Summer is the time when we allow our creativity to run wild — and that extends to our wardrobes, too, inspiring us to play with our outfits more than usual. When it comes to swimwear, we tend to be a little close-minded about where we can wear the category, leaving most of our bikinis untouched unless there's a body of water nearby. However, the Instagram set is here to inspire us to see our favorite swim pieces in a new light, by wearing them out on the town with no beach in sight.
From string bikini tops styled over T-shirts to one-pieces worn as bodysuits, find your new summer look a scroll away.
A kitten heel and a button-down with your favorite bikini top? An effortless look that goes a long way.
Bye bra tops, we’re looking at bikini tops right now. We love this one worn by Paloma Elsesser at Maryam Nassir Zadeh's Spring '22 show.
Here’s an idea, throw a bikini top over your fave graphic tee.Your favorite swimsuit? Or your new favorite bodysuit?Leather Jacket + Bikini Top = Unexpected. Also: Perfection.Another unexpected styling hack? Wearing a bikini top with opera gloves.
Opt for a monochrome palette to make your swimsuit look appear more city-chic than water-ready. Bonus if it includes bloomers. We’re not quite over the crochet trend yet. Or the color green.Shiny bikini top, sequin heels, crystal clutch? The perfect going-out look.Add a pop of color to your monochrome look with a bright bikini.A bikini top worn under a sheer shirt is the perfect look for an afternoon stroll, particularly for those who just want to dip their toes into the swimsuit-as-outerwear trend.
Elevate your bikini with heels and a wide-leg pant, dinner reservation is at 7.
Cargo pants and bikinis are the new inseparable duo.
Match your sunglasses to your bikini, you won’t regret it.
Or to your favorite sports team.Mixed prints for summer? Actually groundbreaking.
Time to take your bikini top from the pool to the street with a classic blazer.
Sneakers are another surefire way to make a swimsuit more city-appropriate.A bikini, jeans, AND a billowy shirt? A summer go-to uniform.
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Instagram’s best-dressedhave one thing in common: they each have a signature style item that they wear more often and better than anyone else. For one person, it could be astring bikini, worn on and off the beach. For another, it’s asustainable maximalist aesthetic. Whatever the piece may be, it’s their thing. With our column My Thing, we’re talking with those same experts about that one specific item they have made into their signature — and style unlike anyone else.
Kennedy Bingham, a bridal stylist and influencer, is surrounded by wedding looks every day. Still, according to her, she is “not a wedding person.”
“People assumed that because I was in bridal, it was because I really wanted to get married,” says Bingham (who got married in Las Vegas in 2021). “I just genuinely very much like bridal because there are so many constraints around it, and seeing what designers can do within all those constraints has always been very interesting to me.”
When it comes to her personal style, Bingham also rejects formalwear norms. On her Instagram, where the California native goes by @gowneyedgirl, Bingham can be seen wearing easy-to-wear pieces like mini skirts, athleisure bralettes, ‘70s-inspired vests, and straight-leg jeans. But that’s not to say she doesn’t enjoy wearing the multiple wedding dresses she tries on whenever she partners with brands like Sophie et Voilà and Houghton by Katharine Polk.
“I work with brands to just create awareness around their products, especially because bridal can feel very limiting and can feel like we see the same few brands,” she says.
Right now, Bingham says she sees a new wave forming in the bridal space, especially when it comes to styling. “I think a lot of it is either super traditional or super anti-bride and modern, but I try to approach it like there is no right or wrong way to do bridal,” she says. “I work with brides to really translate their personal style into their bridal style and understand how they can take that dress and make it feel really significant and unique to them.” This year, she’s excited to style brides — and herself — in black wedding dresses, bridal harnesses, and funky shoes.
Ahead, take a look at some of Bingham’s best bridal looks.
Slipping into the big day.A big case for drop-waist gowns.The boho bride.Black is the new white.This cape reads, "Am I the drama?"A bridal take on the popular puff sleeve trend.A case for matching bridal gowns to the wedding locale.Gowns made for a dancing queen.Dark academia takes on bridal, one gown at a time.It's the opera gloves for me.
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I’m the first person to jokingly say that my “signature style” is really more of an absence of style. (Ironically, my twin sister is an extremely gifted fashion designer — I’d gladly let her pick out all my clothes for the rest of my life.) It’s not that I don’t love shopping; my style has just always been very minimal and functional, so anything with bells and whistles has never been my jam. I happily thrive in the land of neutrals and denim. Summer dressing for me usually involves a uniform of plain white tees and high-waist shorts.
That said, I loved that AllSaints had items that spoke my style language in addition to layer-able pieces like an oversize linen blazer to dress things up a bit. (Last touch: a logo visor to keep my face protected from the sun.) During a recent work trip to sunny Los Angeles, I packed my AllSaints haul and planned my outfits around Golden Hour’s pieces: For an alfresco poolside dinner, I wore a silk navy cami and denim skirt with the Sammie Linen Blazer, an airy, oatmeal-hued layer that is making me a “summer blazer” person. The next day, I spent time biking from Santa Monica to Venice and back clad in the (very apropos) beach-printed Solis tee paired with the mid-thigh Alfie denim shorts. To top it all off, the Oppose Visor was the real MVP during high noon — and didn’t leave me with dreaded hat hair.
Seventy-five dollars for a tee (not to mention $135 for shorts) is a splurge, but trust me when I tell you that these are not your basic basics. (Also like, AllSaints for my angel, amirite?) Whether you wear each item solo or styled together for a head-to-toe drip, I’m making this summer my most stylish one yet, thanks to these key pieces.
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. All product details reflect the price and availability at the time of publication. If you buy or click on something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.
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Today’s trends are anything but straightforward, with platforms heels, opera gloves, and micro mini skirts all making waves. Ensuring that your wardrobe is up to date can often mean searching for shoppable items in a sea of puzzling options. Our column Sourced answers all your market-related questions, as well as offers you an endless source of styles that will make snagging today’s top trends easy, so you can spend your precious time learning about the next wave of trends.
The footwear motto this summer is “The higher, the better.” And to aid with this, the biggest shoe trend of the summer, the platform heel, is here.
Thanks to the resurgence of Y2K styles and Bratz fashion, sky-high shoes — of any kind — are back in fashion. Brands like Marc Jacobs (top photo), Versace, and Valentino are leading the trend on the runways, as are celebrities like Olivia Rodrigo and Doja Cat on the red carpet. Actress Nicola Peltz even chose chunky platforms for her wedding day to Brooklyn Beckham in April, sporting a pair of white satin platform pumps by Versace.
According to global shopping platform Lyst, the Naked Wolfe platform boots are among the top products of 2022’s first quarter, alongside an ankle-strap pair from Valentino. Meanwhile, the Versace Medusa Aevitas platform pumps have already become one of the hottest accessories of the year, with Google Trends showing an increase in searches of 750% for the double-stacked pumps despite the hefty $1,500 price tag.
It’s more than fair that after two years of athleisure, sneakers, nap dresses, the world is ready to, just like Carrie Bradshaw says, put on the big gal shoes. Along with party dresses, micro mini skirts, feathers, and opera gloves, the platform craze is just another example of how trends are inviting us all to exude main character energy all summer long.
Ahead, 24 options to try now.
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.
Ankle-strap Platforms
From fancy dinner dates to a night out dancing, ankle-strap platforms are probably one of the most secure ways to wear this trend, with the strap working overtime for you. Tip: Go with a pair that has a bedazzled strap that can double as an anklet, another big summer comeback trend.
Platform Sandals
If the over-the-top nature of platforms pumps doesn’t work for your lifestyle or the cobblestone streets you’re surrounded with, casual sandals are also everywhere this season, from furry, slipper-like flatforms to colorful slip-ons.
Platform Boots
They may seem more fitting for the Bratz dolls stage than real life but, trust us when we say, platform boots are simple, fun, and easy to walk in for all those summer nights when the vibes are high enough to need some comfy shoes to guide your path.
Platform Sneakers
Of course, some want to retain the levels of comfort we’ve all reached over the past two years, and platform sneakers — whether they’re beach-friendly espadrilles or skateboarding-ready numbers — are the best option. Still, don’t run too much in these.
Platform Mules & Clogs
Yet another way to hold on to comfort, mules and clogs have become synonymous with the stylish, casual bunch. From bright yellow clogs to simple black mules, there’s a platform to match your clomping taste.
Platform Flip-Flops
If the Y2K comeback wasn’t apparent enough, welcome back platform flip-flops, whether you’re spending a day by the pool or shopping for bikinis. The silver lining is, years later, the platform flip-flops are more stylish and less… foamy.
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