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A black swimsuit is a versatile base you can style in several ways: a one-piece worn as a bodysuit with skirts or pants, a bikini paired with a sarong or cover-up set, or a one-piece finished with a statement cover-up for pool-to-dinner. At L’ANIMAL, we design with these styling options in mind, so every piece below works hard beyond the shoreline.
TL;DR:
- Choose a one piece for bodysuit styling, or an adjustable triangle bikini for separate sizing; test straps and support by sitting, bending, and reaching.
- Use a sarong for beachwear, linen for resort polish, or an open shirt for streetwear; heeled mules shift the same suit toward dinner.
- Keep the swimsuit as the neutral base, choose one patterned layer, and echo black or another neutral in the print; leave sandals and jewelry simple.
- Skip layered necklaces with halter ties to prevent tangling, and rinse pool or sea jewelry after wear to remove chlorine or salt.
Each look names the silhouette, the pairing, the occasion and one accessory that lifts it. We use generic categories here so you can shop your own closet first.
For more full-outfit inspiration, see our summer outfit ideas for women.
Think in three levers: texture, cover-up and shoes.
Mix textures. Black swim fabric looks richer next to white linen, crochet, denim or raffia. Contrast keeps a monochrome look from going flat.
Choose the cover-up by occasion:
Pick accessories by formality. Slide sandals and canvas totes read casual. Heeled mules, a structured mini bag and gold jewelry read dressy. Round or cat-eye sunglasses and a wide-brim hat can complement many looks. Our beach accessories checklist covers the rest.
For cover-ups you can see through, our guide to wearing sheer beach cover-ups shows the sand-to-street transition.
Pro Tip: A simple, solid one-piece works as a bodysuit, so tuck it under a skirt or trousers for a streamlined line with no extra bulk, as The Zoe Report notes.
Black swimsuits stay versatile across many shapes, and details like ruching, scallops and cutouts keep them interesting. Match the shape to how you will use it:
Prioritize adjustable straps, ruching, a high-cut leg line and built-in support. If you have a long torso, look for four-way stretch, adjustable straps or long-torso designs, which Byrdie’s expert-approved roundup recommends for comfort and fit.
Before you commit, try the suit on and move: sit, bend, reach. If you will be active, check that straps stay put and the support holds.
Black works with nearly everything, so let the season steer you.
Spring: soft pastels such as blush, butter yellow and sage. They lighten black’s weight without losing contrast.
Summer: crisp white, optic cream and bright citrus tones. White crochet over black is a classic combination, as Byrdie’s styling piece shows.
Fall: terracotta, olive and chocolate brown. Pair a black suit with a rust sarong for a late-season getaway.
Winter escapes: deep emerald, cobalt and metallic gold. They suit resort evenings and holiday travel.
Keep it to one accent color and let black do the grounding. If you are unsure, repeat your accent in one accessory, such as a bag or a scarf tied around your hair. Warm metals create a warm contrast with black, and silver gives a cooler, sleeker finish.
Treat the black suit as the quiet partner and let one piece carry the pattern.
Print on top, solid below. A printed sarong or maxi skirt over a black suit works because the black stays out of the competition. This is the sarong-or-maxi swap Vogue uses to move a bikini toward lunch.
Match scale to proportion. Large prints suit long, flowing pieces such as kaftans. Small prints, like gingham or tiny florals, suit shorter cover-ups and shirts.
Anchor the palette. Pick prints that include black or a neutral within them, so the swimsuit looks intentional rather than accidental.
Try stripes with caution. Thin black-and-white stripes suit a nautical look, while bold stripes can fight a textured suit with scallops or ruching.
Keep the rest quiet. If your cover-up is patterned, choose plain sandals and simple jewelry. Resist layering three prints at once, because the eye needs somewhere to rest.
Our step-by-step beach outfit guide walks through building the full look.
Black is strong, so keep hair and makeup fresh and a little undone.
Hair. For beach days, try a low bun or a sleek ponytail that stays out of the way. For dinner, let waves air-dry with a touch of sea salt spray, or twist hair into a claw clip. A silk scarf adds color and protects strands from sun.
Makeup. Go for a sun-kissed base: tinted sunscreen, a cream bronzer on the cheekbones and a swipe of lip balm with tint. A bold red or berry lip pairs well with black for evening. Waterproof mascara is a good choice for swimming.
Skin. Sun protection matters more than polish. If you travel with a full routine, this guide to a skincare routine for travel is a useful reference for packing light.
For a dressier finish, add a touch of highlighter on the shoulders and collarbones. It catches the light against black fabric and makes the whole look feel considered.
Black swimwear is a clean canvas for jewelry, so layer with a plan.
Start with one focal point. Choose either a statement necklace or stacked bracelets, not both at full volume.
Layer necklaces by length. A short chain near the collarbone, a mid-length pendant and a longer cord can sit well over a scoop neck or bandeau. Skip heavy layering with halter ties, since straps and chains will tangle.
Pick your metal. Gold warms black, and silver gives it a cooler edge. Mixing metals is fine if you repeat each tone at least twice.
Think about the water. Wear delicate pieces at dinner and keep waterproof or easily rinsed pieces, such as shell, bead or cord styles, for the pool. Rinse jewelry after sea or chlorine exposure.
Add earrings last. Gold hoops suit nearly every look above, while a small drop earring keeps a sheer-dress evening look elegant.
My finishing move is always texture. I take a clean black one-piece, add a woven raffia bag and one oversized gold cuff, and the outfit looks complete without trying. At L’ANIMAL, we cut our swimwear with attention to detail and timeless shape, so the suit itself stays quiet and your accessories can do the talking. Try this: a black maillot, a white linen shirt knotted at the waist and flat leather sandals. Nothing more is needed.
Here is my honest view. Outfit advice can fixate on the cover-up, but I think it should start with the swimsuit. A well-cut black suit is a wardrobe tool, and the one-piece-as-bodysuit habit is the clearest proof: once you tuck it under a skirt, you stop thinking of it as swimwear and start thinking of it as a base layer.
What’s overrated is buying a new cover-up for every trip. A white linen shirt, a sarong and wide-leg pants can work for many situations. What sells these looks is proportion and texture, not novelty.
Start with fit. If the straps dig or the support fails, no styling will rescue the outfit. Choose the silhouette that lets you move comfortably, then build outward with one texture contrast and one accessory that feels like you.
— Lital
If you’d like to recreate these outfits, start with our bikini collection for the mix-and-match looks, our one-piece swimsuits for the bodysuit tuck, and our cover-ups for layering. Each piece is designed by Lital Simel-Rhedrick with timeless silhouettes in mind.
White crochet, linen, denim and raffia all pair well because they add texture against black fabric. For cover-ups, classic choices include sarongs, kaftans and oversized button-ups, which Vogue’s cover-up guide lists among the most popular categories.
Yes. A simple, solid one-piece tucked under a skirt or trousers gives a smooth line without extra bulk, as The Zoe Report points out. Choose a scoop or crew neckline and a suit with some stretch for comfort.
Add a statement cover-up or sheer dress, swap sandals for heeled mules and finish with jewelry and a small bag. Changing shoes alone can shift the formality, a point Vogue’s swimsuit outfit piece makes.
Look for four-way stretch, adjustable straps or designs made for long torsos. Byrdie’s expert-approved roundup recommends these features for comfort and fit.
