Why This Swimsuit Is Not For Basic Beaches

We’ve seen summer dresses interpreted in more ways than we can possibly count. Our favorite ones tend to be loose-fit but skimpy enough to show skin, and are special but without being too fancy for an impromptu Mister Softee chase. Plenty of designers have met these demands deftly, but very few have managed to interpret them into something we can swim in. Until this beaut came our way. The icy-blue Zimmermann swimsuit to the left is the latest beach design to earn a double take from us. Because at first, we didn’t quite understand what we were looking at. Sticking to its feminine, modern, and thoughtfully frilly aesthetic, the Australian label found a way to piece together all the elements of a great sundress and turn them into swimwear. Ruffles float on the bias; polka-dotted, sheer fabric spreads over the midsection, and a pretty pattern encompasses the whole one-piece thing. The top of the suit even takes cues from current dress trends with an off-the-shoulder strap that layers above the halter. While we love a coquettish flash of décolletage as much as the next person, this beach look takes the obsession one step further, delivering off-the-shoulder tan lines. The detail is as pretty as it is kind of weird, and practically speaking it might be tricky to keep in place if your beach activities consist of anything more than sunbathing.

Now, Zimmermann is no shrinking violet when it comes to statement-making styles or hybrid swimwear — see its peplum bandeau bikini or high-neck, high-waist, tarot-deck inspired two-piece — but this across-the-shoulder tan line, part-lingerie, part-sundress creation is one unlike any we've seen before. In short, it's not for basic beaches.