From striped swim shorts to long-sleeve rash guards, sporty swimwear is making waves this summer. But it’s not just another round of “Blue Crush”-inspired Y2K nostalgia. While the surfer girl aesthetic may be back in the mix, today’s take on sporty swim feels decidedly more polished, with luxury brands and swim labels embracing technical fabrics, streamlined silhouettes and versatile pieces that fuse performance with fashion-forward design.
The season’s sporty swimwear has range — from high-performance pieces designed for surfing, swimming and paddleboarding to high-fashion interpretations. The trend’s luxury appeal was perhaps best illustrated when Bella Hadid wore Prada’s sporty striped one-piece while sunning aboard a yacht in Cannes. Wherever it falls on the spectrum, today’s defining sporty silhouettes —UPF-protective suits, swim shorts, tankinis and streamlined one-pieces — offer a more polished take on the surfer-inspired swimwear of the past. Think less laid-back surfer girl stereotype and more luxury-meets-performance, where technical details are every bit as important as the aesthetic.
The evolution comes down to changing consumer priorities, according to swimwear brand Left on Friday’s cofounders. “The surf-inspired aesthetic has always been rooted in confidence, movement, and a life well-lived outdoors,” Laura Low Ah Lee told WWD. “This summer, consumers are gravitating toward effortless, functional swimwear that keeps up with an active lifestyle.”
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Shannon Savage added that the Y2K revival has also helped fuel the trend— but with a more functional mindset. “Swimwear is leaning sportier this season, as we are seeing a big swing back to Y2K styling which feels new and fresh to the generations who weren’t around for it the first time,” Savage said. “We also know that women demand function without sacrificing style — they want pieces that can double as activewear.”
The shift is showing up across the swim market, from luxury fashion houses to contemporary swim brands. Sporty one-pieces from labels like Miu Miu, Prada and Dior have helped cement the trend’s high-fashion appeal, while buzzy swimwear brands like Hunza G, Triangl and Left on Friday are embracing everything from sleek one-pieces and swim shorts to supportive tops and UV-protective styles.
Together, they signal a broader shift in swimwear, where performance has become a luxury feature rather than a purely technical one. Whether designed for surfing or simply styled that way, the common thread is versatility — pieces that feel just as at home in the water as they do paired with linen trousers or denim shorts afterward.
As the lines between activewear, resortwear and everyday dressing continue to blur, sporty swimwear is following suit — proving that this season, performance isn’t just practical, it’s stylish.
