The Little Black (Swim)Suit

Black is my favorite color to wear as far as clothing is concerned. It can be as understated or as elegant as you want it to. My beach wardrobe is no different, every season, I add another black bikini to my collection. One can never have enough black. But as a rule of thumb, I always pair it with a vibrant beach dress, bold jewelry, over sized sunglasses, or a colorful beach bag. One of my favorite movie icons of all time is Marilyn Monroe, and the other day, while reading up on her, I came across a picture of her in a bandeau one-piece that inspired me  to write this post. Each swimsuit below has its own appeal – updated with understated embellishments for a modern, yet sophisticated look.

Inspiration: Marilyn Monroe in a Vintage Black Bandeau One Piece

Here are 4 of our faves from the 2010 Collection.

1. The Sexy Socialite – Sauvage’s crystal encrusted snake running up the torso is sure to turn heads. This cut-out one-piece has a low plunging neckline.

Photo courtesy of Sauvage Swimwear

2. Eco Beach Babe – I love this new Slinky Solids line from L Space, the fabric is made partially with agricultural feedstock instead of petrochemicals. The softness of the fabric allows a snug fit without to much pinching to prevent muffin tops and the likes.

Photo courtesy of L*Space

3. The Girly Tomboy – OndadeMar’s Gypsy Ruffles Bikinis have been so popular, the company brought back the silhouette for another season, and this time they added black. This hipster cut is perfect for the girl who wants a little more coverage, but still appreciates the comfort of the updated boy-shorts bottom.

Photo courtesy of OndadeMar

4. The Party Girl – From L*Space is another hot celebrity one-piece cut-out monokini that’s been made popular by Audrina Patridge.

Photo courtesy of L*Space