Festival Swim

Festival swimwear occupies a weird space. You need something that can survive a full day of heat, water, crowds, and questionable decision-making — but you also want to look like you put thought into it. Nobody is packing their most precious designer piece for a weekend in a field. But nobody wants to show up in something forgettable either. This edit sits right in that sweet spot.

The Frankies Bikinis x JENNIE collaboration is all over this collection, and for good reason. It is one of the few celebrity collabs that actually delivers on design rather than just name recognition. The Frank Shine Top in spring stripe is giving full retro poolside energy — bold stripes, a fabric that catches the light, and a shape that works if you are dancing or floating on an inflatable. At £88 it is also properly affordable for what you are getting. The Magnolia top in the same stripe is even more pocket-friendly at £76 and has this gorgeous ruched front detail that looks far more considered than its price tag suggests.

Now, crochet at a festival is a whole mood. The Nari tankini is the standout piece here — ivory crochet with a tankini length that gives you more coverage without sacrificing the boho look. It layers brilliantly over denim shorts. The Nick triangle top in heaven blue crochet is a lighter, more delicate option. It is the kind of thing that looks incredible with beaded jewellery and messy hair. Both pieces have that handmade quality that photographs beautifully in golden-hour festival light.

Stripes dominate this edit because they just work in festival settings. The L*SPACE Tulip top in sail-along stripe has a retro silhouette that sits somewhere between 1970s Malibu and modern pool party. Adjustable ties mean you can actually get a proper fit, which is more than most festival bikinis can claim. Monday Swimwear brings the same stripe energy in a one-piece with the Montego in Sardinia stripe azure. If you are doing a pool party or beach festival, this is the piece that lets you skip the bikini altogether without giving up any of the style. The sporty cut and open back keep it feeling current rather than conservative.

For a pop of colour that refuses to be ignored, the Melissa Odabash Corvo bottom in raspberry is extraordinary. That saturated pink with gold hardware catches every eye. Pair it with a simple black or white top and you have got something that stands out without trying too hard. And the Hunza G Strap Bikini in white rounds out the edit as the versatile anchor piece — clean enough to pair with any loud top, cool enough to wear on its own, and made from that one-size crinkle fabric that somehow fits everyone.

The whole point of festival swim is that it should feel effortless and just a little bit reckless. These pieces can get wet, get sandy, get thrown in a bag, and still look brilliant. That is the bar, and everything here clears it.