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Some brands are just more vacation-ready than others. Think flowing caftans, print bikinis, intricate sarongs, knit cover-ups, and delicate leather sandals all year round!
Vogue’s Guide to Iconic Swimwear Labels
What does it take to become an iconic resortwear or swimwear brand? Well, a lot of the time, a culture and history that revolves around sun, sand, and sea—whether based in coastal Italy or inspired by the French Riviera. What’s great about brands that live for summer is this: Even if you’re not headed to the beach, these must-haves will inspire daydreams of negronis and striped umbrellas all season long. So with temperatures rising and jet-set mode on, you can safely set your out-of-office message with these classic and forever favorites in mind.
The Italian brand Missoni originally started as a colorful knitwear label founded by Ottavio “Tai” and Rosita Missoni in 1953. The label was quickly supported by editors, including Diana Vreeland and Anna Piaggi, before becoming a major international success. But above all else, Missoni has always been about a colorful and carefree spirit. In 1967, Missoni was a guest at the Pitti fair in Florence and shocked the world with its transparent braless creations. Known for its beautifully delicate and sheer pieces that fit in all the right places, Missoni also creates vibrant shoes, maxiskirts, bathrobes, headbands, dresses, and swimwear.
Emilio Pucci opened his very first shop in Capri in 1951, immediately lending his gloriously psychedelic prints to the chic beachgoers. Pucci, a onetime Olympic skier, decided to launch his namesake collection after a bright one-piece ski suit he designed for a friend was photographed and later featured in the pages of a 1948 issue of Harper’s Bazaar. In Pucci’s heyday, the designer conquered every aspect of branding, from housewares and jewelry to wallpaper, and Sophia Loren, Jackie Kennedy, and Marilyn Monroe were just a few of its famous fans. In 2022, Pucci named its first female artistic director, Camille Micheli, who formerly worked with Marc Jacobs and John Galliano. With a strong sense of personal style herself, Micheli is bringing a new take to those classic prints, covering silk ponchos, caftans, midi-dresses, and even oversized sunglasses.
Founded by Gerolamo “Gimmo” Etro as a textile company in Milan in 1968, Etro has always been wrapped up in bohemian sensibilities. Etro introduced the paisley pattern to the brand in 1981, and the rest is history: The print can be seen on caftans, cashmere scarves, bucket hats, cover-ups, and bikinis. In 2022, Marco De Vincenzo was appointed Etro’s creative director. While the aesthetic is still romantically exotic, De Vincenzo is bringing a bit of toned-down minimalism to the classic Etro palette.
Eres, founded by Irène Leroux in 1968 in Paris, is the unofficial chic beach brand. Known for its flattering, geometric swimsuits that streamline the body, it’s a forever favorite of fashion insiders. Leroux changed the swimwear game by liberating women from the binding of excessive boning and padding previously associated with swimsuits. The result? Second-skin swimwear with graphic lines. But aside from its elegant one-pieces, Eres also creates cutout maxidresses, cotton sarongs, and convertible jersey gowns. If the French style trope were a swimwear brand, it would be Eres—in the best possible way.
Representing the very glam side of fashion made for vacations and hot weather, Dolce & Gabbana continuously pumps out Sicilian-inspired cotton dresses and skirts, plus swimwear covered in an explosion of leopard print and large florals. Established in Milan in 1985 by Sicilian natives Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana, the duo brings their own heritage and flavor to va-va-voom separates season after season. Also, expect lots of lace and plenty of oversized jewelry to match.