Timeless, Classic, and Always Stylish: Elegant French Women Choose This Swimwear Trend Each Summer.

      Monica Ainley is the Editor in Residence at Who What Wear UK and works as a fashion and culture writer and broadcaster based in Paris. She is the co-creator of the popular podcast Fashion: No Filter as well as the culture podcast Fanfare. Additionally, Monica writes Mon Review, a weekly overview of aesthetics, literature, and modern rituals. For years, I searched for the ideal bikini. As a pre-teen, I discovered it during a family vacation but accidentally left the bottom half behind on Prince Edward Island, never to be recovered. I still vividly remember it: a small, coral floral print with a perfect cut. I continually regret not going back to retrieve it, often blaming my parents for compelling me to abandon that lost piece amid the red sands at sunset. The tiny bikinis from my twenties still occupy a sentimental space in my underwear drawer, forming a tangled collection of strings, vibrant colors, and small triangles. These days, however, I’ve become a dedicated fan of one-piece swimsuits.

      Why, you might ask? For starters, it’s simply less hassle. You choose one size; the one that fits. There’s no endless mix-and-match sizing to accommodate your specific bust measurements, which generally don't correspond to your hips. No need for tricky strap adjustments, underwires, or untangling criss-cross ties while your friends are already having fun in the water. When I arrive at a lake, pool, or beach, I often can’t wait to jump in, so the last thing I want is to waste time fiddling with my swimwear. In comparison, a one-piece is refreshingly straightforward.

      It also stays in place. Few things are less glamorous than surfacing from a wave only to realize you've become the day's entertainment. A good one-piece allows for genuine swimming; you can dive under waves, race a friend to a buoy, leap off a dock, or paddle blissfully for hours without worrying that your swimwear will slip away. This is fitting since swimming is one of life’s great pleasures precisely because it straddles leisure and sport. It embodies a delightful blend of relaxation and quiet athleticism, combining relief, freedom, and movement. A one-piece respects both aspects of that experience; it allows you to showcase your style while crucially enabling you to swim properly.

      I've always linked one-pieces with a kind of athletic glamour. I still reminisce about Patrick Demarchelier’s “A Swimmer’s Body” editorial for Harper’s Bazaar in the late '90s, styled by Tonne Goodman, where the swimsuits felt more like a uniform for a sophisticated athletic life than mere beachwear. In that context, sport merged with allure in the most appealing way possible. Perhaps that’s why it also reminds me of my grandmother, the epitome of practical elegance. She favored garments that were both functional and exquisitely chic. I never saw her swim at the lake in anything other than a simple black one-piece, tailored perfectly to her figure; she would lower herself into the water via the ladder and splash backward, exclaiming, “Isn’t it delicious!”

      Moreover, and I can't explain this scientifically, I feel that one-pieces suit my very short hair far better, especially when it's wet and slicked back after a swim. Another reason for my strong preference is that it resolves the perpetual beach-day wardrobe conundrum. A one-piece isn't just swimwear; it’s half an outfit already. While a bikini often necessitates a proper cover-up for lunch or cocktails (unless you’re in Rio de Janeiro, where I joyfully discovered women comfortably wear bikini tops all day—which is perfectly fine), a one-piece seamlessly integrates into the rest of your wardrobe. I just throw on a silky sarong, some fisherman sandals, relaxed black trousers, or white cotton shorts, and I'm set, with no outfit change necessary.

      That’s because the best one-pieces don’t truly act like swimwear at all; they function more like an exceptional bodysuit. A minimalist black style looks as elegant under linen trousers as any tank top. A sporty racerback pairs nicely with Bermuda shorts, trainers, and socks during a day of chasing kids. A plunging halterneck transforms into evening wear when matched with a silk skirt and gold jewelry. The swimsuit doesn’t dictate the experience; it simply adapts to it. Perhaps this is why I view a really good one-piece as an investment rather than just a vacation purchase. It’s a swimsuit, yes, but it also serves as a top, one that withstands saltwater. Of course, medical professionals might advise against spending all day in a wet swimsuit, which is why I bring two.

      Recently, I counted and realized that I own over 30 one-pieces. Some are minimalist and architectural, others evoke surfer-girl nostalgia in vibrant colors, and a few feature daring necklines worthy of a Slim Aarons poolside