I Just Got Back From Miami Swim Week: 8 It-Girl Trends You Should Know

I’m back from Paraiso Miami Swim Week 2026, and I’m already nostalgic for my days of witnessing trends take shape firsthand. Returning for its 22nd year, Paraiso Miami Swim Week hosted brands that define resort and cruise 2027. Best friends Natasha Oakley and Devin Brugman taught a master class on accessorizing during Monday Swimwear’s presentation. I’m talking about silk headscarves, floppy hats, capacious totes, woven clutches, straw hats, double collars… Stop me because I can and will go on.

Look beyond the glitz and glamour of Fae, Oséree, and Oceanus, and you’ll find silhouettes and motifs fashion people will be wearing nonstop. Melissa Odabash’s and Shan’s pieces in Pantone’s Color of the Year will be the stars of your summer outfit rotation.

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Love Thy Nader‘s very own Grace Ann Nader walked twice for Australian swimwear label Fae, and Jenn Tran from The Bachelorette season 21 walked for Kulani Kinis, presented by Sojos Eyewear. For my Dance Moms fans, former cast member Kendall Vertes went all out for Miami-based brand Luli Fama. Oh, and the Megan Thee Stallion closed out her line, Hot Girl Summer—a look I’m still thinking about days later.

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8 It-Girl Trends From Paraiso Miami Swim Week

Scroll on for a download on the cool-girl trends I saw in real time at Paraiso Miami Swim Week 2026—plus celebrity sightings that left me speechless, editor-approved brands that deserve your attention, and tips for getting the trending looks ASAP.

Spoiler: Animal print and sheer silhouettes have my seal of approval, but that’s all I’m going to say for now. Ahead, see eight It-girl swimwear trends you should know about this summer.

Untamed Prints

The jury’s still out on jelly sandals. Balloon pants have their pros and cons. But one thing that’s not up for debate is animal print. One in particular stole the spotlight: zebra print. Yes, the expected black-and-white prints walked the runway, but colorful counterparts in fuchsia and lime did as well.

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Oséree put on a show with a sequin-embroidered set, and the miniskirt and triangle bikini top set me on a mission to note each animal-inspired design. It took me no time to notice that Fae sent Nader down the runway in a coral-colored zebra bikini set and a gold-tone waist chain.

Below, see the zebra-print swimwear I’m eyeing this summer, plus a few standout leopard and snakeskin finds.

Sheer Inspiration

There is something about a sheer set over a bikini after a day spent poolside. Its nonchalant nature and aura-affirming ability make this my favorite trend to come out of Paraiso Miami Swim Week 2026. Not only is it a breeze to pack, but it’s also a fabulous way to optimize your wardrobe. With a swim piece under, it’s a cover-up. On its own, it’s a naked dress ready to walk the red carpet.

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Fae mastered the semisheer look with ombré trousers this season, Melissa Odabash served sophistication with a knit halter, and Shan had the audience in applause with a sheer lace dress. The fashion person in me says to embrace the gossamer garments and experiment with interesting base garments, like an unexpected animal print or a two-tone bikini.

Two-Tone ‘Kinis

I prefer a subtle bikini trend. Yes, shimmers and glitters were a common sight on this year’s runways, but this elegant trend floated under the radar. That’s right. I’m talking about two-tone bikinis. This minimalist color palette allows more attention to be on you. It is also a great base for accessories. As seen on the runway, fringe tote, aviator sunglasses, headbands, and folded clutches make for great additions.

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Two-tone details can appear multiple ways, such as color blocking, trimming, and a double bikini, which was Oséree’s way. It’s subtle, rich looking, and easy to replicate. Inspired by the Vogue México y Latinoamérica designer showcase, I went on a deep dive to find my favorite version of this trend.

White Sands

While some of us might not be over butter yellow, Pantone’s 2026 Color of the Year, Cloud Dancer, is slowly gaining favor among the fashion set. Its presence at this year’s swim week was undeniable. Oversize linens, semisheer crochet sets, halterneck dresses, and embellished bikinis walked the runway. Monday Swimwear, Melissa Odabash, Shan, and more showcased the elegance and ease of a monochrome ensemble.

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If you choose to participate, the appropriate vacation destinations for any of these looks would be those with white-sand beaches—Malta, Croatia, and Sicily, of course. The chic but cool styling allows for less outfit planning and more sightseeing.

Seashell Styling

I’m a simple person. If Megan Thee Stallion wears seashell earrings, I wear seashell earrings. Walking for her Hot Girl Summer line, Megan closed out the show in a spiral one-piece with organic-shaped bangles and seashell-inspired earrings. The rapper wasn’t the only one strutting the runway in maritime motifs. It-girl brands Oceanus, Kulani Kinis, and Oséree presented models in shell-themed bikinis, accessories, and embroidery.

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If your summer 2026 mood board looks anything like mine, then cool-girl accessories are number one on your wish list, and nautical pieces fit right in. The quintessential vacation additions—such as an oversize scallop necklace, an abalone belt (like the one I saw at the Sigal presentation and can’t stop thinking about), or Aquamarine-inspired earrings—are on theme, whimsical, and mermaid chic.

Racy O-Rings

Subtle embellishments made our 2026 swim report, and after attending Paraiso Miami Swim Week, I would have to agree. Though, subtle might be an understatement. Fresh off my first show, Monday Swimwear, I noticed oversize O-rings were a central theme. Then Oséree, Oh Polly, and Luli Fama followed suit. Used to loop bikini tops and low-rise bottoms together, these racy rings can be found on sarongs, one-pieces, dresses, trousers—you name it. Coming in metallic, wood, and even acrylic, these textural embellishments were my focus on the runway.

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There’s a certain ’70s flair attributed to the linking chains, or it could be ’90s minimalism, depending on how you look at it. All I know is that it was rare to see a show not feature these outrageous rings. Scroll on to see how a shopping editor would shop the trend.

Slick-Back Bandanas

This highly specific It-girl accessory just walked Miami Swim Week. If you said “headscarf,” you’d take home gold. Silk, printed, or paisley, this square scarf is recognized as a major summer 2026 accessories trend, and it takes less than 30 seconds to elevate your ‘fit. Simply tie it around your head, and you’ll instantly see the cool and unbothered effect.

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I’m loving how Monday Swimwear and Sigal styled their bandanas—either in a monochrome look, all out in an isometric illusion, or doubled down on an eclectic print. If you’re feeling so inspired, I recommend following these styling rules with any of the scarves below.

Below the Bust

As this plunging scoop neck walked the Oh Polly runway for the second time (the first was at Monday Swimwear), I turned to my fashion friend sitting next to me and asked, “What would you call that?” A peekaboo cover-up? A low-U neckline? Nothing felt quite right. It wasn’t until the silhouette walked the runway for a third time that we knew this trend would hit home with the cool girls. The only problem? The name.

After some major workshopping and asking Who What Wear fashion editor and swimsuit connoisseur Sierra Mayhew to weigh in, I landed on “below the bust.”

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Charming and cheeky—or, in this case, busty—the neckline is designed to show off swimwear. Maybe it’s an eyelet-lace balconette top or a strappy one-piece, but specifics aside, your swimwear will never come in second place with this cover-up. If you’re not feeling the revealing silhouette, it’s all in the styling. Simply turn it around, and you’ve got yourself a low-back dress.

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