The Budget Babe | Affordable Fashion & Style Blog

Would You Wear: Mismatched Bikinis? Plus, Five Perfectly Mismatched Bikinis Under $50




Temperatures here in the Northeast are supposed to climb into the high 90s today, so why not talk about a sizzling swimwear trend? Mismatched bikinis are all over the place - this isn't new but it's heating up in new ways, with luxe swimwear lines like Giejo (top left) designing mixed-print bikinis that are meant to clash in the best way possible. I think the trend is fun and (wait for it) budget-friendly to boot! After all, you can mix and match bikinis you already own to create new combinations season after season. You can also just pick up a new top or new bottom rather than investing in a whole new suit to inject some fresh sun-and-surf style into your swimwear routine.

{Shown above: 1) Luxe swimwear line Giejo mixes things up with cool, graphic prints. (Top, $98, bottom, $86); 2) Rihanna hits the beach in a mismatched bikini with a shot of color. 3) Rosie Huntington-Whiteley flaunts her Zimmermann Dreamer mismatched bikini as she sunbathes.}


Ready to give this trend a try? Keep reading for 5 perfectly mismatched bikini combinations under $50 to get you inspired:

1. Print-mixing 101: Stripes and florals are (almost) foolproof. Just pick prints within a similar color palette and style, like retro, abstract or graphic. (Top: J.Crew, Bottom, Webster for Target)




2. Instead of going with all-over print, mix a print bottom with a chic, solid print top - or vice versa (inspired by this Zimmerman suit). (Top: Topshop; Bottom, Charlotte Russe)




3. Forget what I said in Tip #2 and go ahead and mix prints like Rihanna (shown above). Her zebra print top and yellow bottom combo works because there's only one dominant color. (Top, Victoria's Secret; Bottom, DVF)




4. Another match made in heaven? Polka-dots and stripes. Enough said. (Top, Target; Bottom, Anthropologie)




5. Do the colorblock thing. Pair complimentary (or clashing) hues for a runway-worthy poolside look. (Top, Target; Bottoms, ASOS.com)



What do you say, would you wear mismatched bikinis? Or does this trend just look "off" to you?

Comments
For me, the question is more like, "Would you wear a bikini?" :-P

I think it's cute to a certain extent. I think it takes the right body type to pull it off too.
#1 Kat (Homepage) on 2012-06-20 16:30 (Reply)
You could mix and match tankinis! Lots of fab one-piece suits with mixed-fabrics out this season, too. :-)
#1.1 The Budget Babe on 2012-06-20 18:33 (Reply)
BB, I have missed your site for a while and so happy to see this post!

I am a huge huge huge fan of mismatched bikinis. I dont even remember the last time mine matched! I makes me feel so Hawaiian surf girl to mix. Love it. More women should do this!
#2 allison (Homepage) on 2012-06-20 23:53 (Reply)
I need a tiny yellow bikini.

xoxo,
www.beyondblackbeauty.com
#3 Rashidah (Homepage) on 2012-06-25 09:26 (Reply)
It's about as cool as wearing mismatched socks.
#4 Charky on 2014-07-24 18:28 (Reply)
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