The Search For the Perfect Retro Bathing Suit Is Over, Thanks to Up-And-Coming Swimwear Brand Solarium
Designers Amelia Lindquist and Mason Dent take inspiration from nostalgic American beach towns.
Solarium came to be when Amelia Lindquist and Mason Dent were working on kitschy swimsuit photos in Florida with the intention of putting the images on lighters. They found that the vintage swimsuits that they had bought were not quite right, so Lindquist bought a stretch machine and began to make their own. Soon, the popularity of the suits on set compelled them to launch Solarium, which now makes the ultimate retro swimsuits to live in all summer. Here, the duo share their beach tips and more.
What is your favorite beach?
We love shooting around Malibu. La Piedra State Beach has a small hike through wildflowers down the bluff and right onto a beautiful secluded strip of beach. We love places that are off of the beaten path. The extra effort is always worth it for an empty beach!
What is your insider beach secret?
Go early and stay late, and give yourself time to actually relax!
What is your favorite thing to do pre- and post- beach?
An early morning drive to the water can’t be beat. The Malibu canyon roads on a foggy morning are incredible and you can stop off buy strawberries and fresh fruit. At the end of the day we usually find some ice cream and people watch while the sun sets.
Courtesy of Solarium
Do you prefer the pool or the beach?
The beach is best, but who can refuse a cool pool on a hot day?
What do you always bring to the beach?
Sunblock, blankets and rope for building a beach fort, a six pack, and sunglasses.
How does your favorite beach inspire your work?
Our work is informed by the nostalgia of the American beach town. They are wholesome at first glance but there is always something rough about the good ones. We take trips to little beach towns with names like Briny Breezes. We get inspiration from other places as well: race cars, cowboys, old magazines.
Designers Amelia Lindquist and Mason Dent. (Image courtesy of Solarium)
What is your ultimate do and don’t at the beach?
We love building forts out of driftwood and blankets. It protects you from the sun and gives you a nice private space to relax. Don’t litter! Keep our beaches and water clean! Pack it in, pack it out.
Which swimsuit reference has influenced you most?
We watched a lot of Miami Vice and just about every low budget beach movie of the 80’s.
What is your favorite memory at the beach?Y
We were shooting in the parking lot of a state beach in Malibu with Dana Boulos and our favorite stylist, Ashley Munns, as a crew filmed an episode of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. We couldn’t believe it! They were shooting at an empty parking lot with no permit just like us. They had a gold Bentley convertible, and we had a kite surfers AMC and a Toyota MR2 from Craigslist.
Irina Shayk Took a Birthday Night Swim in the Indian Ocean
The Ultimate Guide to Summer’s Best Swimsuits
There’s something about this bikini that just screams hot weather. Leave it to La Double J to get you excited for packing for your next beach vacation.
Buy now: La Double J printed bikini top, $120, modaoperandi.com and matching bikini bottom, $100, modaoperandi.com.
Headed to the south of France? Pack this Jacquemus bikini, as seen on the runway at his Summer 2019 show.
Buy now: Jacquemus bikini set, $240, modaoperandi.com.
Whether you’re headed to the tropics or Ibiza, a touch of crochet is always a good idea. This Anjuna bikini is reversible.
Buy now: Anjuna bikimi, $470, netaporter.com.
The Colombia-based label Verde Limon is known for its playful and tropical printed swimwear. This wrap-around bikini top and matching high rise bottom is an easy favorite.
Buy now: Verde Limon wrap-around bikini top, $190, shop.bikini.com and matching high waist bottom, $99, shop.bikini.com.
This Brazilian swimwear brand’s fun palm prints are just what you need for your next island getaway.
Buy now: Bromeliario Swimwear maillot, $99, shop.bromeliario.com
Onia has quickly become one of the most popular swimwear labels (the brand is worn by Jonas Brothers and their significant others, and is a blogger favorite thanks to a successful collaboration with Danielle Bernstein). We love this simple summery sketch on Onia’s classic silhouette one-piece.
Buy now: Onia printed one-piece, $195, onia.com.
No matter what locale you plan to visit this summer, you can’t go wrong with packing this chic Hermès one-shoulder maillot. We love this strategically placed cut-out, too.
Buy now: Hermès one-piece swimsuit, $530, hermes.com.
We love this Cali Dreaming swimsuit’s boyish neckline, and the classic pairing of peachy nude and navy.
Buy now: Cali Dreaming maillot, $245, goop.com.
This minimalist bikini shows just the right amount of skin. Wear in the city with a high-waist pant or on a sandy beach of your choosing.
Buy now: ACK bikini, $170, [farfetch.com](https://www.farfetch.com/shopping/women/ack-filo-bikini-item-13539721.aspx?storeid=9359).
A sunny marigold bathing suit is sure to get you into vacation mode. Packing this double-strap Jade Swim one-piece for your next trip to southern Italy.
Buy now: Jade one-piece swimsuit, $220, jadeswim.com.
Rochelle Sara’s minimalist-meets-sporty cuts are sure to be a winner amongst those who love to hit the waves. We especially love this suit in nude.
Buy now: Rochelle Sara bikini, $330, farfetch.com.
Matteau has become the minimalist fashion lover’s favorite swimwear label. This season our favorite silhouette is a surf-inspired cropped swim top paired with a bikini bottom.
Buy now: Matteau sleeve sun tee and bikini bottom set, $342, farfetch.com.
There is no slowing down the gingham swimwear trend, but we especially love Miu Miu’s extra-sweet take on the look.
Buy now: Miu Miu gingham bikini, $595, farfetch.com.
It feels like this burgeoning label is everywhere you turn, and you’d be right. With a charming new New York City store, LoveShackFancy is for the girl who loves Brock Collection but is a little more bohemian.
Buy now: LoveShackFancy swimsuit, $270, intermixonline.com.
Kisuii’s Liberty-esque floral prints are perfect for sunny days out east. Pair with an easy cotton dress, and you’ll be ready for a weekend out of town.
Buy now: Kisuii bikini top, $120, intermixonline.com and matching bottoms, $100, intermixonline.com.
She Made Me is known for their uber-feminine crochet swimwear, but this season, with the addition of floral swim separates, their collection is even more covetable.
Buy now: She Made Me bikini, $280, farfetch.com.
What’s sweeter than a core Marysia swim silhouette done up in gingham, with a pink flower on top? Marysia’s collection is a girly girl’s go-to, never more so than this season.
Buy now: Marysia maillot, $460, netaporter.com.
The beloved contemporary brand launched swimwear this year, complete with a jet-set trip with some of the label’s favorite influencers, like Evangelie Smyrniotaki. Each swim separate is designed to pair easily with ready-to-wear. We love a bikini top that pulls double duty.
Buy now: Self-Portrait bikini top, $235, [self-portrait-studio.com] (https://www.self-portrait-studio.com/swimwear/floral-printed-draped-bikini-top](https://www.self-portrait-studio.com/swimwear/floral-printed-draped-bikini-top) and matching bottom, $79, self-portrait-studio.com.
Not only does Eres have some of the best-fitting swim, they have some of the chicest. Wear this one during your next desert excursion.
Buy now: Eres bandeau top, $260, farfetch.com and matching Eres bottom, $215, farfetch.com.
Fans of Zimmermann’s girly frocks and swimwear need not worry that the brand is abandoning their pretty prints. But we must admit, this solid color minimal one-piece is a welcome addition to the Zimmermann offerings.
Buy now: Zimmermann strapless swimsuit, $331, farfetch.com.
Known for their sleek and clean designs, Haight bathing suits also offer such a flattering fit. Wear this one poolside or swimming in the ocean, or toss a skirt and heels and head out for seaside dinner.
Buy now: Haight one-piece maillot, $212, modaoperandi.com.
For a sporty-sleek take on swimwear, Skin’s deep red one-piece is a must-have.
Buy now: Skin one-piece bathing suit, $265, netaporter.com.
This low-cut v-neck swimsuit from Gucci is perfect for 4th of July weekend. We love the chic oversized tie at the hip.
Buy now: Gucci swimsuit, $790, farfetch.com.
Chic and sustainable, Mara Hoffman’s maillot is a classic. The sweet ties at the shoulders are just the cherry on top.
Buy now: Mara Hoffman one-piece swim, $250, goop.com.
Little hardware details are what makes this summer’s swimsuits feel so special. We especially love Lisa Marie Fernandez’s tortoise shell buttons and belt on this high-waist bikini.
Buy now: Lisa Marie Fernandez bikini, $395, fwrd.com.
