If the ’70s Are Your Favorite Decade, Yasmine Eslami Is the Swim Designer For You
Yasmine Eslami launched her eponymous French lingerie label in 2010, before debuting her swimwear line just five years later. Coincidentally, it was the year she was appointed artistic director of swim and beachwear at Eres. In short, Eslami knows swimwaer. Today, her designs are modern, delicate, and infused with the French sensuality you’d want and expect from such a chic French woman herself. The ’70s are the clear influence for her halter-neck styles, low back cuts, double strap tops, and ruched boy shorts. The shapes are meant to hug the body sensually—she never pads a bra—as Eslami wants to celebrate the natural form of a woman’s body. Here, the designer shares how to create summer memories with scent, where to beach in Greece, and more.
What is your favorite beach?
A special spot on big rocks called Liucalcari near to Deia in Majorca. I also love Patmos, Tinos, or Serifos in Greece.
What is your best summer secret?
Choose a new perfume each summer so that smell always reminds you of that particular summer.
What is your favorite thing to go pre- and post- beach?
I love getting ready to go to the beach, but I never stay too long. I love finding a great Taverna in Greece to have a late lunch, pre-beach.
Photo by Harri Peccinotti, Courtesy of Yasmine Eslami
Do you prefer the pool or the beach?
The beach. I love the sea and the fact that you can walk around too and always discover new spots.
What do you always bring to the beach?
Sunscreen, a book or sometimes a magazine, water, a sarong, beach towels, a hat, and, of course, a bikini.
How does your favorite beach inspire your work?
I love life on the beach, but also around in the villages, in restaurants, and in the beach shops. I love having morning coffee while watching people and the sea.
How would you style your swimsuit from the beach to a night out?
I would just throw a dress on over a bikini in a very light material so it’s a bit see through but not really, or I would wear a one piece swimsuit with light summer wide leg pants, or a pair of shorts.
What is your ultimate do and don’t at the beach?
Do use sunscreen, don’t bring heels.
Yasmine Eslami (Photo by Alice Rosati)
Which swimsuit reference has influenced you most?
Maybe La Piscine, the famous movie with Romy Schneider, Jane Birkin, and Alain Delon. Also, Marisa Berenson—she always looked amazing in swimwear.
What are you reading this summer?
I will take a classic: Simone de Beauvoir’s “Le Deuxième Sexe.”
What are three songs on your summer playlist?
Anything from Sébastien Tellier, especially “Roche;” anything from Christophe in particular “Dolce Vita,” and anything from the Beatles, especially “Something In The Way She Moves.”
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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.
