Swimsuits & Cover-Ups: Bikini Bottoms: Side Tie Are Bringing the Fun Back to Swimwear

For the past few seasons, swimwear has been stuck in a minimalist mood. Clean lines. Sporty silhouettes. Lots of neutrals. Then Spring 2026 arrived and fashion remembered something important: beachwear is supposed to be fun. You can see it everywhere. The return of Y2K vacation dressing. The rise of vintage-inspired resort collections. The endless stream of celebrity yacht photos where swimwear feels playful instead of practical. Side-tie bikini bottoms sit right at the center of that shift. They’re adjustable, flattering, and just a little bit flirtier than the streamlined styles that dominated the last few years. The best way to wear them right now? Don’t overthink it. Throw on an oversized linen shirt, leave a few buttons undone, add gold jewelry that’s slightly sun-faded from last summer, and walk straight from the beach to lunch. That’s the energy. I’ve had my eye on the Mackenzie Bikini Bottom from Frankies Bikinis. The ribbed black texture feels timeless, but the side ties keep it from looking too serious. If you’re embracing fashion’s ongoing love affair with animal print, the Tia Reversible Satin Bikini Bottom in Vintage Cheetah feels exactly right for 2026. It’s bold without trying too hard. Meanwhile, L*Space understands that vacation style should feel effortless. The X Salty Blonde Banning Bikini Bottom in Citron Cream looks like it belongs on the Amalfi Coast with a striped button-down tossed over the top. The brighter Tutti Frutti version leans into the colorful optimism that’s showing up across resort collections this year. I’m also impressed by what Lovers and Friends did with the Beau Bottom. The yellow-and-brown bandana print taps into the Western-meets-vacation aesthetic that’s been quietly building since last year’s festival season. It feels fresh without chasing a trend. And if you’re looking for something with personality, superdown is where I’d start. The Kalia Bikini Bottom mixes pink florals and leopard in a way that feels surprisingly cool. The striped Minca Bikini Bottom delivers a playful Riviera vibe, while the Shakya Bikini Bottom brings the kind of colorful energy that instantly improves a vacation wardrobe. That’s what makes side-tie bikini bottoms worth paying attention to this spring. They’re not trying to reinvent swimwear. They’re bringing back personality. And after years of overly serious beach dressing, that feels like exactly the right move.