There is a very popular trend to “mismatch” bikini’s. That is different colour or print tops to bottoms. Even though this is mismatching there are still some rules to follow. The younger set seem to be the ones who love this trend the most. What they are inclined to do is have a basic black bottom and wear different tops with them. That’s fine, but there are some rules to follow that ensure you have a fashionable and trendy look. Get it wrong and it can look like you couldn’t afford anything better than a couple of odd pieces that were possibly in the draw from last Summer.

Different styles can work together so long as they have a similar weight. To get your bikini right you need to consider balance, having the top and bottom equal. By that I mean put a tie side pant with a tri-angle top or a top with very little volume, or put a retro full coverage pant with a fuller coverage top. Doing this maintains a balance between top and bottom. If you put a tri-angle top with a full coverage retro brief you will look bottom heavy. If you put a full coverage top with a tie side pant you will look top heavy.

So the first thing to achieve is balance, get the top and bottom equal.

The next important thing to consider is colour. OK… I hear you saying it’s “MIsmatch”, it doesn’t matter. Well… yes it does.

If you are staying with the black bottom be sure the top has some black in it, make a connection between the two pieces. The top and bottom should still look like they have some relationship. A plain top or bottom will go with a pattern or floral so long as some of the base colour is in the pattern or floral.

The second thing to achieve is connection between the top and bottom.

We have all seen someone on the beach wearing this look badly, don’t let it be you.

All these photographed bikini’s look wrong together. There is no relationship between the top and bottom, the pattern and colours are wrong together.

Use these tips to make it look on trend :

• Try to keep the fabrics similar.
• Put patterns, florals and plains together so long as there is a connection.
• Have some colour connection between the pieces.
• Keep it balanced, be sure the two pieces are equal, that is tie side brief with tri-angle top. Retro fuller coverage top with retro high waisted brief.
• If you use plain colours together, be sure they are compatible.
• Don’t mix prints, it doesn’t work.

All these bikini’s look great together: 

If you follow these basic rules you will have the “MIsmatch” trend for the summer covered… Enjoy.