The Summer Swimwear Edit: From Sydney to the Cyclades
Ocean-pool mornings now. An island suitcase later. Greek swimwear with considered cuts, a little texture and somewhere to go after the beach.
There is a particular kind of Sydney morning when the towel is in the car before breakfast. A swim, coffee, perhaps lunch if nobody has made other plans. The Greek-island version takes longer to get to, but the wardrobe problem is familiar: what feels good in the water, and what can you put over it when the table is ready?
With Australian summer approaching and next year’s Greek escape beginning to take shape, swimwear can earn its place twice. Choose something you want to wear at home, then build the holiday around it. A beautifully cut one-piece. A bikini with the right cup and a bottom chosen independently. A print that needs no explanation.
This edit draws on the LIDA Swimwear pieces currently at Grecian Collective. There are two matched bikini combinations and two one-pieces, each with a different reason to be in the bag. Start with the cut you enjoy wearing; the island can wait a moment.
The LIDA swimwear edit
For a defined waist, look to the navy floral high-rise bottom or the bronze one-piece’s removable belt. For a higher leg line, try the blue zebra bottom. If you prefer an uninterrupted line through the body, the olive one-piece keeps things simple. “Flattering” is most useful when it describes something you like, rather than something you are supposed to hide.
Available sizes checked on 4 November 2026. B and C denote the top’s cup option; S–XL are the separate size options shown by LIDA. Availability can change. Check both pieces before choosing a bikini; tops and bottoms are sold separately.
Blue Zebra: the graphic bikini
An underwire top with an adjustable criss-cross back and copper beads, paired with the matching high-leg bottom. Crisp pattern does the work; add a plain white shirt and keep the rest quiet.
Top: B/M, B/L; C/S, C/M, C/L. Bottom: S, M, L. Sold separately.
Navy Floral: a higher waist
The Floral Navy Bikini Top has underwire, adjustable straps and a back bow-tie closure. Its matching High-Waisted Bikini Bottom gives more coverage across the waist. The soft floral print is especially good with washed neutrals.
Top: B/L; C/S, C/M. Bottom: M, L, XL. Sold separately.
Olive: the quiet one-piece
A scoop neck, low back and golden-bronze crochet-lace trim give this olive swimsuit enough detail to hold its own above a pair of cream trousers. Removable padding lets you choose whether to keep the inserts.
Olive Green Crochet Lace One-Piece Swimsuit: XL only.
Bronze Gold: a little afterglow
Lurex swim fabric, a low scoop back and decorative tortoiseshell-look chain details bring a warmer mood. The belt and padding are removable. Wear it with a loose, unbuttoned shirt rather than adding more shine.
Bronze Gold Lurex One-Piece Swimsuit: L only.
Product photography: LIDA Swimwear / Grecian Collective. The olive one-piece and both featured bikini combinations are listed as 80% polyamide and 20% elastane. The bronze one-piece is listed as 69% polyamide, 19% elastane and 12% Lurex.
Find the fit before you choose the view
A swimsuit has to work when you sit down, reach for a towel and climb the pool steps. Give it more than a standing glance in the mirror. Try on over underwear with the hygiene liner intact, and check the returns policy before removing tags.
For an underwire bikini: start with your bust and underbust measurements and the product’s size guide. The wire should sit around the breast, not on it; the cup should contain the bust without spilling or gaping. Adjust the straps and back before deciding. Tightening everything is not a substitute for the right size.
For a one-piece: torso length matters as much as the number on the label. Reach up and sit down. Shoulder pressure, a neckline that pulls down or leg openings that dig in can mean the cut or length is wrong for you. A low back also gives a different feeling of support from a higher-backed style. Removable padding changes the inserts, not the underlying fit.
For bottoms: high-waisted and high-leg describe different things. The first is the rise over the waist; the second is the opening over the hip. Choose the coverage you like and check that the edges stay comfortable when seated. There is no requirement to buy the same size on top and bottom.
If you are between sizes, ask us through the product page before ordering. We would rather help you find the right piece than have your holiday begin with a swimsuit you keep adjusting.
From the water to a table
The best beach-to-lunch outfit is already in your bag. It does not need a second set of accessories, and it certainly should not need heels.
In Sydney: pair the blue zebra bikini with a plain oversized shirt and easy shorts. Button up for the café, add flat sandals and take a dry layer if the morning swim is likely to become an afternoon out. The print brings enough energy; a neutral bag keeps the combination relaxed.
On an island: wear the olive one-piece with loose cream trousers and a shirt left open at the neck. Once the swimsuit is dry, it can take the place of a fitted top for a casual beachside lunch. For a longer meal, a village wander or a smarter booking, change into dry underwear and proper clothes. A damp swimsuit under good trousers is a less romantic proposition than it sounds.
The one layer worth adding
LIDA’s Shirt Dress is 100% viscose, with a button front, billowy sleeves and a detachable belt. Wear it loose over swimwear for the short walk back, then belted as a dress once you have changed.
Its navy-and-white floral pattern works particularly well with the plain olive one-piece. Let one print lead at a time.
Currently available in M and L.
Shop the shirt dressFor the rest of the suitcase, our Greek Island Capsule Wardrobe brings the shirts, trousers, dresses and sandals together. If the destination is still undecided, begin with Naxos for beach days and village detours, or Sifnos for a trip where lunch is allowed to become the main event.
A small swim kit, properly considered
For a week with regular swimming, two swimsuits or bikini sets are a sensible starting point: one to wear while the other dries. They need not be new, and they need not match each other. A one-piece and a bikini offer more variety than two near-identical cuts.
- Pack the useful extras: a cover-up, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, sandals and a towel if your accommodation does not provide one.
- Protect the shape: lay cups gently inside the case and keep belts, chains and ties from catching on delicate fabric. Avoid crushing structured tops beneath shoes.
- Use a wet pouch for the journey back: empty it promptly. A swimsuit should not spend the afternoon sealed inside the beach bag.
Follow the garment’s care label first. As a general routine, rinse after swimming, hand-wash gently in cool water with a mild detergent where the label permits, and dry in the shade. Avoid wringing, tumble-drying and leaving a wet suit rolled in a towel. Put a towel between delicate fabric and rough rock or a pool edge; crochet trim and lurex deserve the same consideration as any fine detail.
Buy for the summer you actually have
The right swimwear should make the next outing easier to say yes to. Perhaps that is a Saturday at the ocean pool. Perhaps it is the small beach below your room, with lunch waiting on the other side of the bay. Choose the fit first, add one useful layer and leave room in the bag for the day to go a little longer.
The Greek Island Capsule Wardrobe
Naxos: beaches, villages and a generous table
Sifnos: food, pottery and days by the sea
Hero photograph: Alexander Psiuk, Milos, under the Unsplash licence. Source and credits above. Product details and sizes reflect the Grecian Collective listings checked for this edit.
