From 'Baywatch' to Miss USA: One-piece swimsuits are summer's must-have trend

Cara Kelly , USA TODAY Published 12:28 p.m. ET May 26, 2017 | Updated 10:51 a.m. ET May 27, 2017

985 Shares

Baywatch is set to introduce a new generation to lifeguards CJ, Stephanie and Summer this weekend, and with them, one of the most iconic swimsuits in pop culture: the one-piece.
The timing of the Seth Gordon directed reboot couldn’t have been better, sartorially speaking.

Kelly Rohrbach as CJ Parker in a scene from 'Baywatch.' (Photo: Frank Masi, Paramount Pictures)

“The one-piece has really been a big trend,” says costume designer Dayna Pink. “I peeked again at the original show, did research on bathing suit trends and what was happening, and said ‘Ok so where is it going?’”
The direction Pink led the Baywatch crew parallels that of the swimwear industry over the last few seasons. One-piece suits with modern details like visible zippers, cut-outs, bold prints and colors, as seen on stars Alexandra Daddario and Kelly Rohrbach, are on the rise. Polyvore, a community-driven fashion app, has seen a 282% increase year-over-year in searches for ‘one piece swimsuits.’
Similarly, fashion retailer Swimsuits For All has seen a 26% year-over-year increase in searches for one-pieces. Though the classic silhouette has been a staple for the brand -- which has gained notoriety with ads featuring curvy model Ashley Graham and for catering to customers seeking a wide range of sizes -- vice president of creative and branding Sara Mitzner says they’ve expanded into a new market they’re calling “sexy and bold,” which includes one-pieces.
Product inventory and sales in that category have more than doubled in the last year, Mitzner says.
What constitutes a sexy and bold one-piece? The suits in the brand’s new Baywatch-inspired campaign featuring Graham, Teyana Taylor and Niki Taylor certainly fit the bill.

Ashley Graham, Teyana Taylor, and Niki Taylor pose for Swimsuits For All's new campaign. (Photo: Swimsuits For All)

“A one-piece is flattering on all body types and ages,” Mitzner says. “I think that’s what makes it so sexy. The suit itself has a high-cut leg, no one doesn’t want longer sexier looking legs.”
The Baywatch-style suits are only part of the overall uptick in swimwear that's more maillot than bikini. Though the skimpy two-piece has dominated American beaches since it hit North American shores in the early 60s, one-pieces have returned in periodic bursts over the years.

Bo Derek in that infamous scene from '10.' (Photo: CBS)

Farrah Fawcett’s rust-colored suit, seen in posters on many a teenage boy’s bedroom wall, and Bo Derek’s nude look in 10 helped make the leotard-looking style a must-have in the late 70s and early 80s.
Pamela Anderson made the original Baywatch suit legendary in the early 90s. And stars like Taylor Swift helped bring back retro, Marilyn Monroe style pieces 15 years later.
Earlier this month, Miss District of Columbia Kara McCullough became the first Miss USA in 21 years to win the pageant's crown wearing a one-piece in the bathing suit competition.

Miss District of Columbia Kara McCullough competes in the swimsuit competition before being crowned Miss USA 2017. (Photo: Ethan Miller, Getty Images)

McCullough's suit has become a top-selling suit for Yandy, second only to another one-piece with a deep, plunging V-neck in black and white.
"We believe that real women feel sexy and confident in what they're  wearing, and it isn’t and shouldn’t be based on the least amount of coverage," Yandy CEO Thom Brodeur said. "It gave us an opportunity to put that point of view out loud on a national telecast, to say that we think it’s cool, not just about being on trend."

https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/entertainthis/2017/05/26/baywatch-miss-usa-one-piece-swimsuits-summers-must-have-trend/102111154/