DOMINATION OF THE HIGH-CUT BIKINI

We’ve got to discuss this high-cut bikini bottom that’s taken over our Instagram feeds. More sophisticatedly known as the French Cut, this ultra-fabulous and trendy design is inspiring and can bring confidence and style to any LA poolside or Italian Rivera balcony.

You may be wondering how this sexy cut has conquered the swimwear world and maintained a steady reign for now and seasons to come. Why is the high-cut bikini popular? Answers are coming, and if you don’t own a high-cut bottom now, we promise you’ll be swiping your card (or tapping that Apple Pay) by the end of this.

Once Upon a Time: The Bikini

One of the most beautiful factors of fashion is how the world around us shapes designers, stylists, and trends. Societal standards and moods influence what we wear, and in the summer of 1946, people were high on liberation after the victorious end of World War II. The first summer of freedom and the looming textile shortage gave French designer Louis Réard the innovation to create the world’s first bikini.

Named after the US Atomic bomb test “Bikini Atoll,” the bikini grew slowly until it exploded on the market in the 60s and 70s. After a few seasons on the market, designers started looking for interpretive and creative ways to reinvent the modern style. 

Cue in the wild and free 80s. Picture this: striped headbands, teased-up hair, and funky home workouts deemed popular by Jane Fonda. The 80s introduced the famously flattering french cut to swimwear after high-cut patterns were featured on their tiny boxed trainers. This was another influence society had on fashion, as a major push on athleticism made women want to show off their thighs and legs. 

There was also a huge liberal shift in the media, following suit of the 70s, where media dived into more explicit and sexual content. This added another feature to the high-cut that women sought: sex appeal. The high-leg brief became a symbol of attractiveness, independence, and edge. This design dominated the rest of the decade and the entire 90s. 

The appealing high leg lost its allure in the 00s and early 10s, as low-waist was the call of the time. Nevertheless, the high-cut reintroduced itself on the swim runways in recent summers and continues to make a pledge to trendiness for seasons to come. Though we’re seeing an influx of low-waist bottoms in ready-to-wear shows, the french cut is not on its way out. So keep sporting those high-cut swimsuits with total chic confidence, our fashion forerunners would be proud.

The Fantastic Fit

Why do we love this suit so much? This style gives you both cute and comfy without sacrificing security or style. The reason why the 80s loved the french cut as much as it did then is the same reason ‌we love it now. The illusion of an elongated leg, the perfect frame for your athletic thigh, and the perception of a snatched waist. 

Let’s break this down a little more. Why do almost all influencers stick out their leg when taking a photo, or why do models point their toes in ad campaigns? The answer is simple; the more leg you give, the taller you appear. So while a few inches higher on your bikini line may not seem like much, it can make all the difference in looking 5’9 rather than 5’5. It’s Modeling 101.

We love going to the gym, don’t we, ladies? The adrenaline, the dopamine, the pump pictures afterward. Leg days are a crowd favorite, and the encouragement to be a better, stronger you is massive. Those thighs have got to be displayed, especially after all that work to get them to where they are. Instead of cutting right at your thigh, creating irregular bumps in your silhouette, a high-cut allows the eye to create a smooth line out of your body shape, making your thighs seem even slimmer. Like Barbie, but wayyy stronger!

Waists are the gold of any body type. Stylists and designers everywhere everyday attempt to create visual appeal in the waistline with accessories, patterns, and silhouette designs. The goal of this is to guide an eye to the smallest part of your body. Once an eye locks onto the smallest part of your body, it immediately will associate it with something small, making you look thinner to the perceiver. By having a high-leg, the bottom of your bikini is being brought closer to your waist, thus bringing that eye faster to your best feature. It’s not working harder, it’s working smarter. 

The high-cut also gives you the security that a lot of low-rise cannot. The french cut is able to give you sexy, edgy, and trendy while staying securely on if you decide to take a dip in the water. With low-rise/cut bottoms, you run the risk of a malicious wave hitting you, and off your bottoms are with the tide. One wrong move, and you’ll have showcased a lot more than what you planned. That’s not a way to start a peaceful vacay. 

Designs Galore 

The magic design fairy didn’t swoop in with only one idea for the high-cut, oh no no no. She gave us our favorite thing in fashion: options (hear the fireworks?). The high-leg can be found on many swimwear silhouettes, but none is less cute than the other. 

Stemming from its first productions, the fashionable french cut can be found on your classic monokini. These one-pieces root from icons like Jane Fonda (remember 80s workout boss) and shows like Baywatch (their unforgettable high-cut red swimsuits). These are undoubtedly vintage in inspiration, but totally modern in execution. 

We also think of your staple bikini. One could argue (shh…it’s us, we are ‘one’) that even Louis Réard’s first bikini sported a bit of your classic high-cut style. Two-piece sets give french cuts even more of a chance to show their true potential.

The cool thing with two-piece bikinis is that you’re able to interchange pieces. So even if you own one high-cut bottom, you’re able to model it all summer with different tops. It will give you the same effect every time, and people will think your closet is ten times the size it is. How fabulous is that!

Stylist Tip of the Day 

String, tie-up bikinis are a trend that is hand in hand with high-cut swimwear. If you don’t own a high-leg bottom and need a bomb picture now, here’s a tip. If you own a string bikini bottom, simply tie the string above your hips, closer to your waist, instead of tying them lower. It won’t be a true-blooded french cut, but it will give you some of the same features that the high-leg will in pictures. Be sure to snap a few of you using the strings as props by playing and pulling at them. Those are some baddie-proof poses, for sure. 

Why are High-cut Bikinis Popular? 

High-cut bikinis are flattering, seriously flattering. They spotlight your waist, legs, and curves in the best way possible. The french cut is sported by many a celebrity, such as Kendall Jenner, and Gigi and Bella Hadid. 

Are High-cut Bikinis on Trend?

Yesss, they totally are. Celebrities are embracing them, runways are displaying them, and we follow suit. The silhouette is flattering for all body types, and according to trend forecasting, will be in seasons upon seasons to come. 

Are High-cut Swimsuits Flattering? 

The french cut is one of the most flattering cuts one can buy. They look universally good on any body shape and are smokin’ hot for this reason. We’re celebrating all the work you did in the gym this spring, and are keeping high-leg swimsuits on shelves for as long as we can. 

What’s the Difference between High-cut and High-waisted?

It can be easily confused, and this is due to the fact that sometimes these two features can be on one piece, but high-cut and high-waisted are two different designs. High-cut refers to how high the hole for your leg rides in accordance to the waistband. High-waisted means that the fabric is taken all the way up to your waist, covering your naval.