The Carry-On Hack That Leaves Room For More Books
Multitasking mom-approved swimsuits & the reads of the summer
Central image: Miranda Alonso
Back when I was a fledgling fashion writer, I fully believed I was among the first to witness a swimsuit worn as clothing. We were at a Michael Kors resort presentation where there were bikinis and knits, belted swimsuits with heels (great on a yacht, not so great under water).
I wasn’t, of course. Norma Kamali’s 1973 ‘Bill’ often doubled as a mini dress at Studio 54, while Tom Ford’s Gucci-era designs were labelled ‘swimsuit/bodysuit’ because he knew exactly how smart women would wear them as soon as the packaging was off. (See them on the runway, here, and on FirstDibs, if you’ve got a spare $2-4K, here).
But years later on vacation, when a small child sent a forkful of food flying at dinner, I was forced to discover the allure firsthand. I’d never been a bodysuit person, except for an uncomfortable stint in the 90s, but there I was, peeling off a spaghetti-soaked dress, changing into my Marysia Mott, blazer and shorts, and carrying on like I was heading to family night at Studio 54.
Now, I largely credit a quality, double-duty swimsuit for my ability to pack in under 10 minutes. In a pinch, your kaftan and sandals can be from a souvenir shop, but if your one-piece was cut by an artisan who saw its potential beyond the water, your week away is generally set.
My usual tactic is this: zip 5 loosely potential outfits and a couple of maillots into a carry-on, and deal with what goes with what at the hotel. It always works out, either because my wardrobe is mostly interchangeable monochrome pieces, or because under the sun with the sand beneath my toes, it just doesn’t matter that much.
Get your swimsuit right, however—the look of it, the feel of it, and how you feel you look in it—and you’ll crank up your getaway wardrobe’s versatility factor, cut down the number of tops you need to pack, and free up suitcase space for more holiday reads. And if you’ve ever finished a really good novel on vacation only to find Harry Potter is the only option in the hotel gift shop, you’ll know how crucial that truly is.
— Marysia’s Mott & Katie Kitamura’s Audition —
With its scalloped edges and high-reaching halterneck the Marysia Mott Maillot is the most flattering one-piece I’ve worn to date. I have a long torso and somehow, this design makes everything feel in proportion; mainly because it makes your collarbones the main event. I bought it about four years ago and wore it to death before accidentally adding it to a normal wash, on two separate occasions, and saw its taut threads relax like a deflating balloon. I imagine re-buying it one day and wearing it with Bermuda shorts, fisherman sandals, and some sharp sunnies, because, that way, the scallops look graphic rather than girly.
Audition by Katie Kitamura: Full disclosure: Katie is a friend, and her husband also writes incredible books (mine hasn’t stopped talking about Blue Ruin). NPR described her latest novel as “a tightly wound family drama that reads like a psychological thriller.” The tight prose in this intriguing, non-linear story about motherhood and performance earned Pulitzer and Booker Prize finalist spots, a Women’s Prize longlisting, and endorsements from Barack Obama, The New Yorker, Vogue, and the New York Public Library. Needless to say, it’s on my to-pack pile.
— Staud’s Dolce & Emma Straub’s Modern Lovers (& also American Fantasy) —
The Staud Dolce comes in several colors (I just bought it in this one), each with side cutouts that do wonders for your waistline. If a bikini doesn’t feel like a friend right now, this is the next best option. I love it with the Deiji Studios linen boxer shorts and slouchy shirt (these striped boxers are great, too). The overall effect is pajama-y but with a woman-in-control-of-her-life energy. The suede sandals in dark chocolate keep the look warm and easy.
Modern Lovers by Emma Straub: After an embarrassingly long reading hiatus (I was an overstimulated new mom, in my defense), Straub’s female-heavy character studies made it easy to find my way back in. Set in gentrified Brooklyn, Modern Lovers follows three former college bandmates, now in mid-life, as they all hit that crisis point in different ways. I’m also deep into the early chapters of her latest, American Fantasy, and it’s doing the same thing.
— Hunza G’s Faye & Gwendoline Riley’s The Palm House —
Julia Roberts wore the now-iconic Hunza G mini dress in Pretty Woman, so when I say this brand has proven credentials, that’s what I mean. Designer Georgiana Huddart’s Original Crinkle™ fabric stretches, sculpts and adapts to every body, so it’s a one size fits all situation. The Faye swimsuit is the design everyone raves about, and this version, from the coverage line, promises extra support (and who are we to turn that offer down?). The retro trim ties the monochrome look together and holds its own under a fluid blazer at dinner if the AC is a concern. Add white jeans and sandals that won’t compete for attention.
The Palm House by Gwendoline Riley: This has been recommended by a book editor friend and an architect friend, so its appeal is wide. I’ve been told it’s sharp, bleakly funny, and set among middle-aged Londoners navigating friendship, work, and upended lives. The sparse prose leaves plenty of room for subtext making it a beach read for anyone who’s able to stop checking their phone—or kids—long enough to sit with it.
—The Lido’s Tre & Kate Fagan’s The Three Lives of Cate Kay—
The Lido Tre launched back in 2018 and has stuck around for good reason. Made in Italy from sustainable matte Lycra that won’t go sheer in water, it has a straight neckline and geometric cross-back straps that are too good to save for ocean-life (click the link and you’ll see what it looks like from the back). Pair it, Miu Miu Spring 25-style, with a swishy pleated skirt and comfortable sandals, whether you’re home or away.
The Three Lives of Cate Kay by Kate Fagan: I read this by the pool in two days last spring and it had a wonderful movie-like pace. At its heart, it’s a coming-of-age-thriller-romance about a bestselling author, running away from herself through multiple identities, that eventually take her back to who she was all along (with some heartbreak and self-acceptance along the way). It’s an easy read that I could keep abreast of, despite multiple family-on-vacation-style interruptions.
— Andie’s Malibu & Mary H.K. Choi’s Pool House —
I spotted an older lady wearing the Andie Malibu Ribbed One-Piece on the beach in the Bahamas last year, and by my next vacation, I had my own. Its Henley-inspired design slips right into a wardrobe, and the long torso option is there if you need it. I took out the pads and found a moderate amount of support (but I’ve never worn anything that compresses like a postpartum corset, so my judgment may be skewed). Great with jeans, because it already looks like a tank top, but equally good on vacation with these relaxed linen pants, sculpted belt and scuba-y mules.
Pool House by Mary H.K. Choi: This one, currently on my to-pack pile, has been marketing itself as “100% Trad Wife Free.” What it offers instead? A terse mother-daughter relationship amid the glitzy, broken backdrop of Hollywood. I love a meaty character study and this one promises to deliver. The premise is this: after a personal tragedy leaves an out-of-work actress and her teen daughter without work, they rent out their home and move into the glass-walled pool house in the backyard. What could possibly go wrong? Cannot. Wait.
— Toteme’s Halter Tie & Hernan Diaz’s Trust —
I've been looking for a one-piece with thick straps and an architectural neckline for years; everything is usually a spaghetti or plunge. But the Toteme Halter Tie offers it in a fresh minimal cut with a cross-back too good to hide under a cover-up (also hard to find is a subtle beach necklace, if you've accumulated enough colorfully beaded ones from your children over the years). These jelly sandals have been recommended more times than I can remember, the Lie Studio bag is back in stock after a sold-out stint, and the Aritzia skirt works day-to-night. Heaven in a vacation outfit.
Trust by Hernan Diaz: It brought Dua Lipa and Callum Turner together, so could be here on cultural weight alone, but it’s far more than the backdrop to a viral meet-cute. The Pulitzer winning story hinges on four interconnected narratives circling a wealthy couple in early 20th century New York. Obviously, it’s on my to-pack pile.
Some worthwhile further reading on the subject: Polly Mellon’s groundbreaking swimwear shoot for Vogue in the 70s
Thoughts, recommendations, and opinions on any of the above are welcome. Everything is shoppable on Shopmy.