Make a cut-out swimsuit your next summer purchase (trust us, you'll thank yourself)

A cut-out swimsuit may be a straight-up no-no for some, with awkward tan lines being too much of a risk, but given that cut-outs are a major spring/summer fashion trend this year, you might want to change your mind.

Cut-out dresses are already everywhere, and now our favourite designer labels are carrying the trend through to their swimwear collections. Cult Gaia and Christopher Esber, two brands known for their signature minimalist silhouettes that celebrate the female form, have multiple swimsuits with sultry cut-out details this season – allowing you to exhibit their trademark style in the water as well as on dry land.

Swimwear as a whole has come a long way, with bikinis now catering to those with small chests as well as big boobs, and long-sleeve swimwear being a thing, but swimsuits themselves have arguably gone through the most change.

Once considered a bikini’s conservative counterpart, swimming costumes used to look more like short wetsuits or the modest designs we see today. Cut-out one-pieces are the in-between we didn’t know we needed; offering more coverage than a bikini and showing a little more skin than a sports swimsuit, they hit the sweet spot.

Don’t know where to start looking? As they do with everything else, top high street swimwear brands have jumped on the bandwagon and actually have some super chic offerings. Hopping on the crinkle swimwear hype, South Beach has this cut out swimsuit in white that’s sure to make your sunkissed skin pop, while Boux Avenue makes a case for a similar silhouette to Cassie from Euphoria’s swimsuit with its Cannes style.

If you do fancy luxing out though, head straight for this fuschia number from Jacquemus or this citrusy design from the iconic Hunza G.