A Look Back at High-Fashion Swimwear on the Red Carpet

When you think of swimwear fashion, the essentials for a day at the pool or the beach (like swimsuits and a pair of flip-flops) may come to mind. But in some cases, such pieces also have a place on a red carpet. Over the years, celebrities have looked to beachy swimwear for inspiration on the step and repeat—rocking swim caps, bikini tops, and sarongs in a more formal, elevated way than expected.

In honor of Vogue World 2024 in Paris this weekend, which will highlight fashion and sports, Vogue is taking a look back at some of the best (and most unexpected) moments where stars were able to pull off high-fashion swimwear. What made the cut? Recently, there have been some avant-garde takes on the classic swim cap—like when Maya Hawke wore a bejeweled Prada version to the premiere of Asteroid City, or when Emma Corrin rocked a buttery yellow Miu Miu version to the 2021 Emmys.

Further back, full-on bikinis and swimsuits have even made cameos on the red carpet. At last year’s Met Gala, Kendall Jenner arrived in a Marc Jacobs one-piece design that was inspired by 1990s Karl Lagerfeld-era Chanel swimsuits. At the 2003 BET Awards, Lil Kim also donned a printed bikini, complete with a chiffon cover-up to match.

Believe it or not, even flip-flops have made it to star-studded step and repeats. At the Cannes Film Festival last year, Jennifer Lawrence made waves when she wore black flip-flops underneath her red Dior gown. (Why head to the pool when you can head to a glitzy film premiere?)

Below, a look back at the best swimwear fashion moments on the red carpet.