It’s time to look for the best swimsuit colors of the season! The weather is heating up! And even though it’s not officially here, summer is right around the corner. That means it’s almost time to break out the itty bitty bikinis.
Fortunately, the number of Black-owned swimwear brands is growing so Black women have better styling options designed specifically to meet our unique needs.
And with a growing number of Black women opting to travel solo, the need for the perfect swimsuit is even more crucial.
There are so many swimwear options to choose from — from one-piece swimsuits to tankinis to bandeau tops. Not to mention, styling options are endless as well. But there’s another thing that women, especially dark-skinned Black women, should consider.
When the sun begins to shine, it illuminates melanated skin, making it the perfect canvas for wearing a near-limitless option of colors. Bright colors are typically the go-to for darker skin as they cause warmer complexions to stand out. They pair especially well with the right accessories to complete the look.
But other colors look good on dark skin as well. Plus, not every woman feels comfortable standing out in bright, bold colors. Fortunately, there are options for the more low-key personality type. It’s all about what feels comfortable to the woman wearing it.
Luckily, Black women are able to wear many different colors that compliment the variety in their natural skin tones. From bright oranges to deep browns, the world is your oyster. Here’s our list of some of the best swimsuit colors for dark-skinned Black women:
1.
Olive Green
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Olive green is an often underrated swimsuit color that works well against dark skin. The color represents peace, harmony, and empathy. This is due to its ties with the olive branch, a historical symbol of peace. For an irresistible swimwear look, choose an olive green bathing suit with a matte finish. A matte finish, when combined with an illuminating moisturizer, allows melanin to stand out.
Olive green swimsuits accessorize well with neutral colors such as black, white, tan, and gold. Turn heads in an olive green bathing suit with a floppy straw hat for a cute and casual beach look.
2.
Orange
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When it comes to summery, bold colors, orange is a great choice for Black women of all shades. However, any variation of the color orange compliments dark skin well. For a bright and playful look, neon orange or tangerine are good colors to accentuate warm complexions. Those looking for a more casual shade can try a deeper, burnt orange color to wear. Fortunately, orange is a fairly popular color that anyone can find in most stores that sell swimsuits. Companies that design specifically for Black women, however, are more like to carry a diverse range of shades in the color orange.
3.
Red/ Neon Red
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Sound the alarm! This fiery color is sure to heat things up this summer. Even better, red has classically been characterized as being a sexy and seductive color so not only does it complement dark skin but it also adds an extra layer of allure that other colors might not bring to the table. Although most shades of red work well with dark skin, most times the brighter the hue, the better. Neon, eye-catching shades of red are the perfect contrast for Black women of deeper complexions. It’s an ideal color for those who want to stand out from the crowd.
4.
Nude
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Nude swimsuits are a great compliment to dark skin. There are as many nude shades as there are skin tones and fortunately, dark-skinned women look amazing in every one of them. Many swimsuit brands, like Matte Collection, carry various shades of nude for Black women.
Most of the time, it’s best to select a shade that’s different from your actual skin tone. This draws attention to the contrast between the color of your skin and the swimsuit, making your melanin pop even more than usual. However, to create a bare-skinned illusion, dark-skinned women should choose a nude shade that’s as close to their skin color as possible.
5.
Bright Yellow
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Yellow is a vivid color that evokes feelings of happiness, positivity, and warmth. It’s no wonder why many Black women choose to wear the color. When most people think of a summer color, yellow typically comes to mind which is why it’s a very fitting color to wear in tropical locations. The most popular shades of yellow for Black women are deeper tones of yellow like mustard, gold, or honey. Brighter tones of yellow work well for dark-skinned women as well, though. Sunny, bright shades like lemon or even neon yellow help to make dark skin look even more flawless.
6.
White
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White is a classic shade because most anyone can wear it. It works especially well for dark-skinned women because the contrast between shades is eye-catching. A great thing about wearing white is that the color is easy to accessorize. As a neutral color, white acts like a blank canvas which means that it can be paired with pretty much any accessory from wide-brimmed sun hats to leopard-print sunglasses. Swipe on some bright, red lipstick for a classic, vintage look. Gold and turquoise jewelry work especially well for dark-skinned women when paired with white swimwear. And puka shell bracelets and necklaces are a great way to accessorize white bathing suits, as well.