Still the one: Versatile one-piece womens bikinis are stylish and budget-friendly

Move over, skimpy bikinis! With new designs, bold colors, sassy slogans and a dose of star power, one-piece swimwear is your best bet this season.

“Baywatch” stars sizzled on the big screen this spring in sleek red swimwear — courtesy of Baltimore-based Under Armour, which helped to design the suits. Miss District of Columbia, Kára McCullough, wore an animal and bold blue print one-piece by Yandy Swim on her way to being Miss USA 2017. And retailers are reporting that one-piece swimwear is the top seller this season.

“The one-piece was officially back last year and it’s going strong for 2017,” said Zoey Washington, senior style editor at Brit + Co, the San Francisco-based women’s lifestyle company, who attributed the garment’s success to the Hadid sisters, the Jenner sisters, Chrissy Teigen and supermodel Joan Smalls, who “are really rocking the statement one- piece.”

Nothing looks quite as classic and chic as a high-rise bikini bottom. So we were super pleased to see that Primark’s latest swimwear collection is full of ‘em in everything from bold botanical prints to sporty stripes. Skimming over the tum and clinching in the waist, this particular shape will look uh-mazing on curvy figures.

Planning on spending pretty much the whole of your hol in your swimsuit? Then you need to make sure you have a good variety of swimwear that will work for both the beach and the bars. We’re crushing on Primark’s bronze and gold colour block cozzie; the shimmering metallic detailing is guaranteed to turn heads whether you’re all-day bathing or all- night raving.

“One-piece swimsuits are sexy — if not sexier — than their two-piece counterparts,” Washington said.

Local retailers and designers with local ties are also part of the trend.

Under Armour, the Baltimore-based sporting apparel company with an international reach, worked with the costume design team from the movie “Baywatch” to develop and manufacture the swimwear worn by the main characters, according to Danielle C. Daly, senior manager, global communications and entertainment for Under Armour.

“The film’s costume department designed the swimwear; Under Armour partnered with them on the technical development and manufacturing for the on-screen product,” Daly said.

It’s the time of year for what can be a dreaded expedition: Buying a swimsuit. But for women looking for a shopping experience that includes more size options, versions for less than $100 and generous return policies, there are plenty of stylish choices.

Cutting through the clutter is key as the selections multiply. The e-commerce platform Lyst has 154,000 swimwear options available right now, up 12 percent from a year ago.Customers spent three times longer browsing through swimwear last summer than in any other category, Lyst said. On average, a shopper will return to click on a swimsuit four times before committing to buy it.

But even after all that consideration, swimwear is one of the most-returned items of the season. Forty-five percent of swimsuits bought since April have been returned already, Lyst said. That compares to 34 percent of pants sent back this year and 18 percent of hats.