Wearing a bikini top upside down is the latest trend - here's how and why you should try it

The Kardashians are wearing their bikinis upside down as it becomes the latest swimwear trend of the year

Wearing bikini top upside down, Red spotty bikini hanging on clothes line
(Image credit: Peter Dazeley / Getty)

Wearing a bikini upside down has suddenly got cool. 

Let's be honest, the last time you saw a bikini top upside down was probably when it was hanging on the clothesline in what feels like a million months ago since we ditched the best comfy loungewear and had a summer holiday.

Remember when you scrambled to hit the beach and nab that last sun lounger while trying to finish untangling your two-piece only to discover later that you'd got it on the wrong way around and you wondered why the guy at the pool bar couldn't stop staring.

Well, now you don't need to die from embarrassment but instead embrace it as there is a new way of giving your bikini, no matter how old it is, a new lease of life, and that's by wearing it upside down. Yes, you heard right.

We don't mean doing a handstand in your swimwear - instead, turn the bikini upside down when you wear it. It might sound a bit weird but we can assure you there is some logic to it...

Kylie Jenner posted snaps on Instagram of her wearing an electric blue strappy bikini in a clip promoting her suncream. 

At first, you can see the high-cut style has cute ruching details on the top and briefs giving extra shape as well as a touch of glamour with its retro-feel gold body chain. 

But if you look more closely, the top is actually being worn upside down as the ruching is located at the top rather than the bottom of the triangle.

But she's not the only one catching on to the trend. Kylie appears to be following suit of her sister Kourtney who was spotted wearing the 'upside-down top' trend with her bright red bikini set which she shared on Instagram with the caption "a little fun in the sun".

Instead, here Kourtney has crossed the straps once more before tying at the back of her neck, creating an added twist on the halterneck style.

So, what's all the fuss about? Well, turning your bikini upside down can be a great way of tanning your underboob without having to go topless in the sun as more of the skin is on show.

There's nothing worse than having that awful triangle shape lighter skin tone from where we've failed to catch the sun's rays - by flipping your bikini you might end up with a star shape instead! After all, two triangles laid alternative ways to make the signature six-pointed star shape is much more creative.

But there are no hard fast rules as to how you wear them, simply experiment with tying the straps whichever way round works best for you. 

From boob enhancing, to perfect for tanning, you can make the most of your bikini collection without having to buy loads more - which is perfect if you've found the print you want to be able to wear over and over again.

And how about moving the straps into a position that enables you to wear that halterneck top without having the extra arm straps. If you've ever wondered why bikinis come with so many ties, now you know - it's not to get you in a twist but to help shake up your style.

Now you can make it look like three different bikinis in one without the added cost.

If you're not as experimentative when it comes to copying the trend, you could always beck out Sommer Swim which is the brand behind the Kardashians' bikinis as the 'Xena' style, with are available in a range of colors and print. 

The Xena is described as "a halter bikini top with wrap-around feature and adjustable neck-tie that can be worn in various different ways."

It might just give you that extra confidence to give it a go yourself if you learn the ropes on one of their specially designed bikinis first - especially if you want to avoid accidentally flashing a boob.

Just be sure to double knot the straps as an extra safety measure!

Selina Maycock

Selina is a Senior Entertainment Writer with more than 14 years of experience in newspapers and magazines. She currently looks after all things Entertainment for GoodtoKnow, Woman&Home and My Imperfect Life.

Before joining Future Publishing, Selina graduated from the University of Sheffield in 2006 with a degree in Journalism. She is fully NCTJ and NCE qualified and has 100wpm shorthand. Having spent the start of her career working on local newspapers and online, Selina spent six years as Acting News Editor and Entertainment Reporter at the Scunthorpe Telegraph where she dug into hard news stories, conducted interviews, covered court reporting, features, and entertainment, whilst going to gigs in her spare time.

Whilst at the paper she was awarded an O2 Media Judges' Special Award for helping a terminally ill cancer sufferer realise his dying wish and marry his childhood sweetheart through a successful newspaper campaign. Things like this are close to her heart when it comes to using journalism to make a positive difference in people's lives.

Selina later branched further into all things celebrity to became a Showbiz Writer at Heat magazine, covering red carpet events, showbiz parties, and various launches before going freelance for two years. One of her biggest celebrity achievements - aside from generating celebrity exclusives - was interviewing Take That (including Robbie Williams) and bumping into Simon Cowell so much at events she told him 'I'm calling you my showbiz dad!'

In 2017 she joined TI Media as a senior reporter on Woman, Woman's Own, Woman&Home, Woman's Weekly celebrity desk before branching online in 2020 when Future gave her the opportunity to focus on digital-first.

When she's not interviewing celebrities you can find her exploring new countryside walking routes, catching up with friends over good food, or making memories.