The Who What Wear Podcast: The Summer 2026 Swim Report With Natasha Oakley and Lauren Chan

16:31Lauren Eggersten:But sometimes it's hard to imagine yourself like, wait, how am I styling this? Or how do I even tie it that way? Like people get a little intimidated by it. But I think it's really fun to really utilize that headscarf in so many different ways, whether it's on your bag, around your waist. Yeah. And then obviously I think that the raffia accessories are just a forever timeless amazing accessory for the beach that whether it's our exuma hat which is like our best-selling viral hat kind of inspired by the 90s element person moments you know our price point isn't crazy but I actually think that it all looks super expensive because we're so specific about the raffias that we use and the specific weaves that we use so we're always trying to like make everyone look really elegant and inexpensive, but you know, on a budget.

17:16Lauren Eggersten:So I think that's something we try to achieve and the accessories really help to like elevate all the looks.

17:22Sierra Mayhew:If you are listening and you want Raffia shoes, I just wore Raffia shoes at the Sports Illustrated swimsuit premiere too by Naturalizer. So they have a ton of styles. There's like a point toe kitten heel, a big open toe platform flats, like kind of anything you could want in a Raffia. So I'll be taking those to the

17:38Natasha Oakley:beach too cute I also have actually a pair of old like Laffler Randall Raffia ballet flats I remember when I got them I was like am I just is this too trendy for me like am I gonna wear these and I wear them non-stop in the summer so it's a classic it's a good call out yeah like a Raffia shoe is very fun

17:56Lauren Chan:hey who what wear listeners people have been talking about selling on ebay a lot lately and honestly, I get it. Because we all have those things. The jacket from a very specific phase, the lamp that only worked in your last apartment, the pan you bought for the version of yourself that was definitely going to cook more. And from what I hear, selling on eBay is actually really simple. It's basically just a few photos and suddenly the stuff that's just been sitting there has a chance to find millions of buyers who are genuinely excited to have it. Find what you love, sell what you don't on eBay.

18:34Natasha Oakley:So this question's for everyone. Are there any styling tips for what to wear over your swimsuit? I kind of hear from Sierra.

18:41Sierra Mayhew:Yeah. Tell us the shopping team. Yeah.

18:44Lauren Chan:Even if you're a minimalist, swimwear is the opportunity to be a maximalist because it's just fun. You're outside, it's summer. So I kind of like to say that if it feels like it doesn't make sense, like keep pushing into that and like be really creative and a skirt that you bought, that's a matching set that you thought you'd only wear once could come back to life with a swimsuit on vacation. And I also think when you go to a lot of the different venues in Europe that you have to be wearing clothes when you're like seated at the restaurant and then change. So that's kind of why I like to really think about the outfit that goes with a swimsuit.

19:16Lauren Chan:But I think jewelry is also a superpower here because even when you take off your cover-ups and everything, it can be a really fun way to make a basic swimsuit feel like a new outfit.

19:25Natasha Oakley:Okay, Lauren, what about you?

19:26Sierra Mayhew:Well, first, I love that Sierra was like, you know how in the restaurants in Europe, you have to wear clothes. And I was like, I, I didn't know that. I think I need to come on your next girl's trip. Totally. Yeah. And like the rules on the yachts. Oh my God. What a bore. Specific styling things. You know, I kind of love the unexpected to know me is to know that last year I had a lot of fun. Like I bought a shirt that looks wet all the time. So like a permanent kind of wet t-shirt bikini contest vibe. I bought some silver armbands a la like Pamela Anderson barbed wire bicep tattoo jewelry. I do always really like a linen pant and button down because I got really badly sunburned before the Oscars this year and I will never do that again.

20:17Sierra Mayhew:What a nightmare. It was so awful. And then I got the really brilliant idea to like reverse sunburn the parts that didn't get tanned to try to even it out, like kind of do as I say, not as I do. So I will always pack something that is like cover up a bowl fully and completely if I get too much sun. And yeah, my friends don't want to leave the restaurant in Europe yet. Okay.

20:41Natasha Oakley:Wait, did the reverse sunburn? No, girl. What do you think?

20:44Sierra Mayhew:No, nobody. My wife was like, I don't think you should. And I was like, I know what I'm doing.

20:51Natasha Oakley:Natasha what about you styling swimsuit styling look as much as I like to have fun and look

20:57Lauren Eggersten:fabulous and all those things I have to say what it really goes down to for me as like a true beach girl I spend the whole day there like Sierra said I might even be going into the night there like I want to have all my things and for me it's about feeling like comfortable and confident and even Lauren it's funny you bring up sunburn because I'm like I'm not just bringing my exuma hat because you know, it looks cute. I'm wanting it, my hat or my visor, because I am going to sit in the sun. I want to block my face. I care about the sun being on my face. You know, so the look for me is like having your sarong and your oversized shirt and your hat and your beach bag that's going to carry all the things that you need for the day.

21:33Lauren Eggersten:And like putting together a look that looks really elegant and like gorgeous and expensive, but at the end of the day, it's super functional. And I feel like anytime you are walking, you know, from the pool chair to the toilet, you feel like you're walking on a runway platform and everyone's looking at you, even though they're probably not. And if they are, I don't know what they're doing. You just feel very like exposed at the beach and not everyone has the confidence to just be walking around with the thong bikini on even me, you know, so I like to have my sarongs or my little cover ups. And then maybe I've also got in my beach bag, like the dress that I could then pop on if I am going to

22:07Natasha Oakley:go for a drink from the beach at sunset, especially if you're at the beach or like really in the water and in the sun all day, your vibe kind of changes because like physically you're kind of changing, like you're getting oily, you're wet, your hair now is different. So it's like my hair clip, my baseball hat, maybe a chain from like my sarong into like a linen pant because I'm cold later.

22:28Lauren Eggersten:But even like when you go to the beach shower, we have our new like Monday jelly sandals coming out. They're just like little, we call them thongs in Australia, but you call them slippers? Like a flip-flop? Yeah, flip-flop. Flip-flop, yeah. Okay, sorry, I always go to say thong, but that's what we call it in Australia. But with their like a, you know, jelly flip flop, because I'm like, I want to be out of shower off with my shoe on. Right. And sometimes I'll wear like my Chanel espadrilles to the beach. But then when I walk to the shower and then I come back, the sands all over my foot, I'm putting it in the shoe.

22:57Lauren Eggersten:It's like making me feel a little anxious because I'm like, I'm ruining the things that I brought. So I like to have all my all the things. Yeah.

23:03Natasha Oakley:At the beach. I'm curious before we move on from the trend cycle conversation, if there's anything else you want to talk about?

23:10Lauren Eggersten:I feel like there's a few trends like, you know, that we're building into our current collections. I'm loving anything that's like a hammered gold or just a hammered anything, like whether it's a white gold or a silver. I feel like that's a really like European beautiful element that I'm seeing coming into a lot of brands, including our own. And also a big one for us has been like two-tone swim. So we've been doing that since we started Monday 10 years ago. And what's amazing is the collections we designed then are now like coming back around to be bestsellers again, because this two tone kind of, I think we would say Chanel inspired swim look is really coming in.

23:46Lauren Eggersten:And I love that one as well, because like I said, we designed that into the collection actually 12 years ago and it's come back around. So I feel like it's one of those things that will continue to come back around, whether it comes in and out a little bit. So I'm loving all the like gold hardware that like kind of gives a little more glamorous feel to the swim look. And you just feel a little special wearing it. And then also those two-tone really classic designs as well.

24:10Natasha Oakley:A hammered gold hardware always feels so expensive. I know.

24:15Lauren Eggersten:I'm obsessed. We have our canned suit that just came out with like a big circle on the bottom and the top. That's just like immediately when I put it on, it just feels so glamorous. And you feel like a supermodel or something wearing this suit. but Sierra I think you have some Monday but Lauren we need to get you some if you haven't tried it yet because I think you'll love it both of the Laurens actually I have Monday I love it

24:36Sierra Mayhew:and also such a random fun fact I wore my Monday white like kind of bay watch shaped one piece I repurposed it as part of my Miss Piggy Halloween costume last year and it was oh I love that there you go it's it's really versatile oh my gosh we always end up wearing something Monday as part

24:56Lauren Eggersten:about Halloween costume too somehow.

24:58Sierra Mayhew:When you have like a structured, secure body suit type suit like that, you can absolutely translate it to other looks like whether that's jeans to go out and you just don't have a plain body suit on hand or Miss Piggy and the feather boa.

25:13Natasha Oakley:Who knew? 100%. Mission accomplished. The suit that does it all.

25:17Sierra Mayhew:On the trends that I really like, I really like the lingerie trend. Like there's a lot of swim with lace on it that kind is meant to look like lingerie so pretty and animal print but I'm specific about which animal prints I like what do you like there's good leopard print there's bad leopard print yeah I can't tell you it's just a taste an innate taste thing it's like it's a very reaction thing yeah

25:37Lauren Eggersten:you're like right wrong I think all the like Dolce and Gabbana like Roberto Cavalli leopards are nice and then there's the other leopards that are not falling into that category so it's

25:48Sierra Mayhew:Something about the tone, like it has to be a very like deep, unsaturated tone. It can't be like a bright, warm, like camel. I think it's better when it's like a deep taupe and bronzy gold kind of vibe.

26:05Natasha Oakley:I love a zebra print for a bikini or for like a shoe.

26:08Lauren Eggersten:I was literally going to say that, but it's very specific as well.

26:11Natasha Oakley:To me, it's like a spacing thing. Sometimes it's too gapped out, like there's too much negative space. And I'm like, this looks cheap. but then when it's right, it looks so good.

26:21Sierra Mayhew:And you want the zebra stripes to be thin, not thick. Yes, yeah, yeah, yeah. There's a good zebra print at Swimsuits for All right now too, especially if you're shopping and you're listening and you wear above a standard size range because Swimsuits for All is great at full sizes. There's one on there right now too. I'll be wearing that soon.

26:37Natasha Oakley:Natasha and Lauren, you two spend more time in bathing suits than I would say most people probably do. So I'm curious to hear your thoughts on what you qualify as a really good fit, whether that's when you're trying on a bathing suit, like, or ordering it, like, what are you looking for?

26:55Sierra Mayhew:When I'm not like, quote unquote, performing, I'm wearing something with an underwire that's like a balconette, like one of those Monday styles that has got a thick strap, it's going to support me. So I want to wear something that feels as good as a bra does, right? Like so much swim is so cute and so stylish. But for someone like me with a big chest just like isn't functional, especially throughout the day, especially if that like triangle strap behind the neck is going to start really digging into my skin. And then you guys know me now I'm getting sunburned. So then it's burnt and it's digging in.

27:26Sierra Mayhew:It just makes me miserable. So I really look for something that fits as well as a bra. And there are tons of companies, especially in the, you know, above standard size range that do that well for bra support for a bottom. I don't have much of an ass. So I like something that's not going to be baggy back there, but I don't like a thong. So I like a high cut kind of bikini or a cheeky moment. What I do oftentimes because I carry weight in my chest and my waist, but not in my hip, I'll buy two different pieces in different sizes. So often inverse, I guess, probably most people who do this, I buy a bigger top and a smaller bottom.

28:03Sierra Mayhew:Okay.

28:04Natasha Oakley:Natasha, give us the secrets of creating a suit that just has the best fit?

28:09Lauren Eggersten:We wore so many bikinis when we had our blog, like thousands literally from every single brand. And I think that's striking the balance between a material that's sometimes you'll feel a material that's super soft and buttery and you're like, this is amazing, but it's not going to support you. It's going to stick to your body and be quite see-through when you come out of the water. So our signature jersey fabric, and then every fabric that we do try to design from there on, it strikes the balance between being supportive and flattering on your body, but also, you know, feeling really beautiful, expensive, lasting, all of those things.

28:41Lauren Eggersten:So all of our suits, or at least most of them that we try to design, unless it's impossible based off the shape, have adjustability. So it's like, you can't really go wrong. And I think a lot of people have had bad experiences with other brands ordering online, and then they receive it and like, this doesn't fit at all. And it's like, then you just kind of go back to the triangle. And I try to encourage people that love our brand to try other styles because we have the adjustable tie on the back instead of a clasp. And then we have adjustability over the shoulders or however we can incorporate adjustability.

29:12Lauren Eggersten:We do that because we understand that everyone's body shape or cup size or breast shape or everything about you is never going to be the same as anyone else. So we fit our range to multiple sizes within our, you know, smalls, our larges. and then what we call our voluptuous range, which is V, double V and triple V, which is the XL range, but we don't like to call it that. We like to call it the voluptuous range. I think that in the past as well, before we started Monday, we found that a lot of the larger sizes almost had like too much coverage some of the time. And some of the girls wanted to have like a little bit of a sexier fit.

29:47Lauren Eggersten:So we also try to balance that, you know, having conservative styles with also having something that feels sexy, no matter what size you are and just flatters your body shape. So So I think the fabrics, the adjustability and designing things to really flatter your natural body shape and your curves is what we kind of aim to do. And kudos for knowing your customer, because that's such a common thing with plus size fashion is that the styles that we get are matronly and outdated and so covered up.

30:18Sierra Mayhew:And sure, there's a customer for that, but there are options for that. And I feel like what often is lacking is the fact that we just want to look as hot as everyone else. Like our sense of embodiment and sexiness does not dissipate when we're above a size 12.

30:32Lauren Eggersten:Exactly. And you don't want the tan lines either. You don't want so much coverage that then, you know, you might as well wear your clothes to the beach.

30:39Natasha Oakley:Sierra, you're exposed to so many brands. So is there something you look for specifically that kind of always like stands out to you as a really good fit in your opinion?

30:48Lauren Chan:Yeah. I feel like when I'm working on the swim report, especially I'm on every brand site, like doing a deep dive on how to find the right size for you on that side and everything. And I love when there's like extra notes and extra guides. I love that Triangle does the small plus and the small plus plus for people who are bigger busts. I think that's really great. And when brands have different like in-between sizes for all the different body types that can come up, I really look for those. So I think if you have a specific body type to find the brands that really cater to you is always amazing.

31:15Natasha Oakley:Just the consideration of fit can really make your experience at the beach or at a pool in a swimsuit, it transforms it, right? Like even from the shopping stage of like feeling seen when you're shopping, whether that's in person or online and not feeling othered in any way, no matter what your size is, can just like transform your experience into not being negative.

31:35Lauren Eggersten:That's something we're really excited about with our stores. We opened one in Beverly Hills and we just opened one in New York as well. We really wanted the space to feel warm and inviting. We wanted all the lighting in all the change rooms to be amazing. So you're trying on your bikini and feeling like your best self, because I just think anytime I've gone to try even just regular clothing when they have that overhead lighting and you go and you're like, it makes you look the worst you've ever looked in your entire life. And you're like, you're trying to sell me something and I have to be here looking in this mirror, you know?

32:04Lauren Eggersten:So we've tried to make it a very warm and inviting experience. And we've had really good feedback on that and then also have our team be somewhat a fit specialist where you know they can really help you to actually fit the suits your body because a lot of the times if you haven't adjusted the over shoulder strap right or tied it right it's like a bra where like it can sit very differently if you've adjusted on your body and kind of lifted your boobs up into it or wore a style that like is good for an a or b cup if that's you so we're trying to like really bring that to the industry where even if it's through our fit guide online, we're trying to like constantly improve on that and how much information we can give to the customer so that they can feel confident ordering from home.

32:46Lauren Eggersten:Because obviously it's quite annoying when you order and then you're having to do the return and everything. So the more information we can give to the customer, the better. So that's something we're definitely excited about, especially with the stores, because I feel like we haven't personally experienced that in the past.

32:59Natasha Oakley:Okay, Lauren, when you made your Sports Illustrated debut as a rookie in 2023, you were the first queer plus size model for the brand. You also founded the luxury plus size women's wear brand in 2019. So as someone who's been in both, you know, in front of the camera and behind the scenes a little bit, shifting the status quo, I'm curious how you feel about size inclusivity and swim in 2026. And if you have any brands that you're really excited about that you feel are getting it right.

33:27Sierra Mayhew:I think that overall, we're in a dip of size inclusivity, and we had more progress being made kind of around 2018-19. That said, I think that the chart of inclusion, if you will, looks like the stock market. So by that, I mean, when we look back in 20 years, it will have always gone up. The stock market never ends up lower than it was in the past. But along that chart, there are highs and lows along the way. And I think that we're in a dip right now. And so we have brands scaling back and we don't have as many new launches. That said, it's our job as consumers to keep talking about that, for me to keep showing up and saying that, for me to keep showing up and representing and for consumers to keep, you know, saying that we exist and we're here.

34:17Sierra Mayhew:Of course, it shouldn't be on us, but that's where it is right now. And there are so many voices that do a good job at that. on the brand side, Knicks is some of my favorite swim, K-I-N-X. They make up to, in some of the suits, a 4XL++. So kind of what Sierra was saying, there would be a 4XL, there would be a 4XL++, and that delineates the band size plus the cup size kind of thing. They also make my favorite triangle bikini because there's more coverage in the front on the bottom. And so you're not adjusting for like, you know, like the front part of you being out of the sides. Cause sometimes when a brand doesn't make a plus size pattern and they grade up, it just doesn't grade properly.

34:58Sierra Mayhew:So they do a really, really great job at swim swimsuits for all does a great job too. And has styles kind of for the gamut of what we were talking about. They have those more conservative styles and then they have those trendier styles as well. So they have a lot of options. Eloquii does great plus size swim. It's very stylistic. Andy Swim has good suits, Universal Standard. I helped launch their swim collection a few summers ago, and that's more performance based, some SPF fabrics in the coverups as well there. So there definitely are brands that exist. And I, and I do think it's really important to support them so that they can financially afford to continue doing that for us.

35:35Sierra Mayhew:The age old answer to the question of why more brands aren't inclusive is that it's a financial endeavor that a lot of people can't reconcile on their, on their backend. And so support the brands. If you are in the size range of Monday and the V sizes, like shop Monday, right? Like they, they obviously put in so much effort to that, even down to who they invite on their brand trips, right? Like my friend, Jocelyn Corona, who's in sports illustrated swimsuit this year and is in their voluptuous size range is always looking the best of anybody on the Monday brand trips and in the Monday swimwear.

36:06Sierra Mayhew:And so I think that paying attention to the voices that matter in the consumer space and the brands that are doing well by us to encourage the whole industry to continue to be progressive is really important.

36:17Natasha Oakley:There have been periods of time where it feels like it's a trend to talk about size inclusivity and body inclusivity, but that's just not the case at all. And we need to just accept it as a standard and move forward and continue to support these brands and to continue to make sure that everyone feels seen, everyone's body feels seen and represented in everything.

36:35Sierra Mayhew:Thanks for making so much space today to like call out and shout out and give love to the brands that do it well. Thank you. Yeah, absolutely.

36:43Natasha Oakley:We always try to do that at Who Outwear. And I know Sierra is so aware of all those brands that you talked about too as our whole team, as we love and support them as much as we can. And Natasha, before we go, for anyone who's been listening to this and is really just extra sold and wants to buy a Monday swimsuit specifically, what would you say is kind of like the bestseller, your favorites, any kind of like classic swimsuit that you'd want to call out and encourage shoppers to take a look at first?

37:10Lauren Eggersten:I mean, if we're looking at triangle bikinis, we have some really great, the Palma top and bottom is one of our bestsellers. If you're more of an underwire girl or would like to try one, we have the Color Roja top or the Cloveli top that are two bestsellers. And whether you're like an A cup or a G cup, those really fit great for all sizes. So you can't really go wrong there. And I am also really big on like a beautiful classic one piece. I really think that, like you said, Lauren, you can wear them as body suits. You can wear them as your Halloween costume. I think people don't get into the one pieces enough.

37:45Lauren Eggersten:We have some really stunning ones, like our Miami one piece, which is a two-tone, our clove belly one piece. Behind me here on the wall was our Bahamas one piece. It was one of the first suits we ever came out with. Super classic built-in bra, over-the-shoulder strap, and really beautiful high leg. Just really classic on anyone. Kind of, honestly, that Carolyn Bessette energy, if you're getting into that at the moment. I don't know if that's still happening. The best thing is if you are in, you know, LA or New York, it's great to go in store and try if you can. And then you can kind of try a variety of different styles and nail down which one is yours.

38:20Lauren Eggersten:But, you know, I just encourage people to not always just go for the triangle bikini because we do have so many other great options that fit and are super flattering and still good for the tan lines, all those things. So I think it's great to try new things and not be scarred by your previous experiences of ordering something and the fit never being right or they're using Trico fabrics and everything feels cheap. I promise you, you're going to have your Monday moment where you try it on and you go, oh, my God, I finally found something that fits and that I feel good in. And so those are the classics, but I would try to like, you know, mix it up and try on some other styles as well.

38:55Natasha Oakley:Well, thank you for sharing and thank you all for being here today and for your time. This is literally the best assortment of swimwear experts across the board that we could have ever had on here. So we appreciate you so much. And I'm so excited for everyone to listen to this episode. Thanks so much for having us. Of course. Thank you. Hope everyone has a fun summer.

39:20Natasha Oakley:A huge thank you to Natasha Oakley, Lauren Chan, and Sierra Mayhew. Make sure to subscribe to our show wherever you listen to podcasts so you don't miss an episode. And while you're there, I'd also be so grateful if you rate and review us. You can now watch all episodes of the pod on our new Who What Wear podcast YouTube channel. So please subscribe and check us out there. If you have guest suggestions or any other feedback, find us on social at Who What Wear. See you next Wednesday on the Who What Wear podcast.

39:59Natasha Oakley:this episode was produced by hillary kerr summer hammer us and natalie thurman our production assistant is grace ingram our audio engineers are at glenn canyon audio and our music is by jonathan Maggie.