Really, the upside down bikini top might be the ONLY swim trend of the decade that costs nothing to try. Flip a classic string triangle top before you tie it, and you get a completely different neckline, a subtle lift, and three or four looks out of a single piece.
Here, we cover what the trend actually is, exactly how to tie it, and — because swimwear is what BERLOOK specializes in — our honest opinion on when the flip works. Let's start.
What's an Upside Down Bikini Top?
An upside down bikini isn't a kind of swimwear — it's a regular string bikini top worn inverted. The triangle points face down instead of up, the strings that normally tie behind your back go around your neck, and the strings that usually sit at your neck tie around your ribcage instead.
One thing worth knowing before you dig through your swim clothes: the flip only works on the triangle swimwear — a fully string-tied top whose cups slide freely along the strings.
Flipped, the gathered edge that would normally sit under your bust runs along the top instead, creating a curved, scooped neckline while the triangles sit slightly toward the sides for a gently lifted effect.
Same top, entirely new shape.
A Short History of the Flip
Because this trend spread through social media, its origin story gets retold loosely. Here's what the record actually supports:
- 2018: Italian model Valentina Fradegrada is often credited with posting early versions of the inverted look on Instagram, well before it had a name.
- 2019–2021: Kendall Jenner gave the style mainstream momentum with a string of poolside posts, and by early 2021 Kourtney Kardashian's take had fashion editors openly debating whether the look was genius or a slip waiting to happen.
- Summer 2022: the UK's Love Island sent the trend vertical. Contestant Antigoni Buxton described the flip as "four bikinis in one." According to Lyst shopping data reported by The Guardian in July 2022, searches for upside-down bikinis jumped 203% in a single month, with global demand up roughly 98% month-on-month.
- The industry caught up: labels including Jacquemus, ASOS, and Abercrombie & Fitch released purpose-cut inverted styles rather than leaving the look entirely to DIY.
Since then, the upside down bikini has settled from viral moment into a standard styling technique — the swimwear equivalent of French-tucking a shirt. It resurfaces every swim season for one simple reason: trying it is free.
How to Wear a Bikini Top Upside Down in 4 Steps
You'll need a fully string-tied triangle top — four ties, no clasps, and cups that slide along the strings.
Our advice from experience: practice once at home in front of a mirror. The second attempt is always faster than the first.
- Untie everything and flip. Hold the top so the triangle points face the floor.
- Create the new halter. Take the strings that normally tie behind your back (the under-bust band) and tie them behind your neck.
- Create the new band. Take the strings that usually go around your neck and tie them snugly around your ribcage, just under the bust.
- Adjust and lock in. Slide each triangle along its string to set coverage, then double-knot both ties. Snug beats loose — the tension is what creates the lift.
You can combine the text guide together with this video:
Fair warning on fit expectations: a little more side exposure than usual is part of this look. If you want more central coverage, slide the triangles closer together before you knot;
if the side coverage still isn't enough for your comfort, this may simply not be your trend — and that's a perfectly valid verdict.
Two variations worth trying
- The criss-cross: before tying behind your neck, cross the strings over your chest into an X, then tie them behind your back. It reads almost strapless and adds a second point of security.
- The bandeau wrap: keep the triangles sitting side by side and wrap both sets of ties horizontally around your torso for a straight-across neckline. Best reserved for still, dry lounging.
The Pros and Cons You Should Know
Plenty of trend articles stop at "it's cute, try it." As swimwear designers, we think you deserve the full picture — so here is our opinion, checked against what fashion press and wearers consistently report.
| Worn the classic way | Worn upside down | |
|---|---|---|
| Neckline | V-shaped, points up | Scooped and curved |
| Support | As the top was engineered | Reduced — relies on knot tension |
| Best for | Swimming and lounging | Lounging, tanning, photos |
| Looks per top | One | Three to four |
What we genuinely love
- The lift is real. Because the triangles sit toward the sides and the knot tension pulls inward and upward, the flip creates a rounded neckline that many wearers find more flattering than the standard V — no padding tricks required.
- One top, several looks. Classic, flipped, criss-crossed, bandeau-wrapped: that's a four-way bikini top without spending anything new.
- It's quietly sustainable. The most eco-friendly swimsuit is the one already in your drawer, and restyling extends its life. As a brand that has turned nearly three million plastic bottles into recycled swim fabric, we'll always cheer for a trend whose whole premise is wearing what you own in new ways — and if your top is reversible, like several of BERLOOK's triangle styles, the flip effectively doubles again into six-plus looks.
Where we'd tell you to pause
- It's a lounge look, not a lap-swim look. Refinery29 bluntly warned that the style doesn't hold up in the water, and we agree. Double-knotted, it's fine for wading and calm dips — but retie it the classic way before waves or actual swimming.
- There's a support ceiling. The consensus across stylists — and our own fit experience — is that the flip is easiest on smaller to medium busts. Fuller busts can absolutely wear it: choose larger triangles, tie the under-band firmly, and use the criss-cross variation. Just treat it as a sunbathing style, not a support style.
- Expect a learning curve. The first tie takes a few minutes, and you may re-adjust during the day. Worth it, in our view, but worth knowing.
But isn't it "wearing it wrong"? A designer's answer
The most common criticism of the upside down bikini is that it defies the garment's construction — the cups, seams, and gathers were engineered to point one way, so inverting them can read as ill-fitting. Fans counter that the flipped position actually suits some figures better than the intended orientation ever did.
Since we're the ones sewing the seams, here's our honest position: a swimsuit belongs to the person wearing it, not to the pattern it was cut from. If one top can produce four looks the wearer loves, that's not misuse — that's a design compliment. The flip only genuinely "fails" when a top's construction fights it, which is a shopping problem, not a styling one. Which brings us to the checklist below.
Extra Tip: if you enjoy playing with your swim looks, the upside down bikini top is the rare trend that costs nothing, flatters genuinely, and stretches your wardrobe further. If you need engineered support in the water, wear your top the way it was designed — and flip it back for the beach-bar hours.
Which Bikini Tops Work Upside Down and Which Don't
Not every bikini top inverts gracefully. Skip anything with molded cups, underwire, hook-and-clasp backs, fixed straps, or one-shoulder cuts — their structure works against the flip. If you're shopping with the trend in mind, look for:
- Four full string ties — no clasps, hooks, or fixed hardware anywhere.
- Sliding triangles that move freely along the strings, so you can set coverage in either orientation.
- Generously long ties, which make the criss-cross and wrap variations possible.
- Removable padding — sewn-in cups can sit oddly when inverted, so removable soft cups give you the choice.
- High-stretch, structured fabric. Ribbed and textured knits grip knots better and hold their shape when wet.
This is essentially the checklist we design against: BERLOOK's triangle bikini tops are cut in high-stretch recycled fabrics with removable soft cups and long ties, precisely so one top can be restyled again and again instead of replaced.
Styling the Upside Down Bikini Beyond the Water
The flipped neckline is scooped and clean, which makes it surprisingly wearable away from the pool. If you're interested in stylying your bikini like Addison Rae, you can find out the most suitable way of you.
Pair it with high-waisted denim shorts and sandals for a beach-town errand run, layer it under a sheer shirt or crochet cover-up for dinner by the water, or lean into the open neckline with layered necklaces — the curved edge frames jewelry far better than a standard V-triangle does.
Ready to try the flip? Start with a top built for restyling: explore BERLOOK's sustainable triangle bikini tops, or browse the full bikini collection — recycled fabrics, designed to give you more looks per piece, right side up or upside down.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can any bikini top be worn upside down?
No. The flip only works with fully string-tied triangle tops that have four ties and cups that slide along the strings. Tops with molded cups, underwire, clasps, or fixed straps won't invert properly.
Why do people wear bikini tops upside down?
Three main reasons: the inverted position creates a scooped neckline with a natural lifted effect, one top yields three to four different looks, and it costs nothing — you restyle a piece you already own instead of buying new.
Does the upside down bikini top work for bigger busts?
It can, with adjustments: pick the largest triangle option, tie the under-bust band firmly, and use the criss-cross variation for extra security. It offers less support than a top worn as designed, so treat it as a lounging and photo style rather than an active-swim style.
Do I need to buy a special upside down bikini top?
No — the entire appeal is restyling a top you already own. If you're buying new anyway, choose a string triangle top with sliding cups, long ties, and removable padding so it works beautifully both ways.
Can you actually swim in an upside down bikini top?
Wading and calm dips are fine if both ties are double-knotted. For proper swimming or waves, retie the top the classic way — the inverted position simply isn't as secure, and fashion press warnings on this point are fair.
