Bella Thorne has been quietly having her most fashion-forward era yet. Between a sun-soaked tropical vacation and LA day-out photo dumps, the Shake It Up alum has been delivering bikini content that checks every 2026 trend box — and then some. Crochet cover-ups, black contrast sets, and that effortlessly stacked accessory game? She's making a case for being one of the most underrated beach style influencers of the year.
Photo via Reality Tea
The Crochet Beach Vacation That Started It All
In late 2025, Bella posted a carousel from what looks like a dream resort destination, and we have not recovered. Her main look: a chocolate-brown open-crochet cover-up layered over a matching brown string bikini — which also happens to be one of the biggest swimwear trends dominating 2026 beach clubs, resort pools, and street style.
The crochet moment wasn't accidental. Bella layered the loose-knit cover-up over her bikini for a breezy, boho beach look that transitions seamlessly from the shoreline to brunch. She finished it with a straw cowboy hat, aviator sunglasses, layered necklaces, and stacked bracelets — a masterclass in vacation dressing where swimwear stays the hero without ever trying too hard.
In another shot from the same trip, she swapped her bottoms for a leopard-print style with sheer lace paneling. Because Bella has never been the girl to commit to just one incredible bikini look when two is clearly better.
The caption — "this year was heavy in ways I didn't talk about" — made the whole thing feel authentically real. Seeing her genuinely decompress, crochet bikini and straw hat in tow on a turquoise-water backdrop, hits differently than the typical curated vacation post.
Photo via Reality Tea
Black Bikini Energy, Now in City Mode
Fast-forward to February 2026, and Bella served another swimwear-forward look — this time at Universal Studios Hollywood with her fiancé Mark Emms. She wore a black bikini-style top with bold white trim, paired with high-waisted black bottoms, a gold watch, and her brunette hair loose in soft waves.
This is exactly the bikini-as-outerwear shift that's one of 2026's biggest style stories. Contrast-trim bikini tops have moved from pool decks to city days out, and Bella's pulling it off without any visible effort. The black-and-white contrast reads elevated enough for a theme park date but is absolutely going in her beach bag on the next vacation. Fans were fully into it — comments flooded in calling the look "fire," "stunning," and, in what may be the most delightful compliment possible, "Disney Princess vibes."
Get Bella's Look for Under $75
Here's the good news: Bella Thorne's 2026 bikini aesthetic is completely achievable. The black-and-white contrast top maps almost perfectly onto the Bow Babe Contrast collection from Audi Swim. And that crochet cover-up she's making famous? That's the Beach Muse Crochet Dress's entire personality.
- The Crochet Layer: Beach Muse Crochet Dress ($39.99) — off-shoulder, breezy, and made to be layered over any bikini for that resort-to-brunch transition Bella does effortlessly
- The Black Contrast Set: Bow Babe Contrast Top in Black ($30) + Bow Babe Contrast Bottoms in Black ($30) — same black-and-white contrast energy, adjustable triangle silhouette, ECONYL recycled nylon
- The Accessory Stack: Golden Hour Belly Chain ($15) — wear it at the waist over your bikini or layered over the crochet cover-up for that stacked, boho-beach effect Bella has mastered
Full look: under $75. Bella's actual crochet swimwear at those designer resort prices? Probably 8 to 10 times that. You do the math.
More 2026 Beach Style Inspo
If you want the full breakdown on every spring 2026 swimwear trend Bella is working with — crochet, black contrast, boho layering, and the color wave — check out our complete guide: The 10 Hottest Swimwear Trends for Spring/Summer 2026.
Heading to Coachella and want to nail the festival-to-pool-party aesthetic Bella embodies? Our Coachella 2026 Bikini & Festival Style Guide has every look covered — crochet cover-ups included.
And if the supermodel beach editorial vibe is your thing: Kaia Gerber's 2026 Beach Looks: From Mexico to Vanity Fair is another crochet and string bikini moment that belongs on every 2026 mood board.
Bella's giving us permission to fully embrace the bikini-as-lifestyle approach this spring. Shop the look at Audi Swim and bring that crochet-and-contrast energy to your next beach day.
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