Charli XCX is fully in her bikini era — and honestly, it's the most brat thing she could have done. Between her A24 mockumentary The Moment, matching bikinis with Kylie Jenner, and a Sundance fur coat moment for the ages, Charli's been showing up in bold swimwear at every turn this spring. And we are here for it.
Photo via Reality Tea / Getty Images
The Moment That Started Everything
When Charli XCX premiered The Moment — her A24 mockumentary co-starring Kylie Jenner and Alexander Skarsgård — she didn't walk the red carpet in a gown. She showed up in a black bikini bottom, towering thigh-high boots, and a cinched zip-up jacket, and somehow looked more put-together than everyone else there. That's the Charli XCX difference.
The Moment follows a fictionalized version of Charli as a pop star navigating the aftermath of "brat" summer — questioning whether to let the suits milk her success or end the party on her own terms. The film premiered at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival and dropped on A24 in late January, earning Charli genuine critical praise alongside her already legendary pop credibility. (66% on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics calling her "a presence that can bind even an unwieldy movie together.")
But it's the behind-the-scenes bikini promo that really broke the internet.
Photo via Hola!
Matching Bikinis With Kylie — Because Why Not
During production, Kylie Jenner (making her acting debut in the film) shared a behind-the-scenes photo that immediately went viral: the two of them in matching black bikinis under open white waffle robes, holding a film slate. Kylie wore a latex triangle top with high-cut bottoms; Charli kept it equally bold. The caption? "The moment!!! can't wait to see u at the movies xx" Understated. Very brat.
This is exactly the kind of promo that doesn't feel like promo — it feels like a friend group having fun on set and accidentally making the most coveted swimwear aesthetic of the season. Black bikini. White robe. Film slate. That's your spring 2026 mood board right there.
Then at Sundance, Charli doubled down: she stepped out in a black bikini peeking out from a floor-length brown fur coat, holding a flute of champagne in front of snowy mountains. It's objectively unhinged and completely iconic. She captioned it "Love you sundance!!!" — because of course she did.
Get the Look: Bold Black Like Charli
Charli's whole aesthetic across these moments is the same: confident, black, unapologetic. A string bikini isn't just swimwear for her — it's a statement. The good news? You don't need to be filming an A24 movie to pull it off.
At Audi Swim, the Bow Babe Collection is built for exactly this energy — bold black with white contrast trim that photographs like an editorial and moves like it was made for you.
- Bow Babe Contrast Top — Black ($24.99) — triangle top with white contrast trim, adjustable ties, that crisp editorial edge Charli has on lock
- Bow Babe Contrast Bottoms — Black ($24.99) — cheeky cut with matching white trim, made in Luxe-Flex nylon-spandex that actually stays put
- Beach Muse Crochet Dress ($29.99) — because if you're doing the Charli white-robe-over-bikini vibe, this is the elevated version
Full set (top + bottoms): $49.98. For context, Charli XCX has more Grammys than that costs. Stack the odds in your favor.
Why This Aesthetic Keeps Winning
What's interesting about Charli's bikini moments is that none of them are "bikini photoshoots" — they're just her living her life and wearing a bikini while doing it. At a film premiere. At Sundance. At a spa in February. That's the whole point: the boldest swimwear statement is wearing it like you just threw it on.
That confidence-forward approach is exactly what the brat aesthetic is about — and it's exactly why black string bikinis are having such a massive moment this spring. They read as effortlessly cool without trying. Which, if you've ever listened to a Charli XCX album, is basically the thesis statement.
For a deeper look at how to style bold black bikinis for every occasion, check out our guide: Black Bikini 2026: The Complete Style Guide. And if you want to understand why the bow detail has become the season's biggest swimwear statement, read: The Bow Bikini Trend 2026: Spring's Boldest Statement Look.
More celebrity bikini energy? Don't miss Kylie Jenner's post-Oscars bikini selfie (Charli's co-star has been busy) and Chappell Roan's bold bikini moments — because 2026 pop girls are not taking the summer off.
Charli XCX said "I'm in my brat era" in 2024. In 2026, it turns out that era comes with a black bikini and a film slate. We love to see it. 🖤
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