10 Ways to Style a One Piece Swimsuit

Misty Spinney
Jun 14, 2012

For a couple years now, the one piece has been back with a vengeance.

Well, we've got a revelation for you. When treated as a piece of clothing, the one piece can be a bodysuit, tube top, undershirt, tank top, and, in some cases, a full on mini-dress. When Old Navy asked us to build an outfit based around their new swim collection, we couldn't resist the opportunity get our style on. Here are 10 totally different looks, all made with Old Navy's Control Max Halter in Royal Rowena (just $40 online!).

For each look, we've included links to recommended items from Old Navy for recreating the look. The clothing and accessories in the photos below are meant to provide inspiration for creating your own series of looks, and are not all available at Old Navy.

Boho Cocktail Dress

If you're not up for buying a bunch of brand new dresses for summer weddings, it's time to get scrappy. We took a sheer gauze white skirt, topped it with a tight aztec mini, and finished the whole thing off with a large braided belt. Best of all, if you're at an event near a pool or ocean, you can easily go for a late night dip.

Fresh Linens

We love linen clothes in the summer time, but they are definitely on the see-through side. The royal blue looks particularly lovely with white linen trousers and a tied up button down.

Coffee Shop Chic

Gotta log a few hours in at the coffee shop before heading away for a beachy weekend? Throw a vest, scarf, and tote over your suit and denim shorts and your coffee-drinking cohorts will be none the wiser.

4. Turquoise Neutral

As you can tell, we're big on the "add a pop" mentality of putting together an outfit. This is a great outfit if you need to be ready for anything. Heading to a festival? Turquoise pants make you easy to spot. Got dinner plans after the beach? This neutral sweater is the perfect layer for an evening out.

5. Color Block Prepster

Yeah yeah yeah, you get that we're really into color blocking. Why not throw a brightly colored tank under your one piece? Complete the look with khaki shorts and a classic pair of boat shoes.

6. Fedora & Hoops

Hustle & Flow

The hustle's in the tough-girl aviators, military boots, and dark denim skinnies. The flow is in the gorgeous lace wrap and romantic faux bob (how-to here). You could even rock a look like this in the fall.

Black, White & Blue

Feeling patriotic but want to keep things on the more subtle side? Black capris and a white vest are a perfect way to rock your swimsuit if you've gotta put in a few hours at the office before taking off for the weekend. Add a bold red lipstick to take this look into the evening realm.

Gallery Girl

This one's inspired by a recent art opening we attended for the launch of Minted's Art collection. Have you ever noticed how gals at art openings always tend to look effortlessly chic? This is also a solid look for a date night, especially if you plan on going for a dip in the Pacific in the wee hours on the night. We recommend a slightly tapered black pant for this but, if you feel like rocking flats, standard black trousers will do.

Dorothy Goes To Vegas

What you're seeing is real. This swimsuit can turn into a full on mini-dress. We know. It's kind of insane. Channel your inner Dorothy by pairing your suit with a plaid shirt (perhaps, a men's shirt?) and glam it up with a pair of nude heels.

How you do dress up a one piece when you're heading to or from the beach? Let us know your styling ideas in the comments below!

This post is underwritten by Old Navy. Whether you're looking for a tankini, bikini or a one piece, Old Navy has you confidently covered at a great price.

Collaboration Hacks Every Small Business Owner Should Know

Verizon
verizon

In our Take 5 series, sponsored by Verizon, we ask women in business about unexpected challenges, their inspirations, recent wins, and how the free Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program has helped propel their business forward. Here, we meet Therise Edwards, founder/CEO of Teshley Solutions, an education consultancy firm that helps students and families navigate the complexities of the education system K through 12.

What is an unexpected business challenge that you faced and how did you overcome it?

I wouldn't call myself a FAFSA (Free Application for Student Aid) expert, but I ended up having to know a lot more about it than I ever anticipated. FAFSA is what administers Pell Grants, which is what a lot of colleges base their financial aid on. I knew about the application changes, and some were excellent, but they made a series of critical errors and a lot of parents were scrambling. It was not my intent to have this as my area of focus; it just became a necessity.

What's a recent small win for your business?

Recent small wins are my collaborations. I formed partnerships with one organization that focuses on students with special needs. I hosted a webinar with the executive director of that organization. I formed a partnership with members from an insurance company on planning and paying for college. That was my first corporate sponsorship. And I've got a series of events coming out because others actually reached out to me. One of them I met through another networking platform, but I got to that platform from one of the sessions that I did with Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program.

How did you start to collaborate with external partners?

Just changing my strategies and my approach, and just being more secure and more emphatic in making connections. It ends up being this continual cycle.

Is there a woman in business that you admire or that you look up to?

I have two. Leontyne Anglin, who runs a nonprofit called Beyond Expectations. She works with a small pool of students, but she just gives them enormous exposure and opportunity. She's brilliant with collaborating with individuals and businesses and really bringing the students what they need. And then the other on a bigger scale is Cate Luzio, founder and CEO of Luminary, who taught her Business Plan Bootcamp through the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program. She is just a dynamo. She is just so supportive of women entrepreneurs. She's awesome.

How did the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program help propel your business forward?

All of the collaborations and partnerships with the exception of one all came from joining the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program. I’ve taken all of the free classes and the one on projections and pricing, something every entrepreneur struggles with, was very helpful. There have been so many of them. Sometimes you're completely ignorant in a category so you take the class and it's like, okay, that's good to have. But then sometimes you sign up for it and it's like, oh, yeah, I did know 90 percent of that, but this other 10 percent is going to be very, very helpful.

Learn more about the free Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program and Teshley Solutions.

Illustration by Daniela Jordan-Villaveces


business advicebusiness coursebusiness programbusiness tipscareercollaborationsdigital ready programsmall businesssmall business tipsunexpected challengesverizon sponsorshipwomen in businesssponsoredentrepreneurship

'The Summer I Turned Pretty' Season 3 Will Have 3 Extra Episodes

What's your favorite The Summer I Turned Pretty episode? The series (which stars Lola Tung as Belly, Gavin Casalegno as Jeremiah, and Christopher Briney as Conrad) has had standout moments since its premiere in 2022. And so far, my favorite scenes in both seasons 1 and 2 happened during episode 6.

Belly and Conrad's heartbreaking conversation on the dock against Billie Eilish's "When The Party's Over" instantly became my favorite scene of the show, only to be topped by their fight on the beach & the house party while Taylor Swift's "Snow on the Beach" plays during season 2. And it looks like every episode of The Summer I Turned Pretty season 3 is going to be a favorite based on Jenny Han's latest update.

Here's what Jenny Han had to say about the new The Summer I Turned Pretty season 3 episodes.

Every moment in 'The Summer I Turned Pretty' season 3 will matter.

Erika Doss/Prime Video

After revealing season 3 will have 11 episodes, as opposed to 7 or 8 like the first two seasons, Jenny Han recently wrote on Instagram (via US Weekly), “One thing I’ll say about season 3 of [The Summer I Turned Pretty] … there are no filler episodes.”

The last decade of streaming has seen television seasons drop from around 22 episodes to 10 or under, resulting in the loss of those filler episodes. You know, where the characters are just hanging out and the audience gets to know more about their personalities. Do these episodes move the plot along? No. Are they valuable in helping to understand the characters? Absolutely!

However, there is something to be said for the idea that every moment should matter. One lesson I took away from my creative writing classes in college is that if you can remove a detail from a story and nothing changes, then it didn't need to be there! And it definitely sounds like every moment in the upcoming The Summer I Turned Pretty season 3 episodes will have a purpose.

"I'm just very excited to be back with everyone and to be able to step back into Belly's shoes, I'm super excited," Lola Tung told Brit + Co in February.

'The Summer I Turned Pretty' season 3 might not be the final chapter.

We haven't gotten word on whether The Summer I Turned Pretty season 3 is going to be the final season of the Amazon Prime show (there are only three books), but it looks like we could be seeing more of our favorite characters either way!

“This show is going to continue to be a huge centerpiece for us," Vernon Sanders, Amazon and MGM Studios' head of television, told Deadline in September 2023. "We absolutely have plans to continue building it. Jenny’s got great vision for where she wants to go with all of it, but we’re already hard at work developing complementary pieces."

I would love to see a spinoff, whether it's about Belly after the third book ends, or about Taylor and Steven! "Jenny’s got some exciting surprises. So we’re thrilled about a Season 3, and she’s got a vision for more."

Vernon also spoke about how the show has become a intertwined with Taylor Swift's music, and even debuted a few unreleased Taylor Swift songs! "We have been so delighted and humbled by having had this relationship over the course of the last two seasons, and they have been incredibly lovely — and, believe it or not, incredibly easy to work with," he says. "Jenny credits Taylor Swift as the music she was listening to as she was writing these books. It’s just always been infused in how she’s thinking and feeling and what is authored into the show itself. So, to have Taylor’s music, and as you said, unreleased music in the show, I think is beyond incredible."

Check out 5 Details From The Summer I Turned Pretty Ending That Reveal Who Belly Ends Up With In Season 3 👀.

pop cultureentertainmentthe summer i turned prettytv

How To Build A Local Community When You’re A Digital Creator

Verizon
verizon

In our Take 5 series, sponsored by Verizon, we ask women in business about unexpected challenges, their inspirations, recent wins, and how the free Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program has helped propel their business forward. Here, we meet Rita Suzanne, a marketing strategist for health and wellness businesses who learned to network, connect with other entrepreneurs, and build her business online and IRL.

What's an unexpected business challenge that you've had to face and how did you overcome it?

The hardest thing for me was my sister passed away and I ended up taking custody of my nieces. I ended up being a single mom of four kids. This is the thing that transitioned my whole entire life. I stopped doing web design and started my podcast Mom Owned and Operated. I wanted to reconnect with other moms and figure out how they were able to run their businesses and raise a family and take care of themselves because I wasn't able to do all three at the same time. Through that journey, I realized that I really needed to connect with other people and how important it was for my business. It helped me to create that community that I was yearning for that I didn't realize that I needed.

What's a recent small win for your business?

For me, the win was just pivoting back to something that I actually wanted to do. Also, I’ve started to say no to things that I no longer want to do.

Who is a woman in business that you look up to and why?

I have always admired and looked up to Amy Porterfield [author of Two Weeks Notice]. I listened to her all the time when I was starting out. I think that she's amazing and I love her stuff. She just seems like a very genuine person.

Is there a resource that has made an impact on you as an entrepreneur?

I listen to a lot of audio books. One of my favorites that has been huge for me is You Are A Badass by Jen Sincero. I was told when I first started my business, by a friend who was a business coach, that I have a mindset problem. Ten years ago, I had no idea even what “mindset” was. Sincero’s book helped me to see what she meant by “mindset” and helped me adjust that mindset and fix some of the things that I didn't realize were broken.

How has the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program helped propel your business forward?

There are a lot of things that I have loved about it. There are local networking and training opportunities, and that has been great, and the online training is very valuable. It's a great resource. I find that marketing needs a three-tiered approach, meaning you need to network it locally, socially, and then also have a very comprehensive online approach to your marketing. One of the Verizon Small Business trainings that I took was all about taking advantage of your local resources. I found that to be extremely valuable because often people think they need to just focus on social media. I don't think that people focus enough on their local community.

Learn more about the free Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program and Rita Suzanne.

Illustration by Daniela Jordan-Villaveces

audio booksdigital ready programentrepreneursmindsetonline businesspodcastunexpected challengesverizon sponsorshipwomen in businesssocial mediaworkmoneymarketingcareersponsoredentrepreneur

Where Is The "Gilmore Girls" Cast Now? Here's Where You Can Watch Your Favorite Stars.

Considering we talk about Lorelai and Rory Gilmore at least once a week — and constantly argue why Dave is the right answer for who's the best Gilmore GirlsTV boyfriend (although we'll also accept Logan) — we're always thinking about Gilmore Girls. Even though the show ended in 2007, the success of Gilmore Girls: A Year In The Life proves that it still has a life of its own. And the actors do too! Here's what your favorite members of the cast of Gilmore Girls have been up to since the end of the series.

Alexis Bledel

Image via Saeed Adyani/Netflix

As one of the two Gilmore Girls mentioned in the title, we watched Alexis Bledel (Rory) grow over the years, both inside Stars Hollow and outside of it. She's starred in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Sin City, and The Handmaid's Tale. But Alexis is also a mother and shares a son with her ex-husband Vincent Kartheiser.

Lauren Graham

Image via Saeed Adyani/Netflix

Lauren Graham played Lorelai Gilmore, and has also played a mom in titles like Parenthood and Evan Almighty. You can also read her books Someday, Someday, Maybe, Talking as Fast as I Can: from Gilmore Girls to Gilmore Girls (and Everything in Between), and Don't Worry About It.

Chad Michael Murray

Image via Freemantle

Chad Michael Murray, who played Tristan Dugray, has been in a slew of shows since he left Gilmore Girls in season two. He booked the lead role of Lucas Scott in One Tree Hill, and has played Jake in Freaky Friday and Edgar on Riverdale. He's also a published author! You can read his book American Drifter: An Exhilarating Tale of Love and Murder. Right now, he stars as Cal in Sullivan's Crossing.

Scott Patterson

Image via WB

Chad isn't the only one you can watch on the CW! Scott Patterson (Luke Danes) stars as Sully on Sullivan's Crossing. He was also in Aliens in America as Gary and in Saw IV and Saw V as Agent Strahm. In addition to acting, he launched Scotty P's Big Mug Coffee *and* the Gilmore Girls rewatch podcast I Am All In!

Milo Ventimiglia

Image via Saeed Adyani/Netflix

Milo Ventimiglia played snarky, book-loving Jess Mariano, but gained even more recognition for playing Jack Pearson on This Is Us (a role that got him an Emmy nom for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series). He's also been in series like Heroes and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.

Jared Padalecki

Image via Neil Jacobs/Netflix

Jared Padalecki (Dean Forester) went on to star as Sam in Supernatural, a show which ran for 15 seasons. You can also see him in New York Minute and in Cheaper by the Dozen (but just for a moment)! In addition to his acting, he launched the Always Keep Fighting campaign after revealing his struggles with depression.

Melissa McCarthy

Image via Disney

Melissa McCarthy's Sookie St. James is one of the most lovable members of the Gilmore Girls cast, and went on to do even more hilarious roles during, and after, the show. You can see her in films like The Little Mermaid, Bridesmaids, Mike & Molly, and Spy, but she also received critical acclaim for her role in Can You Ever Forgive Me?

Matt Czuchry

Image via Saeed Adyani/Netflix

Matt Czuchry, who played the fan favorite Logan Huntzberger on Gilmore Girls, also starred in some other long-running shows like The Good Wife as Cary and The Resident as Conrad. He also stars as Dexter in this year's American Horror Story: Delicate.

Liza Weil

Image via Neil Jacobs/Netflix

Liza Weil's Paris Geller is driven and hardworking (we love her for that), and Liza works just as hard! She appeared on Bunheads, and had a main role on How to Get Away with Murder. Just like Milo Ventimiglia, you can see her on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, too!

Keiko Agena

Image via Neil Jacobs/Netflix

Keiko Agena portrayed Lane Kim, but was in a variety of nostalgic TV shows like Sister, Sister, Felicity, and Beverly Hills, 90210 before Gilmore Girls premiered. You can also see her in13 Reasons Why on Netflix. Keiko married Shin Kawasaki in 2005 — in a helicopter!

Adam Brody

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

Adam Brody was a member of the cast of Gilmore Girls for a short time, but his character Dave Rygalski is one of the best parts of the show. He left the series to star as Seth in the teen dramaThe OC, and has also appeared in Jennifer's Body, Promising Young Woman, Shazam! and Shazam! Fury of the Gods. He married Gossip Girl star Leighton Meester, and the couple has two kids.

Kelly Bishop

Image via Saeed Adyani/Netflix

Before Kelly Bishop played Emily Gilmore, she was in Dirty Dancing, but she also won the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical for her role as Sheila in A Chorus Line. You can see her in Bunheads and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.

Sean Gunn

Image via Saeed Adyani/Netflix

Sean Gunn's Kirk Gleason is my favorite Gilmore Girls cast member, and has Sean has continued to play funny but lovable roles. He starred as Kraglin in the MCU and Weasel in Suicide Squad (his brother is director James Gunn). Sean is married to actress and director Natasha Halevi.

Which member of the cast of Gilmore Girls have you followed throughout the years? Let us know on Facebook and check out our Gilmore Girls page for the latest news on your favorite show!

Lead image via Saeed Adyani/Netflix

This post has been updated.

entertainmentpop culturegilmore girlsevergreenbest readstv

10 Gilmore Girls Moments That Prove Anyone Who Isn’t #TeamJess Is Seriously Delusional

We're still thinking about the end of Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life(and the fact we might finally get season 2?!). There were so many questions left unanswered when the series and its spinoff finished, like how exactly do the Gilmore Girls eat so many donuts and pizza? More importantly, which guy is Rory finally going to end up with? Even if you’re #TeamLogan or #TeamDean, you can’t deny the appeal of stereotypical bad guy Jess. He turned into a major success story in the end, not to mention became a huge advocate for Rory getting her life back on track. Here are 10 moments that prove that anyone who isn’t #TeamJess is seriously delusional.

1. 22.8 Miles

After Rory makes the big decision to go to Yale, Jess actually looks up the distance from Stars Hallow to campus on Yahoo Maps (how very early ’00s of him!). This might be a small gesture, but it shows just how much he was thinking about their future — even if he wasn't ready to admit it — proving once and for all, he does care about her.

Image via Saeed Adyani/Netflix

2. The Swan

When Jess shows up at Friday night dinner with a black eye, we all thought our worst suspicions about him had come true, that he’d gotten into a bad fight with Dean. Actually, he just got beat up by a swan (duh) and was too proud to admit it. We. Can’t. Even. (This is also one of our favorite Luke and Jess episodes!)

3. The Bjork Snow Woman

Jess always seems to know what’s in Rory’s heart best, like the little comments he leaves for her in the books they share and the jokes they're constantly cracking. And when he recognizes that Lorelai and Rory have dressed their “snow woman” up like Bjork, it’s like he just gets it.

Image via The CW/The WB/YouTube

4. This Isn’t You

Rory stealing a boat, dropping out of Yale and joining the D.A.R. was possibly the worst or most frustrating plot line in the history of plot lines. Jess is the one who lets her know she needs to get back on track because the whole rebel rouser thing so isn’t her.

5. When He Publishes a Book

It’s understandable if you weren’t so into Jess in high school. He was sarcastic and rough around the edges and could be harsh. Grown-up Jess, on the other hand, has grown into someone who's mature, thoughtful, and grounded. He's got a good head on his shoulders and totally grounds his scenes in the Season 6 episode "Let Me Hear Your Balalaikas Ringing Out."

6. When He Leaves It All on the Line

That time Jess actually shows up at Rory’s dorm room and tells her to come away to New York with him was so sweet. Even if it was never going to happen in a million years, you’ve got to give the guy some credit for leaving it all out there.

Image via Neil Jacobs/Netflix

7. When He Says “I Love You”

Everyone knows Jess isn’t the warm and fuzzy type. At the start of his time on Gilmore Girls, Jess has a hard time communicating and forming connections with the people around him. So when he finally drops the bad boy front, and comes out and says he does love Rory, we can’t help but get all the feels.

Image via WB

8. The Sprinklers

Early on in the show, Rory can’t get the sprinklers off and her neighbors lawn is going to be ruined. Jess comes running to help, no questions asked. Even if this was still the period in their early friendship when they consistently got on each other's nerves (and Jess was actively trying to convince everyone he didn't care about Rory), it's *clear* he cares more than he lets on.

9. When He Borrows Luke’s Love Advice Tapes

At one point in the show, Luke goes through a mushy phase where he expresses his commitment to Lorelai by buying some goofy relationship tapes/books. Jess totally gets in on it and Lorelai even finds one of the books in Jess’s backpack. Busted!

10. When He Tells Her She’s Still a Contender

If you haven’t seen Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life yet, 1. What the heck are you waiting for? And 2. When Rory is down and out on her luck, who is the guy who tells her she’s still got it? Jess, obvs.

Are you Team Jess, Dean or Logan?Tell us @BritandCo!

Lead image via The CW/The WB/YouTube

This post has been updated.

tvgilmore girlsjess marianoevergreenbest readspop culture