Kulani Kinis Swimwear: Best Fits and Beach Picks

There is something very relatable about a brand that begins with a bad online order. Before a 2014 Hawaii trip, Dani Atkins bought two bikinis, and neither fit the way she had hoped. She and Alex Babich decided to make their own, and the first orders went out on February 20, 2015, as they tell it on their origin story page. I love how unpolished the early picture is: the two of them packing orders at home while Alex kept his accounting job.

They are still guiding the company, with Dani leading creative and Alex looking after the business side. The label is known for color, prints, inclusive sizing and a wide range of cuts, and they have resisted becoming only a surf brand. A collection can start from a muse or a place, as one did from a 1970s playing card.

That mix of holiday memory and deliberate decisions is what I see in this edit: swim for the beach, then knit dresses and separates that make the day feel longer. If you want to keep going, Indah Swimwear: From Bikinis to Beach Dresses is the one I would read next.

With swim, I like to choose the shape first and let the print follow. The Slide Triangle Bikini Top is the familiar triangle, and the Lace Stitch Ring Halter Bikini Top adds a ring and a halter neckline, with the Lace Stitch Ring Tie Bikini Bottom as its match. The Bind Dipped Cheeky Bikini Bottom is the confident one, and the Bind Dipped Cheeky Tie Bikini Bottom is its softer cousin. The Bind Tie Halter Bikini Top, Wild Skies Ring Tie Bikini Top and Soft Tie Ruched Thong Bikini Bottom give you more to mix.

The Ruched Bandeau Classic Cut One Piece is the route for when you want a one-piece instead. Picture her on a long beach afternoon in a triangle top and a dipped cheeky bottom, then switching to the one-piece for the walk back to lunch. My practical note: check each top and bottom's own size guide instead of assuming a matching set fits the same all the way through.

The dresses take the swim story into the rest of the day. The Knit Mini Dress and Rib Knit Mini Dress have shorter hemlines and a tactile, cozy texture, while the Mesh Halter Maxi Dress and Halter Maxi Dress stretch the line out with halter necks. I would pack one of the maxis for a sunset dinner after a beach day, then reach for a mini when the plan is a market stroll or a late lunch.

Picture her slipping a dress over her swimwear when the light softens and the restaurant is a few blocks away. What I would skip: the mesh option without a plan for what goes underneath it. Check the product page for lining first.

These are the bridge between swim and getting dressed. The Knit Halter Top and Chevron Knit Halter Crop Top give the separates a clear neckline and some texture, and the Towelling Playsuit is the quick one-piece I would reach for after a swim. The Essential Shorts keep things relaxed, and the Knit Midi Skirt gives a longer line to pair with a cropped top.

I would let the chevron pattern lead and keep everything else quiet, or wear the Towelling Playsuit when changing fast is the whole point. These are the pieces that make a suitcase feel considered without needing a new outfit for every hour. One practical test: read the care details before packing knit or towelling, since they will meet salt water, sunscreen and dinner plans.

Kulani Kinis grew out of one couple's wish for swimwear that fit well and felt good to wear. The color and the choice of cuts still carry that intention, and the dresses and separates let the day keep going after the beach. I would start with the swim shape I reach for most, then add a knit piece that earns its place beyond the sand. Although I suspect the playsuit will end up being the one I wear most. I went deeper on a related idea in BEACH RIOT Swimwear & Tops: Where to Start.