Swimsuit

Kelsey Merritt’s Favorite Bikini Style Fits Right in With Her Dreamy Quiet Luxury Aesthetic

The three-time SI Swimsuit model shared some valuable fashion insight.

Ananya Panchal

Kelsey Merritt

Kelsey Merritt.

Instagram fashionista Kelsey Merritt is spilling her swimwear style secrets. The Filipino model, who has been featured in three consecutive SI Swimsuit Issues, chatted with the New York Post on all things fashion and beachwear. 

The former Victoria’s Secret Angel has grown her platform as a super aesthetic and Pinterest-worthy grid full of outfits that fit her neutral, sophisticated and always-chic capsule wardrobe style. She’s been sporting quiet luxury pieces long before Sofia Richie became the reigning queen of the viral trend.

“I love wearing nautical stripes at the beach,” she revealed. “The cut and feel of this swimwear is both fashionable and functional for enjoying the sun and the waves.”

The 27-year-old mentioned the navy blue-and-white striped bandeau top and 1990s bottoms from SAME Los Angeles as a go-to.

Bandeau Top, $140 and ’90s Bottoms, $105 (samelosangeles.com)

Same Los Angeles swimsuit

Merritt said she’s been really leaning into the influencer and social media side of her job, in addition to keeping up with red carpet appearances and modeling.

“I’d like to tackle the content creator side of my career. That’s something that’s been a cool part of the modeling industry changing. I can now capitalize on my following and branch out into content creation, which I greatly enjoy. I feel like I get to express and show my creative side, whereas as a model, I am just the canvas," she shared. “I have all creative freedom and control, and I like that people are getting to know me even more through that. That’s a part of my career I wasn’t expecting, but I am really enjoying and see myself continuing doing.”

Merritt also teased that she someday wants to be a small business owner. We’re keeping our fingers crossed for a clothing or accessories line of some sort, or even a styling brand.

“I know down the road I want to launch something of my own. What that may be, I’m not sure of yet, but like I said, things often fall in my lap, and I take it from there,” she continued. “I’m letting the idea come to me.”

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Ananya Panchal
ANANYA PANCHAL

Ananya Panchal is a writer on the Lifestyle and Trending News team for SI Swimsuit. Before joining SI Swimsuit in 2022, she worked at Bustle, the San Francisco Chronicle and the TODAY Show. When she is not writing or doom-scrolling on social media, Panchal can be found playing sudoku, rewatching One Tree Hill or trying new restaurants. She's also a coffee and chocolate (separately) enthusiast. Panchal has a bachelor’s in communications and journalism from Boston University.