Last summer, I couldn't get away from Left on Friday's Pool Days bikini top. In a classic case of frequency bias, I saw the scoop bikini top and high-waisted Hi Tide bottoms in the Party Waves print (a colorblocked combo of neon red, hot pink, and classic red) on the Canadian swimwear brand's website first—and then it was everywhere I looked. I saw it photographed on a friend's Instagram feed. I saw it in the sidebar of nearly every website I visited, thanks to ad cookies. Then, the final straw, I saw it on a stranger at Rockaway Beach—she looked like the perfect combination of sporty and chic. So, after a month of trying to avoid it (I had plenty of bathing suits after all), I caved and bought the Pool Days/Hi Tide combo. I haven't regretted it since.
Left on Friday was launched in 2018 by friends Shannon Savage and Laura Low Ah Kee with one purpose in mind: create a swimsuit that can stand up to every activity, be it lounging, surfing, playing beach volleyball, or anything else you can get up to in a swimsuit. No matter what you did, your suit was staying put—a feature I've found to be the case when being pummeled by waves in Hawaii, playing Spikeball on the beach, or laying poolside. I haven't had to worry about falling out of the top, or constantly adjusting the bottoms. I can just be by the water, lapping up the compliments every time I wear my ultra-bright swimsuit.
The fabric is super soft and just compressive enough, the seams don't dig or itch, and there are no tags to rip out. Plus, the top is lined with the same fabric that's on the outside and there aren't built-in cups (my preference), so it's both secure and ultra-comfy. I prefer the skinny straps of the Pool Days top, but there are a ton of options depending on your taste, from one-shouldered to the racerback Hi Dive top. No matter the cut, all of the suits are made with the same multi-functional design, ensuring you can enjoy your day without worrying about your swimsuit falling down.
While I bought a colorway that has a coordinating top and bottom, the brand offers a ton of colors that you can mix and match since the tops and bottoms are sold separately—there's even a mix-and-match guide if you need some thought starters. I'm a big fan of the Day Dream shade (a bright lavender) and Popsicle (orange creamsicle–colored) together, as well as the baby blue Point Break and jungle green Palm.
The sizing could be more inclusive—bottoms only reach a size 12—but the brand recently expanded its top offerings, extending its support to a G-cup. For those whose sizes fall within Left on Friday's offering, know the suits are true-to-size. I'm usually a medium in bathing suit tops and large in bathing suits bottoms, regardless of the brand, and that was true here (another perk of being able to buy tops and bottoms separately).
All in all, it's become my favorite two-piece swimsuit, and one I pack on nearly every trip these days. You never know when you'll find yourself near a lake or hotel pool! The real test will be making it through the summer without buying a second suit—but no promises, as the newly launched neon green Apple color is calling my name.