Creative Ways To Style A Bodysuit For Fresh, Versatile Looks

We think that there needs to be a new regular in the line-up of wardrobe essentials: To take your closet up a notch, you need a trusty bodysuit. Whether you're building a capsule wardrobe or are a maximalist filling up your third closet space, a bodysuit deserves its place because it can not only take you out of your comfort zone but also be endlessly customizable.

And unfortunately, yes, that also means your physical comfort zone. The garment isn't the most convenient option in the bathroom and poses the risk of wedgies, but we're more interested in how its unique design can take you out of your creative comfort zone. A bodysuit provides new constraints and freedoms to guide your outfit selection, and it's the perfect opportunity to play around with your self-expression and form new styles. (Hello, fun patterns!) To help you best achieve this, we rounded up some excellent examples of celebrities and influencers who have used bodysuits to do precisely that.

A common misconception about bodysuits is that they are all skin-tight. However, some of the most versatile, convenient bodysuits are the looser ones. You know when you're wearing a slouchy shirt, and you want to show your pant waistline, but you also want it to have a loose fit? Trying to get the perfect "French tuck" can be a pain. Once you start moving around, it's only a matter of time before you have to do it all over again. But, with a draped bodysuit, you don't have to do a thing to ensure that your top stays both tucked in and loose.

The oversized blazer is one of the champions of wardrobe versatility and has been since the '80s. When paired with a simple, one-piece bodysuit, it can provide the perfect texture and juxtaposition for a stylish 'fit. The outfit combines contrasting aesthetics like tight and baggy, dressy and sporty, and masculine and feminine. Throwing on just these two pieces is the easiest way to walk out the door looking eye-catching and dynamic. To add an extra level of "business" to this business-casual look, accessorize with sleek glasses and style your hair in a tight, low bun.

If you're someone who has a uterus, there are days of each month when you might want to wear nothing but a large hoodie and sweats — and then there are other days of the month when you feel like you should be nominated for People's Sexiest Alive awards. When you feel the latter, some clothing items can take your spontaneous burst of confidence and multiply it by 10. One of these items is a lace bodysuit. This feminine, fitted piece will guarantee you make the most of your heightened self-esteem.

One of the few positives that came from 2020 was people thinking a little harder about day-to-day life, leading folks to reconsider athleisure as a serious fashion choice. Bike shorts had already emerged and cropped bra tops were a constant, but why had we not considered the clothing item that puts the two together? Thus, short-lengthed bodysuits hit the mainstream. If you want to break up the full-coverage monochrome and accentuate your waist, we recommend you layer it with a different-colored cropped top.

In Season 2, Episode 7 of "Gossip Girl," fashionista Blair Waldorf famously snapped at a peer, "Tights are not pants." While we take most things Blair said with a grain of salt, we especially do with this statement. Tights can absolutely take the place of pants. Most people wear their bodysuits with pants layered over them if they cut above the leg, but sheer clothing is having a moment — and because tights are so thin and, well, tight, they fit seamlessly underneath a one-piece. It's a bold look but in the coolest way possible.

If you're on the fashion side of any social media platform, we don't have to tell you that balletcore has long been an ongoing trend. But don't worry: You don't actually need to attend a ballet class to get the look. All you need is a cotton bodysuit. If it has a low-cut back — and especially if it's pink — you might as well have just left the dance studio.

When deep necklines are especially dramatic and plunge to the belly button or lower, it can be very difficult to make sure the material stays taught. Oftentimes, you'll see this eye-catching look accomplished with a top that drapes a bit — or, if it's not draping, it comes in the form of a dress because the extra material and weight pull the top half down. However, when you wear this neckline on a bodysuit, the design ensures that the material stays taught, avoiding any scrunching or looseness. 

For a long time, high-cut bodysuits were considered a thing of the past, as having a seam line that goes above the hip bone was designated for the '80s throwback costume. But today, we've rediscovered the power of the hip. Giving your bodysuit this V-shaped line elongates the legs and accentuates the waist. When paired with pants that fall or fold beneath the hip bone, you get this unique, cut-out look. It's edgy and can add texture to any outfit.

There are many creative ways to zhuzh up your look with a bodysuit, but sometimes, less is more. When you don't know what to wear and want to go classic but chic, a solid-colored bodysuit with a pair of blue jeans is your safest bet. With a smooth material and simple silhouette, your bodysuit can make any outfit look put together. We recommend you add a belt to avoid the look becoming too monotoned or simple.