Fashion

Neoprene, Or Scuba Fashion, Is Trending Right Now — So Here Are 15 Items To Make You Fall In Love

Neoprene is a synthetic rubber that's often used to make wetsuits, hence its alternative name "scuba." It's also used in electrical insulation and drum practice pads, but don't let the industrial uses scare you off. Neoprene has become increasing popular as a material to wear on the street (not just in the sea) because many of the qualities that make it great for use in factories, like stain resistance and general durability, make it great for clothing, too.

The fabric is thick and doesn't breathe, making neoprene a perfect addition to your winter wardrobe, and the thickness also allows for creation of structured pieces that look out of this world. The weight of neoprene also means form-fitting skirts and dresses are more forgiving. You'll never run the risk that your bodycon skirt or tight leggings are accidentally a little bit see-through. The material is always opaque, and its resiliency means it doesn't really stretch out. Neoprene also holds photorealistic patterns well, so it's not uncommon to see huge florals or intricate pattens splattered all over a dress or a sweatshirt. Did I also mention it's incredibly comfortable?

If all these benefits of neoprene aren't enough to convince you to buy all scuba everything, here are 15 pieces of clothing — from a jumpsuit to knee-high boots — that should do the trick.

by Maxine Builder

The Pencil Skirt

Form-fitting and floral, this neoprene bodycon skirt will still provide full coverage.

Instant Karma Neoprene Midi Skirt, $58, Nasty Gal

The Psychedelic Dress

The pairing of this photorealistic, psychedelic patten on a relatively conservatively cut collared dress is eye-catching, making the fabric almost an afterthought. But surprise — it’s neoprene!

Viviann Rainbow Waterfall Colored Dress, $248, Ted Baker

The LBD

The little black dress can also benefit from the scuba treatment. The darts on this dress, combined with the unique fabric, add structure to an otherwise simple shift.

Zippered Scuba Knit Dress, $23, Forever21

The Booties

These boots are straight out of Zenon: Girl Of The 21st Century , but the fact that neoprene is water-resistant makes this futuristic footwear actually practical.

Miista Rayna Neoprene Platform Boot, $160, Urban Outfitters

The Swimsuit

You can’t have a slideshow of neoprene clothing without featuring at least one swimsuit, and this bikini from Australian brand Triangl is scuba fabric at its best.

Poppy Cola Pop, $89, Triangl

The Skater Dress

Because neoprene is thick, it can hold pleats that would collapse with any other fabric, as demonstrated by this gravity-defying H&M dress.

Sleeveless Scuba Dress, $30, H&M

The Jumpsuit

If you’re ready to take the next step and go all in on neoprene, this sleek floral jumpsuit is for you. (Matching mules are optional.)

ASOS Scuba Jumpsuit in Shadow Placement Floral Print, $78, ASOS

The Flared Skirt

Using an unconventional fabric doesn’t mean the cut and color have to be unconventional, too, as proven by this flared skirt from Lauren Ralph Lauren in a muted navy.

Lauren Ralph Lauren Neoprene Flared Skirt, $125, Bloomingdales

The Bodycon

You can go full-on glam with this bodycon and boldly printed tank dress, while never worrying about accidentally showing too much.

Clover Canyon Toucan Tank Dress, $268, Everything But Water

The Sweatshirt

The neoprene sweatshirt with a colorful photorealistic print is about as classic as neoprene gets, with celebs like Rita Ora rocking the dressed-down look. This one comes in a camo-style print with a matching flouncy skirt.

Weekday Photo Print Scuba Sweatshirt, $37, ASOS

The Blazer

This loosely structured blazer also comes in black and navy for a slightly more traditional look that still has an edge.

Structured Scuba Knit Blazer In Teal, $17, Forever 21

The Knee-Highs

These knee-high 90s-style boots with a chunky heel are given a modern twist with neoprene. The patent leather toe is a perfect accent to offset the fabric.

Jeffrey Campbell Legendary Neoprene Tall Boot, $140, Urban Outfitters

The Sweat-Shirt

This shirt from Zara is a more structured version of the classic neoprene sweatshirt.

Neoprene Shirt With Pockets, $60, Zara

The Dainty Skirt

The dainty yet intricate laser-cuts show the versatility of the material and add a ton of visual interest to an otherwise straightforward blue dress. This is neoprene your mom would approve of.

Tadashi Shoji Laser-Cut Neoprene Dress, $359, Lord And Taylor

The Tapered Pants

These versatile, colorful pants could be worn to the office with a crisp white shirt and blazer, but they’d look right at home on a style blog, too.

ASOS Premium Bonded Tapered Pants In Scuba, $28, ASOS

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