The 'rash guard' style of swimwear may have been born out of practicality, but now stylish beach loungers are choosing them to show off their midriffs too

Will 2014 be the summer of unexpected sleeves? First Kim Kardashian goes all demure on her wedding dress, now sleeves are popping up on the least likely of places: bikinis.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Marc by Marc Jacobs pinwheel long-sleeved cropped rash guard swim top, Bloomingdales £77.35

Unusually, this is a trend that appeals to surfers, the sun-sensitive and those tottering around in heels in the beach bar alike. Long-sleeved swimming costumes – also known by the deeply unglamorous name of "rash guards" – are traditionally worn by surfers to avoid chafing and jellyfish stings, and have been used for stress-free, waterproof SPF protection for children for years. Now, brands as disparate as Asos, Urban Outfitters, Marc by Marc Jacobs and Jean Paul Gaultier are translating the style for fashion-conscious adults.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Jean Paul Gaultier short-sleeved rashguard top, Neiman Marcus, £249.66

Fair-skinned celebrities have long appreciated the practical applications of rash guards. Nicole Kidman and fellow redhead Julianne Moore wear them on holiday; Rosie Huntington-Whiteley avoids tanlines with a tight black number while walking her dog on the beach in LA.

At Fashion Week Swim 2014 – a beachwear summit held in the spiritual home of the bikini, Miami – there were long sleeves on bikinis and one-pieces, with zips, tassles, three-quarter length and capped styles, which designers recommended wearing in and out of the sea. As demonstrated by Miranda Kerr on the front of Shape magazine, at the glitzier end of the market, many rash guards provide pretty minimal protection, featuring stomach-flashing crops, coquettish cut outs and mesh panels. Rather, the costumes speak to the current trend for scuba-influenced luxe sportswear and the 1990s-influenced crop top silhouette, highlighting taut abs more dramatically than the standard bikini.

Still, while the trend is taking off in US and Australia, here in the UK the appeal seems to be pretty limited, with just a few items being tentatively stocked at the likes of Asos and Urban Outfitters. Perhaps we Brits see the sun so infrequently that for most of us the appeal of a teeny tiny bikini will take some time to fade.

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