Winona Top Technicolor Rays Crochet | Crochet Triangle Bikini Top | Beach Riot
There is something about a crochet bikini top that simply never goes out of style. It carries the warmth of handcraft, the playfulness of summer, and just enough texture to make it stand apart from anything you might pull off a department store rack. The Winona Top in Technicolor Rays by Beach Riot is exactly that kind of piece — the kind that feels simultaneously retro and completely current, the kind you reach for when you want to look effortlessly put together at the beach without actually trying too hard.
Whether you are already a devoted Beach Riot fan or you stumbled across this top while scrolling through swimwear inspiration at midnight, this guide covers everything you need to know. From what makes this crochet triangle bikini top so special to how to style it, care for it, and pair it with the rest of your summer wardrobe, consider this your complete deep-dive.
What Is the Winona Top Technicolor Rays by Beach Riot?
Beach Riot has built a loyal following by producing swimwear that blurs the line between beach fashion and everyday clothing. Their pieces are designed for women who want to wear their swimsuit to brunch, to a rooftop party, or on a sunset walk along the boardwalk without having to duck away and change first. The Winona Top in the Technicolor Rays colorway fits perfectly into that ethos.
The Winona Top is a crochet triangle bikini top with a relaxed, bohemian silhouette. It features an open-knit crochet construction that gives it that signature handcrafted, artisanal look, while the Technicolor Rays colorway adds a vibrant, multicolored energy that feels fresh and modern. Think warm sunset tones bleeding into bright, saturated hues — the kind of color palette that photographs beautifully against sand, sea, and golden-hour light.
The triangle shape is a classic for good reason. It is universally flattering, adjustable, and allows for a range of styling options. You can tie the strings higher or lower depending on the coverage you want, and the lightweight crochet fabric moves with your body in a way that structured swimwear simply cannot replicate.
The Crochet Trend in Modern Swimwear
Crochet has been having a long, sustained moment in fashion for the past several years, and it shows absolutely no signs of fading. What started as a nod to 1970s bohemian style has evolved into a fully realized aesthetic that spans swimwear, resort wear, tops, dresses, and accessories. The reason crochet keeps returning is simple: it is tactile, romantic, and deeply personal-feeling in a way that mass-produced fashion rarely achieves.
In swimwear specifically, crochet works beautifully because the open-knit structure creates an interplay between coverage and reveal. It is never overtly revealing in a way that feels uncomfortable, but it allows for glimpses of skin in a way that feels sophisticated rather than calculated. The texture also photographs extraordinarily well — whether you are shooting on film or on your phone, crochet adds dimension and visual interest that flat, printed fabric cannot match.
Beach Riot understood this from early in their crochet swimwear offerings. The brand has a knack for taking a trend and executing it in a way that feels like a permanent wardrobe addition rather than a seasonal throwaway. The Winona Top is a great example of that philosophy. It is not chasing a microtrend. It is building on a textile tradition that has been beloved for decades.
Why Technicolor Rays Is the Right Colorway
Colorways matter enormously in swimwear, and the Technicolor Rays option for the Winona Top is one of those happy accidents of design where everything just works. The combination of warm, saturated colors — the kinds that suggest late afternoons, kaleidoscope sunsets, and beach bonfires — feels intentional without being overwrought.
What makes this colorway particularly versatile is that it pairs naturally with a wide range of neutrals and earth tones. You can wear it with a natural linen sarong and feel completely pulled together. You can throw it under a white crochet cover-up and let the color peek through. Or you can lean fully into it and coordinate your accessories around the warm tones in the palette — think rattan bags, woven straw hats, and leather sandals in tan or camel.
The Technicolor Rays colorway also ages beautifully in terms of trend longevity. It is not tied to a single year or a single runway moment. Multicolored, warm-toned swimwear has been popular across multiple decades of beachwear fashion, which means you can reach for this top summer after summer without it ever feeling dated.
Fit and Sizing: What to Expect
One of the most important things to understand about crochet swimwear — and about the Winona Top specifically — is how sizing and fit work differently than with standard swimwear construction.
Crochet fabric has inherent stretch and give because of the way the stitches interlock, but it does not behave the same way as spandex or lycra. A crochet bikini top provides a different kind of structure. Rather than compressing or contouring, it drapes and adjusts, which means fit is often about the tie rather than the fabric itself. The Winona Top’s triangle design with adjustable tie straps means you have real flexibility in customizing how the top sits on your body.
For most crochet triangle tops in this style, Beach Riot generally recommends sizing according to your cup size and torso proportions rather than simply going by a Small, Medium, or Large designation. If you are between sizes, many people with fuller busts prefer sizing up for more coverage, while those who want a more snug or traditional triangle bikini look size down or stick to their standard size.
The open-knit structure also means the top will look slightly different on different skin tones and under different lighting — all in a good way. The gaps in the crochet catch light and shadow uniquely depending on how the fabric is sitting, which contributes to the artisanal, individual quality of the piece.
If you have any doubt about sizing, checking the Beach Riot website for their current size guide or reading customer reviews for fit notes is always a good idea, as crochet construction can vary slightly even across different colorways of the same style.
How to Style the Winona Top Technicolor Rays
This is where the real fun begins. Crochet triangle bikini tops are among the most styling-friendly swimwear pieces you can own because they translate so easily beyond the pool or beach.
At the Beach or Pool
The most natural pairing is with high-waisted bikini bottoms in a solid color that picks up one of the tones from the Technicolor Rays palette. Pairing with a warm terracotta, a deep rust, or a sun-bleached off-white allows the crochet top to remain the visual focal point while still looking intentional and coordinated. Beach Riot often has complementary bottoms available, so it is worth checking whether any of their current styles come in colors that complement the Technicolor Rays colorway.
Layer over the top with a lightweight, open-front kimono or a sheer oversized linen shirt for moments when you are walking between your towel and the food truck or settling in for a long afternoon of reading. The breezy layers work with the crochet aesthetic rather than against it.
As a Festival or Resort Top
The beauty of a crochet triangle bikini top is that it functions perfectly as a regular top when styled correctly. Pair the Winona Top with high-waisted wide-leg linen trousers in ivory or sand for an elevated resort look. Add platform espadrilles, gold jewelry layered delicately at the neck and wrists, and a woven tote bag and you have a full outfit that works for a waterfront lunch, a beach club, or an outdoor festival.
With denim, the combination is effortlessly casual. High-waisted vintage-wash jeans with the Winona Top and flat leather sandals is an outfit that feels like it was lifted directly from a curated Instagram grid — not because it is trying to be, but because it is simply a combination that works on every level.
For Evening
Crochet has earned its place in evening wear in recent seasons, and a crochet bikini top is no exception. Pair the Winona Top with a flowing maxi skirt in a solid jewel tone or a neutral like cream or sand. The relaxed formality of the skirt paired with the laid-back texture of the crochet creates a contrast that feels intentional and chic. Add heeled mules or strappy sandals and a small clutch and you have an outfit that transitions from happy hour to an outdoor dinner without missing a beat.
Caring for Your Crochet Bikini Top
Crochet swimwear requires a little more care than standard swimwear, but the effort is minimal and the results — a top that holds its shape, color, and texture season after season — are absolutely worth it.
Always rinse your crochet bikini top in cool, clean water immediately after wearing it in the ocean or pool. Salt water and chlorine are both hard on any textile fiber, and a quick rinse while the top is still wet will remove the majority of both before they have a chance to degrade the crochet structure.
Hand washing is the safest and most recommended method for cleaning crochet swimwear. Use a gentle, delicate-friendly detergent and lukewarm water. Submerge the top and swish it gently — avoid wringing, twisting, or scrubbing, as these actions can distort the stitches and stretch out the delicate construction of the knit. After rinsing thoroughly, press the excess water out by gently rolling the top in a clean towel, then lay it flat to dry in the shade.
Direct sunlight will bleach and weaken the fibers over time, so even though it is tempting to lay your swimwear out in the sun to dry quickly, shade-drying is far better for preserving both the color and the structural integrity of the piece.
Store your crochet top flat or loosely folded rather than balled up or crushed at the bottom of a bag. The stitches can become misshapen if the top is stored under pressure or in a way that creates persistent creases in the fabric.
With the right care routine, a quality crochet bikini top like the Winona Top can genuinely last for many seasons, which also makes it a more sustainable choice compared to lower-quality swimwear that needs to be replaced every year.
Why Beach Riot Is Worth Investing In
If you are new to the brand, some context is useful. Beach Riot was founded with the intention of creating swimwear that sits at the intersection of high fashion and everyday wearability. Their pieces are designed in Los Angeles and produced with attention to quality that you can feel the moment you hold them. The fabrics, construction, and hardware across their range are designed to hold up to actual use — not just to look good in a flat lay photo.
The brand has cultivated a community of customers who return season after season precisely because the pieces hold up, both physically and aesthetically. A Beach Riot top from two or three years ago still looks relevant and well-made today, which is a testament to the brand’s commitment to creating pieces outside the churn of fast fashion.
The Winona Top is priced as a premium swimwear item, which reflects both the quality of the construction and the thoughtfulness of the design. When you factor in that a well-cared-for piece can serve you for multiple summers, the cost-per-wear math becomes very favorable compared to buying cheaper swimwear that loses its shape or color after a single season.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Winona Top Technicolor Rays
Does the crochet top provide enough support for larger cup sizes?
This is one of the most common questions about crochet triangle tops in general. The answer depends on the individual and the level of support they typically need. The Winona Top is a soft, unstructured triangle, which means it does not offer the underwire or molded cup support that some people require. For light to moderate activity at the beach — swimming, lounging, walking — most people find it comfortable and adequate. For water sports or anything that involves significant movement, an additional layer of support or a different style might be preferable. Many people with fuller busts choose to size up in crochet tops specifically to get more coverage and a more comfortable fit.
Can I wear the Winona Top in the water?
Yes, you absolutely can. The crochet construction is designed to be worn as swimwear, so it handles water exposure well. Just follow the care guidelines above — rinse after every wear in salt water or chlorinated water — to keep it looking its best.
Does the Technicolor Rays colorway run true to what it looks like online?
Crochet pieces with multicolored yarn can vary slightly in terms of how the colors are distributed across individual pieces, since hand-finished or artisanally constructed textiles do not have the same uniformity as printed fabric. The overall color palette and energy of the Technicolor Rays colorway should be consistent with what you see in product photos, but small variations in where particular colors appear are part of the charm and individuality of crochet construction.
What bottoms does Beach Riot recommend pairing with the Winona Top?
Beach Riot often styles the Winona Top with bottoms from their own collection that are designed to complement it. Checking their website for their current suggested pairings or looking at their editorial content for styling inspiration is the best way to find official pairings. In general, high-waisted bottoms in solid colors that pick up tones from the Technicolor Rays palette work beautifully.
Final Thoughts
The Winona Top Technicolor Rays by Beach Riot is the rare piece of swimwear that feels like more than just a swimsuit. It is a small work of craft, a vehicle for personal style, and a genuinely versatile wardrobe addition that you will reach for again and again across multiple summers and multiple contexts. The crochet triangle bikini top silhouette is timeless in the way that only truly great design can be — it does not date because it was never trying to be of its moment. It is simply beautiful, functional, and alive with texture and color in a way that flatters nearly every body and suits nearly every beach occasion you can imagine.
If you have been considering adding a crochet swimwear piece to your rotation and the Winona Top has caught your eye, it is genuinely worth it. Take good care of it, style it with the confidence it deserves, and it will reward you handsomely for seasons to come.
