Vilebrequin is a swimwear brand with a car engine for a name, and I love that. Fred Prysquel was a photographer and a sports-car journalist in Saint-Tropez, and in 1971 he started the label with Yvette, a fashion designer. Vilebrequin is the French word for crankshaft, which tells you exactly where his head was. Loic Berthet took over in 1991 and added new styles, and G-III Apparel Group bought the company in 2012, but the Saint-Tropez roots are still what the brand sells. The one-pieces here are the place to see how far that print-loving spirit stretches. The Herbier shiny jersey suit and the Seashell-print jersey suit lean on pattern, while the Uni bandeau and the Solid Sculpt bandeau keep it plain. The Disco Stars mock turtleneck rashguard is a one-piece with sleeves, and the stretch-jersey plunging V-neck is the evening version. Still deciding whether you want a one-piece at all. My one piece or bikini guide walks through that choice. Two bikini bottoms, the Jacquard Vichy and the Horizon Stripes, sit in the mix for anyone building a set.

The second group is where the names get fun. The Rope one-piece, the Tresses jersey suit and the Tresses braided suit read as the rope-and-hair names they are, and the Madrague printed one-piece brings the print. The Seashell print crossed back one-piece and the stretch jersey sweetheart keyhole add a little shape at the chest and back. Then come the bottoms, and there are plenty. The Tahiti Flowers, Flower Power, Lamitie Blurred Floral and Rainbow Birds bottoms are the loud ones, while the hipster, the Vichy jacquard and the sequined side tie are quieter or dressier. A simple fit test: if you are mixing a printed bottom with a plain top, pick one color from the print and match the top to it. What I would skip is pairing the Rainbow Birds bottom with a second busy pattern on top, because the print is already doing the talking.

Tops are where the mixing happens. The Disco Stars printed top, the Tahiti Flowers ruffled and floral triangle tops, and the Happy Flowers string top match up with the bottoms in the group before. For a cleaner look, the bandeau and the sequined halterneck are simple to style, and the broderie anglaise underwire top is the soft, romantic option. The Disco Butterfly appliqué top and the padded ruffled top are the playful ones. Two pieces here are for after the swim: the broderie anglaise short-sleeve shirt and the Eyes of the Wind cotton-silk shirtdress. If you want more ideas for putting a set together, my bikini sets and halter tops edit covers it.

This last group is for the part of the day when you are no longer in the water. The Pearl devore tiered silk maxi dress and the floral halter maxi are the long, dinner-ready shapes, and the Flower Power sleeveless midi is easier for lunch. The butterfly-embroidered swim cover-up minidress and the abstract tiered ruffle minidress are shorter and lighter. The Pearl long-sleeve rashguard is the practical piece, and the Eye of the Wind feather underwire top and Carapaces printed triangle top finish the set. For a beach dinner, my notes on beach cocktail attire will help you choose. And cover-ups that work harder than the swimsuit are worth a look too.

If I were packing for Saint-Tropez, I would take one printed Vilebrequin one-piece, one plain bandeau, two bottoms to mix, and one long dress for the evening. A brand named for a crankshaft makes more sense that way, since everything is built to keep moving. For the rest of the trip, my perfect vacation dress edit has more to pack.

To round out the look, see POST SWIM Swimwear and BEACH RIOT Swimwear & Tops.