The 2001 Swimsuit J.Crew Is Resurrecting

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Classic styles from the aughts keep bubbling up in 2016, as seen in the unlikely resurgence of pink tracksuits. With that in mind, one tagline in a recent J.Crew email about its new swimsuit collection stood out immediately.

"(Re) Introducing the swim crop top. A classic silhouette from 2001 that we resurrected from the archives." That's how J.Crew described its new rugby stripe suit, as modeled by one of the brand's most recognizable faces. Available in bright blue or fiery red, the swim crop has a scoop back and it hits right above your natural waist — kind of like a tankini crossed with a bikini.

Racked asked J.Crew how this 2001 style got back on the design team's radar, and it turns out, the inspiration came from one designer's fortuitous trip back home. Here's what J.Crew head swim designer Amy Romanowsky said:

When one of the designers on our team found her old J.Crew tankini at her parents' house, we wanted to bring it back for today. We updated the quality and adjusted the proportions, and we love the result because it feels sporty and stylish, and completely modern.

First question: does this mean the tankini could be coming back with a vengeance? Second question: can I use this story as an excuse when my mom asks me why I haven't yet cleaned out the closet in my childhood bedroom?