Best Bathing Suits For Women: Top 5 Swimwear Most Recommended By Experts

Beach season is fast approaching! Have you found the right bathing suit yet? One-piece, tankini, bikini, ruched, high-cut, low-cut… the options are plentiful, but not all are equally flattering to every body type. That’s why when StudyFinds set out to find the best bathing suits for women, we took that into consideration. Our list should have the perfect bathing suit for you!

Whether you need it for your local pool or your vacation, a flattering and fashionable bathing suit is sure to boost your confidence. Just know what to look for before you go shopping: Suits with tummy control slim down your midsection, while good support is non-negotiable for bigger busts. High cuts elongate legs, while playful details and asymmetrical designs can create curves. Did you know that three in ten adults avoid pools, partially because they’re self-conscious of what they look like in their bathing suits? That’s a shame.

Worried about finding the right size? You don’t have to be a model to rock that beach wear: “The average American woman’s waist circumference and dress size has increased and varies between a misses size 16 and 18,” says Neelam Vashi, MD, an assistant professor of dermatology at the Boston University School of Medicine. Retailers took note, and as the average waistline is increasing, so are size options — lots of shops offer plus size bathing suits!

With our selection, you’ll be excited to show yourself off! StudyFinds visited ten fashion websites and created a top-five list based on expert recommendations of the best bathing suits for women to sport this summer. If we forget any great buys, please let us know in the comments.

A woman wearing a turquoise one-piece bathing suit
A woman wearing a turquoise one-piece bathing suit (Photo by Zoran Zonde Stojanovski on Unsplash)

The List: Best Bathing Suits for Women, According to Fashion Experts

 

1. Summersalt: The Sidestroke Swimsuit

While most experts recommended brands rather than models, six out of ten experts loved the Sidestroke Swimsuit, in addition to two experts recommending Summersalt swimsuits in general. Forbes says, “Summersalt’s extensive range of swimsuits includes one-pieces, bikinis and tankinis in sizes zero to 24 with smart details that offer support and flatter your body.”

Summersalt: The Sidestroke Swimsuit
Summersalt: The Sidestroke Swimsuit

According to Oprah Daily, The Sidestroke is the “most flattering one-piece swimsuit for all body types,” as well as “glam and pretty but perfect for outdoor adventures.” Per Good Housekeeping, it “even has variations for long torsos and maternity pieces.”

“The Summersalt brand is known for killer swimsuits, so it’s no surprise that The Sidestroke is our overall winner,” writes Travel + Leisure. “The Sidestroke suit offers great compression to make you feel secure while in the water, and it comes in numerous colors and prints. It has full coverage for your backside and supports your bust completely. We love that the one-shoulder design adds a fun strappy detail.” However, reviewers note that “there are no cups or padding in the bust.”

2. Tie: Aerie AND Everlane Swimsuits

The second most highly recommended swimsuit brands were Aerie and Everlane. According to Forbes, both brands offer the best affordable swimsuits. Aerie’s Ruched Longline bikini, for instance, “is super flattering — the ruching on the high-waisted bottoms and top lend it a slimming effect that looks great on any body type. The top has adjustable straps and all of Aerie’s swimsuits offer UPF 50 sun protection,” writes Conde Nast Traveler.

Aerie's Ruched Longline bikini
Aerie’s Ruched Longline bikini top (ae.com)

Want a little more support from your two-piece? “For a flattering triangle style that offers a little more coverage than the usual,” Oprah Daily likes the Everlane The Triangle Bikini. “With a plunge front and tie-back, it’s sexy and sweet at once.”

Everlane V-Neck One-Piece in Beech
Everlane V-Neck One-Piece in Beech (everlane.com)

As for one-pieces, three of the experts recommended Everlane’s The V-Neck One-Piece. Travel + Leisure writes, “Everlane is our pick for the best one-piece for several reasons. This suit style was tested on 112 women to ensure that it is comfortable, flattering, and stays put while you’re moving around. […] The V-neck gives the piece style, while a built-in shelf bra, removable pads, and wide straps offer support.” One downside: “There’s not a lot of support for larger busts.”

3. Solid & Striped Swimsuits

Another brand with lots of recommendations is Solid & Striped. Want to turn heads at the beach or pool? “While you can still find plenty of classic bikinis and belted maillots that will never go out of style, [Solid & Striped] has a surprisingly trendy lineup this summer, from crochet cutouts to graphic prints,” says Glamour. Just keep in mind you will have to reach deep into your pockets for this fashionable brand.

Solid & Striped The Lucia One-Piece
Solid & Striped The Lucia One-Piece

“Another swimsuit brand our editors swear by is Solid and Striped,” says Conde Nast Traveler and recommends two one-pieces by the retailer, one of them being The Lucia model: “The unique ruching down the center of this one-piece looks great on every body type and is sure to stand out on the beach. The pink and orange hues scream summer in the South of France.”

For Forbes, like Summersalt, Solid & Striped has the best one-pieces. As for two-pieces, The Iris top is Travel + Leisure‘s pick for small busts: “We absolutely adore this itsy-bitsy, teenie-weenie, yellow, crocheted top bikini! The top isn’t too busy, which works well for those with smaller busts. The triangle top is crocheted and ties at the neck and back in a classic bikini top style, while the matching bottoms are also crocheted with string ties at the hips, making for a cheeky bottom.”

4. Cupshe Swimsuits

A lot more budget-friendly than number three is Cupshe, “Amazon’s bestselling swimsuit brand,” which, according to Elle, “boasts a slew of ultra-flattering swimsuits that come with an equally as gorgeous (read: affordable) price tag.”

Cupshe Plunge Halter Tummy Control One Piece Swimsuit
Cupshe Plunge Halter Tummy Control One Piece Swimsuit, via Amazon

“With tens of thousands of rave Amazon reviews, Cupshe designs swimwear that’s both affordable and trendy. Available in an impressive array of shades and patterns, our Lab pros were impressed by the flattering designs and compressive materials that feel comfy for long beach days,” writes Good Housekeeping.

If you need tummy support more than bust support, Travel + Leisure likes the Bianca Dusty Pink Plunge Halter Tummy Control One Piece Swimsuit: “This one from Cupshe is great for tummy control and has ruching around the middle for a flattering look. The plunging halter neckline is feminine, and the tie allows you to adjust the suit to the perfect fit. Removable cups provide bust support, and full bottom coverage makes you feel secure.”

5. Andie Swim

Andie Swim comes as highly recommended as Cupshe, but is less affordable. It’s an “online luxury brand that’s popular among fashion bloggers,” per Good Housekeeping, featuring “designs [that] are more minimal with solid colors only (no embellishments or ruffles).”

Andie Swim's Santorini Top
Andie Swim’s Santorini Top (andieswim.com)

Forbes states that it’s one of the best brands for bikinis, as it helps you find the perfect fit: “Direct-to-consumer swim brand Andie puts a huge focus on fit, conducting wear tests with thousands of women and offering a 12 question fit quiz to help you find your ideal size. From there, you can filter one- and two-piece suits with specific criteria, such as high bust support or long torso silhouettes, and sizes extend from XS to 3X.”

“I’ve been a fan of Andie Swim for a while now,” writes a Conde Nast Traveler reviewer.  “The brand’s suits are comfortable and don’t dig into my skin or feel too restrictive.”

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Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. StudyFinds is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations.

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