The best swimsuits for women over 50, according to style experts

Yahoo

26-02-2025

Half the fun of a winter getaway to someplace warm is getting to wear a bathing suit that makes you feel comfortable and confident. But something happens to many women when at the age of 50: The number of swimsuit options we feel confident in shrinks. If you're looking for a swimsuit that offers support without sacrificing style, you've come to the right place.
We tapped three fashion experts to get the scoop on what are the most figure-flattering and fashion-forward options of the season. While over 50 style blogger Dana Marie believes the best swimsuits are 'whatever you feel most comfortable in,' she also recommends reaching for 'one-pieces and high cut bikinis that provide support and have ruching details.' Style expert Joseph Katz told Yahoo Style, 'The most popular swimsuits when we get to 50 and above tend to lean to the one piece as it is a little more forgiving as it covers some areas that most women like to have coverage over. Other details to keep an eye out for are built-in underwire for support, mesh for smoothing purposes, sun-protective fabric and of course ruching.
We've rounded up about a dozen of the best swimsuits for women over the age of 50. We did the hard work of combing through customer reviews and consulting with style experts. These top picks are flattering, age-appropriate and fashionable. And none of them will break the bank.
Update, Feb. 26, 2025: We checked all product prices and availability and added two new suits to the list, the Smismivo Tummy Control halter and Ai'mage halter. Our number one pick for the best swimsuit for women over 50 remains unchanged.
Material: The secret to finding the most flattering style? "Focus on support and shaping," said Rassi, who added: "Look for a fabric that has a good stretch but is also sturdy enough to sculpt. You want to ensure that over time, the swimsuit will retain its shape — no saggy bottoms wanted." Rassi believes the best fabric for swimwear is a nylon blend: "It's super elastic and durable and much softer than polyester." Another detail she always looks at is the leg opening of the swimsuit bottoms. "Sometimes the seams can be stiff and cut into your legs, creating unflattering lines. You want to make sure the suit has a good amount of stretch around the seams." Both Rassi and Katz recommend a suit with built-in underwire. "A one- or two-piece style with an underwire top — think a balconette shape — gives the suit a great visual detail while providing support,' said Rassi. Added Katz, "Underwire is great because you don't have to worry about support issues and it gives a clean, built-in-sexy look." Other details to keep an eye out for are built-in mesh for smoothing purposes, sun-protective fabric and, of course, ruching. According to Katz, "ruching is a fabric-gathering detail that is terrific because it smooths edges and enhances natural curves."
Design features: While Dana Marie believes the best swimsuits are "whatever you feel most comfortable in," she also recommends reaching for "one-pieces and high-cut bikinis that provide support and have ruching details." A higher cut elongates the legs, and ruching is like magic, camouflaging tummy troubles and more. Katz, however, isn't jumping on the two-piece train, telling Yahoo Life: "The most popular swimsuits when we get to 50 and above tend to be one-pieces — they're a little more forgiving as they cover the areas most women want [to hide]." But that doesn't mean your maillot has to be basic! "The one-piece swimsuit has evolved, and it is not the dated look and feel we saw years back. Today the one-piece swimsuit is built to look sexy, show off curves or add definition in places women need them and cover the areas women don't want to show," he added.
Silhouette: "One-piece swimsuits, long-sleeve and retro styles (specifically high-waist bottoms) are among the most popular," Rassi said. "According to Afterpay data, sales for retro styles are up 211% year-over-year [YOY], with long-sleeve styles following suit, up 159% YOY." Katz is partial to one-shoulder suits, as they "show a bit more but also give great coverage." He added that "it's not a typical look in swimwear, so you will stand out a bit, in a good way." Look for options that represent your personal style — and have fun! Experiment with cutout details, splashy prints, sheer panels, color blocking and sparkles.
The Pique shaping suit by Spanx features a power mesh that offers shaping all over for a snatched look that doesn't make you feel constricted. Readers love this one-piece suit's plunging neckline.
The Cupshe Tummy Control Swimsuit is another one-piece suit that manages to offer full coverage without skimping on style. A sexy vibe with tummy control? Yep, and it comes in 19 colors.
The top-rated Hilor swimsuit has incredible tummy control and a flattering one-shoulder cut with a fun frill. Readers love that the suit offers the support of a sports bra without the need for restrictive underwire, and postpartum moms love its slimming silhouette.
Hilor offers a second one-piece suit with a decorative crisscross neckline mirrored in the waist detail. This suit also keeps everything in place, and readers say it's particularly good for women with larger busts.
The Tempt Me swimsuit is an interesting take on a two-piece suit. It comes with a flowing top and boy shorts for a slimming combo that keeps you fully covered, but with all the benefits of two-piece suits. Readers love how the shorts don't feel tight and restrictive like typical bathing suit bottoms, while still offering tummy control.
The B2prity One-Piece Swimsuit comes in 32 colors, including a two-tone color combo with a patterned bust and solid-color torso. Readers love the design and say it holds their tummies in without making it hard to breathe, and the V-neck offers a flirty touch.
The most telling sign of a good swimsuit is the material. Good material will be thicker and won't show skin when stretched. High-quality material will also feel smoother and silkier to the touch, while poor-quality swimsuits can have a plastic or rough feel.
Identify your body type and pick a swimsuit design that you think fits your body best. You can always add on accessories like a cover-up, a sarong or a romper if you want more coverage. Also, consider your swim style — ruffles or skorts work for leisure but not athletic swims. Finally, if you prefer board shorts, bra tops or short sleeves on your swimsuits, go with what makes you feel the most comfortable above all else.
Yes, it's important to wash your swimsuit after every use. You don't want to be sitting in day-old chlorine or dried ocean water the next time you pull your suit on. If you're worried about damaging the material, at least make sure to rinse off any sand or excess sunscreen before your next use.
Most swimsuits can be washed on a delicate cycle. If you're going to throw your swimsuit in the washing machine, make sure you remove any cups from your bikini tops beforehand and use a mesh bag so they don't snag on other items in your wash. For a gentler approach to cleaning your swimsuits, hand-wash them in the sink.
Joseph Katz, style expert
Dana Marie, over-50 style influencer
Zanna Roberts Rassi, Afterpay brand ambassador
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.