The best swimsuits for tall women: tried and tested by the You magazine fashion team who are 5'8 and over
There's always lots of talk about the horror of bikini shopping, but if you're a woman over 5 foot 8, you'll know that finding the perfect swimsuit can be far more tricky.
Squeezing a one-piece onto a torso that's any longer than average is not fun; high-cut legs become positively obscene, the straps are stretched and as for the crotch area – the less said the better.
With many high street stores from John Lewis to & Other Stories only offering their swimsuits in one standard length, this can make options for tall women very limited. In fact, bikinis are the safest option – but if you want to rock a swimsuit, where can you turn?
Sophie Dearden-Howell, You magazine's fashion director, and Sophie Hines, lifestyle and digital editor, know this struggle all too well. At 5 ft 10 and 5 ft 9 respectively, they have both been on a mission to find tall fit swimwear that actually delivers on its promise. Here are their findings – with swimsuits from the likes of Marks & Spencer, Boden and Bravissimo.
SOPHIE HINES, LIFESTYLE AND DIGITAL EDITOR TRIED…
Boden Levanzo Halter Swimsuit (Long length)
£75 Shop
When I first took this out of the packaging I was slightly horrified – a hot pink, halterneck swimsuit with ruching around the stomach just screams frumpy to me. However, I was pleasantly surprised when I tried it on, because it does like up to its 'body sculpting' claims – plus it was certainly long enough for my 5 ft 9 body.
Skybak Ursula Swimsuit (Standard)
£175 Shop
Skybak is a swimwear brand that's been specifically created for tall women (Helen, the founder, is 6ft), so I had very high hopes of this design. I would say you need to size up when choosing which size to buy (I'm at 8 on top, 10 on bottom, and the small was much too small on me). However, the medium was perfect, and it's nice to have a belted swimsuit where the belt actually falls on my waist, rather than the whole thing feeling completely stretched out of proportion. The quality is excellent too.
M&S Floral Shirred Bandeau Swimsuit (Long)
£35 Shop
While this swimsuit gains points for having detachable, adjustable straps – so you can wear it as a bandeau if you wish, and can tweak the length of the straps to fit your shoulders – it loses a few for being a tad granny-ish in the print. I do quite like the shirred effect, but I'm not sure that overall it was doing much for my figure.
Boden Lefkada Square Neck Swimsuit (Long)
£79 Shop
It was probably a mistake trying this swimsuit on for the first time after eating my dinner; the horizontal stripes over the stomach are really not your friend when bloated. The fit was good but overall I found the print a bit busy and less flattering than I expected. I have one of Boden's Santorini swimsuits in the longer length and like that much more.
M&S Printed Padded One Shoulder Swimsuit (Long)
£35 Shop
I absolutely adore this swimsuit; it was my favourite of all the designs. The one-shoulder design is extremely flattering, the length was perfect and the tropical print is the stuff of holiday dreams.
Next Steel Blue Shaping Tummy Control Bandeau Swimsuit (Standard length)
£35 Shop
I should preface this with the fact that 90% of my height is in my torso. Having tried on a very short-bodied swimsuit from a leading high street brand earlier this summer, I was pleasantly surprised as I peeled this costume up my torso. It easily lifted up over my larger bust and my 5ft 10 frame. The ruching is super flattering and I felt comfortable and flattered all in one.
ASOS Nina knot swimsuit in chocolate brown (Tall)
£32 Shop
I was nervous to try this one on, as swimsuits with cut outs are so often designed in the completely wrong proportions for my body and I end up with my hips pouring out of areas that I'm sure were meant for my much narrower waist! This was perfect and I felt fabulous in it, the tall cut meant everything sat where it is meant to and was actually hugely flattering, a relief on a sunny afternoon.
Bravissimo Lake Como Swimsuit (Standard)
£79 Shop
I was really excited about this one but I felt a tiny bit frumpy, the legs were cut very low and the bra shape felt ageing. I will caveat that with the fact that the length was amazing and the design is beautiful; if you are looking for more coverage it is exactly that and you will not be at risk of accidentally exposing yourself on a busy beach this summer.
Away That Day Cannes One Piece (Standard)
£225 Shop
This was my absolute favourite, I felt amazing in it. It is quite high cut so it is not for the faint of heart with regards to bottom coverage. The length is perfection though and you do not feel like you are being used as a vessel to stretch fabric. The straps are adjustable giving freedom in where you would like it to sit and the waist cinching design is so flattering. An investment for sure but it is sustainable and above everything else, lined!
4th and Reckless Abstract Print High Leg Bikini
£46 Shop
I know this piece is about swimsuits, but I have been on the hunt for a high cut flattering bikini for years and the bottoms are never long enough (which means the waist band intended to sit on your waist sits on your hips, digging in and giving you a wedgie!) I recently treated myself to this, convinced it would be another disaster I tried it on and was thrilled. It was cut to perfection on my very tall frame and it was so flattering on my tummy and legs. Win-win.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
2 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
The stars of the much-loved Wittering Whitehalls podcast on how a hearing check has changed their relationship
Michael and Hilary Whitehall have been married for 39 years and – as anyone who has listened to their podcast, The Wittering Whitehalls, knows – they love to disagree. As the parents of stand-up comedian Jack Whitehall, the former talent agent (Michael) and actor (Hilary) have found new later-in-life careers as podcasters, loved both for their amusing insights and for their gentle bickering. Which is probably why they didn't notice at first that Michael's hearing was causing some frustrations. 'I genuinely do think that our arguing has got worse in recent years,' admits Hilary. 'And yes, I would argue that some of it is perhaps to do with hearing loss, because it's quite a tricky subject to navigate.' Mishaps and misunderstandings It wasn't until Michael, 85, went to Specsavers for a hearing check that he was told that he had good hearing for his age but was struggling with consonant sounds. 'We have misunderstandings on an hourly basis,' laughs Hilary. 'Just now I said: 'I'm going to brush my hair' and Michael said: 'Do you have time to wash your hair?'. 'We live in a house which has got six flights of stairs, so there is a lot of shouting up and down the stairs. 'And then there's lots of me losing my temper and stomping up the stairs... because he hasn't caught what I said!' Michael complained actors were mumbling through every film... then he realised maybe it wasn't the standard of modern acting that was the problem. It was the same at the theatre. 'I'd say: 'The trouble with that actor is they don't train them any more, he just mumbles and mumbles'. 'But I'm not going to say that any more of course!' Finding what's needed Those small issues with hearing caused their fair share of amusing anecdotes, as well as a few everyday irritations. 'What really annoys Michael about me is that I come into a room and immediately turn the sound on the television down,' says Hilary. 'And then he comes in and immediately turns it up, so we're constantly battling with each other over the remote control. 'And of course there is an element (we've been married almost 40 years) of 'Is it selective hearing?',' laughs Hilary. 'Is my voice just a noise or is he actually not hearing me?' How a hearing check helped Neither could believe how easy the hearing check was, and they were immediately put at ease by the hearing expert. 'She was so reassuring, the whole thing was painless,' says Hilary. 'The hearing expert at Specsavers said, actually your [Michael's] hearing is pretty good for your age, a little bit of upper range hearing loss, but what you're missing is the consonants. 'You're hearing an approximation of what is being said and it's very interesting to have that pointed out to you by an expert, because that made me more understanding.' For Michael, the solution was as straightforward as the hearing check. He got two hearing devices, one for each ear. They were small and discreet and even matched to his hair colour. Now, Michael can simply pop them in and use them when he feels the need. 'The last time I saw what was then known as a hearing aid was with my grandfather. He had a whole apparatus with wires and a crackling box on the front, which he kept hitting all the time while saying, 'Michael, speak up!'. 'I imagined there had been an improvement, but hadn't realised it had improved quite to the extent it has – where you can hardly see them.' Hilary adds: 'At a wedding we went to recently nobody knew that he had them in; they are beautifully designed and very discreet.' Spreading the word The couple are now working with Specsavers to help encourage others to take action. Hilary explains: 'Michael always says that we're all happy to go and have a dental check, a sight check, but the one thing we don't do is have a hearing check, because there is a stigma about hearing loss. 'But I would say to anybody: go for a hearing check: they're very quick, very efficient and very accurate.' Couples say 'What?' more often than 'I love you' In romantic relationships, research for Specsavers found saying 'What?' is more common than 'I love you' for couples aged 55+*. Almost half (46 per cent) of Britons had bickered with a partner due to not hearing properly; 36 per cent said it happened weekly. And 15 per cent were misunderstood by their partner at least once a day. Hearing loss can impact how we experience and enjoy life, and our relationships with loved ones. It's what Michael and Hilary found, with small misunderstandings and irritations as a result of Michael's hearing loss. But Specsavers makes it easy to keep track of your hearing health, with free hearing checks in store, expert advice and a wide range of hearing devices to suit individual needs and lifestyles. How to book your check Simply book online at and choose your local store, or call them direct. Your hearing expert will ask some easy health-related questions, use a small camera to examine the health of your ear and will then play sounds at different pitches through headphones to check your hearing. Based on your results, the Specsavers hearing experts can then make recommendations and they'll help you find the best solution for you. Symptoms to look out for Changes to hearing can happen gradually, so hearing experts recommend booking a check if you're struggling to listen to conversations or the television, if speaking on the phone is difficult, or if you feel like you have to ask people to repeat conversations in groups can be challenging, and concentrating on listening can leave you feeling stressed or tired. There is no need to be embarrassed. Earlier intervention can actually mean you have a better chance of managing and improving your hearing. And with today's hearing devices connected to phones and even linked to appliances at home, they can be easier and more discreet to manage than ever before.
Telegraph
11 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Ulrika Jonsson: My wrinkles shouldn't matter
Ulrika Jonsson has said her wrinkles should not matter after she was trolled for not wearing make-up. The 57-year-old hit back at 'vindictive and hurtful' online criticism of her appearance on a recent podcast and admitted that it made her feel 'awful'. The Swedish-born television personality said she was kind and intelligent and the state of her ageing skin 'should be of no consequence'. She received abuse after speaking on Matthew Spencer's Untapped podcast earlier this month, where she discussed her alcoholism and achieving more than a year of sobriety. Jonsson did not wear makeup for the interview, which was also being filmed, resulting in her social media being 'flooded with hurtful comments' about how she looked when it was released. Comments included being called a 'hag', that she had 'let herself go' or even 'gone to seed', while others told her to put make-up back on. Writing in the Sunday Times about the backlash she suffered, she said her heart 'started hurting' as a result of the 'nasty' messages she received while having such a 'vital' conversation. She wrote: 'I felt an uneasy sensation in my entire body. It made me feel awful.' Jonsson admitted that she had previously tried both Botox and filler but now she wants to 'look [her] age'. 'I've fought hard against the whole perception of women being solely about beauty and image,' she continued. 'I'm a practical woman and I come with a wealth of experience, kindness and intelligence. 'The fact that I now have wrinkles, lines and jowls should be of no consequence.' 'Getting older is a privilege' Jonsson said she suffered from eczema as a youngster, meaning the idea of wearing makeup as she got older was 'not a priority'. She credited Pamela Anderson, who is the same age as her, for being the driving force of a growing number of women who are going au naturel and leaving makeup altogether. 'I know what the alternative to ageing is and, with my newfound sobriety, serenity and inner peace, I don't want to go there right now,' Jonsson added. 'Getting older is a privilege, even though for some nasty, cruel individuals, that's conditional upon us girls keeping our make-up on and staying wrinkle-free.'
Telegraph
12 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Sir Keir should not emulate Hugh Grant
His feet had barely touched British soil before Donald Trump started swinging his big stick. 'You better get your act together or you're not going to have Europe anymore,' he lambasted his Western allies after arriving in Scotland to visit his golf courses (not for the 47th president, concerns about second jobs). 'You've got to stop this horrible invasion that is happening to Europe, many countries in Europe… this immigration is killing Europe.' Setting aside the rights and wrongs of British immigration policy, our beleaguered Prime Minister would be forgiven for feeling a little peeved. What other American president would have presumed to blend personal and state business so brazenly and deliver such insulting rhetoric into the bargain? Amid social unrest in Epping, Reform on the march and small boats arrivals up by a staggering 50 per cent, immigration is Sir Keir's Achilles' heel. With his approval ratings at rock bottom, the last thing he needed was a punishment beating from Trump. Certainly, Sir Keir's backbenchers will be begging him to stand up to the Donald, if only to appease their voters in places like Ashton-under-Lyne, where many may be tempted by the Corbyn-Sultana cult or a Gaza Independent at the next election. Did Sir Sadiq Khan recommend that the Prime Minister reprise the 20ft Trump 'baby blimp' that he authorised to be flown above Parliament during the presidential visit of 2018? I wouldn't be surprised. And he wouldn't have been the only one. In the Left-wing mind, the 2003 romantic comedy Love Actually looms disproportionately large. This is for the sake of one scene alone. In it, Hugh Grant – whom most progressives, particularly those of a Liberal Democrat persuasion, wish was the prime minister in real life – upbraids the American president at a press conference. 'I fear that this has become a bad relationship; a relationship based on the president taking exactly what he wants and casually ignoring all those things that really matter to Britain,' Grant lectures his opposite number, played by Billy Bob Thornton. 'We may be a small country, but we're a great one, too… and a friend who bullies us is no longer a friend. And since bullies only respond to strength, from now onward I will be prepared to be much stronger. And the president should be prepared for that.' Forgive me for quoting that Richard Curtis idiocy at such length. But that is precisely what Guardianista-in-chief Polly Toynbee did in a petulant little column before Sir Keir's visit to the White House in February, under the screaming headline: 'Starmer has the backing of Britons to stand up to Trumpism.' I rest my case. But does he? When it comes to immigration, the opposite would appear to be the case. Although 55 per cent of Labour voters want the numbers to stay the same or go up, polls show that most of the population wishes them very much reduced, with 32 per cent viewing immigration as a 'bad' or 'very bad' thing. Small boats get people's backs up even more. For all his braggadocio and swagger, the sorry truth is that on this issue, Donald Trump speaks for a greater number of Britons than our own prime minister. For this reason, Sir Keir would be best advised to tell his backbenchers to pipe down. Trump's big stick has caused the PM enough pain already. Tweaking the orange tail might play well to certain parts of the gallery but after a year of economic mismanagement, we are hardly able to withstand the tariffs with which Trump would surely retaliate. Whatever Hugh Grant may think.
