18 hours ago
Where to find the best swimwear for your body shape – before it all sells out
I'd wager that very few people actually enjoy shopping for swimwear. It's not just wriggling into it in a cramped changing room, the harsh light doing no favours to sun-deprived skin and cellulite you didn't know you had, the unnecessarily complicated straps, and – once a style is inevitably vetoed – having to do it all over again with another. It's the reason so many of us stop the search once we find something merely adequate, then cling onto it like a life raft until the elastic starts to fray.
Great swimwear is hard to find. Or expensive. Or both. But it's worth putting in the legwork, because even feeling a little bit more confident when you're wearing next to nothing has the potential to improve the whole holiday.
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That's assuming you can get your hands on it. Woe betide the woman who starts her swimsuit search the week schools break up. By that point in the season, you're too late. That style you clocked as a strong contender in an Instagram ad three weeks ago has now sold out in every size and colour.
No, you need to be swift. As soon as the high summer collections arrive at your go-to stores, ideally. This is where those 'new in' marketing emails are really useful – a sign that it's time to drop everything and shop.
Of course, it helps to have some kind of idea of what you want, because the variety of swimwear on offer is as varied as our body shapes. For every woman who can't bear the high-cut leg trend, there's another who will wear nothing else. Underwires, straps, sun protection, not to mention the eternal bikini vs one-piece debate, all factor in the decision-making process.
As does cost. Unless you are a teenage beanpole, most cheap swimwear is inevitably disappointing (there are some exceptions at M&S and John Lewis). It's one category in which you really do get bang for your buck, so if you can afford it, it's worth stretching the budget – not necessarily to £400 Eres – but something in the £60-£200 bracket will retain its colour and shape for longer, as well as being more thoughtfully and sustainably designed.
And then there's the fun factor – that crucial appeal which makes you twice as excited to get into the water. Tastes and trends do change with time, so don't feel guilty for wanting something new even though you already have a black one-piece that's perfectly good.
Clara Blocman, founder of French swimwear brand Ysé, recommends printed swimwear for this summer: 'Stripes, gingham, leopard print,' she says. 'These are, without a doubt, my favourites for a more original swimsuit with that quintessential French je-ne-sais-quoi.'
At Hunza G, the British brand beloved for its crinkle stretch fabric, it's the Faye one-piece, with white piping at the neckline and leg that keeps selling out. 'We have restocked [the cornflower blue] colourway three times this season – and the buy is not small,' says co-owner and creative director Georgiana Huddart. Her own go-to is the thin-strapped Pamela one-piece – and it is proof that a bright colour can be just as timeless as a neutral. 'I wear it in bubblegum pink year after year,' she adds.
Only you know your particular requirements, and buying swimwear is always a trial and error process – there's no avoiding it. I can offer a steer based on the most common swimwear challenges though, and the brands which deliver them best.
For tummy control
Nobody needs a tummy-control swimsuit as much as they think they do, but there are a lot of them around, so they clearly do as much for wearers' confidence as they do waist-whittling. John Lewis has a strong offering this season, with Australian brand Sea Level and Manchester-based South Beach. M&S even has tummy-control bikini bottoms (alas, sold out). Don't discount swimwear that doesn't have the 'control' label attached to it though – Away That Day swimsuits are designed to hug and contour the body in the most flattering way, and have a really elevated, expensive look to them too.
For DD+ cup sizes
Triangle bikinis and one-size-fits-all styles are fine unless you happen to be over a DD-cup, which can require a little scaffolding if you plan on doing something more than poolside posing. Luckily the offering has never been stronger for the generously endowed, but they can sell out fast if you're not quick off the mark. Miss Mandalay caters to larger cup sizes without straying into frumpy territory, which any swimwear or bra designer will tell you is very hard indeed. Panache has a scalloped style that looks really elegant, and Bravissimo's Copacabana design could just about pass for Missoni from a distance.
More coverage
For those of you fed up with all the uber-high legs and barely-there bikini tops out there, we see you. In fact, the industry sees you, because there are a number of brands offering swimwear with all of the aesthetic appeal, but with more coverage. You can have fun with it too, like the sailor style one-pieces at Seabass or Miraclesuit's draped iterations.
For sport
Just because you mean business doesn't mean you need to sacrifice on style. Lots of brands are competing for the regular swimmer's custom – those doing it best offer some support and compression, like a decent sports bra, perhaps a front zip for easy changing. A flattering cut is also key and, if you aren't a black or navy person, something in a tasteful palette (Amsterdam-based Wallien is brilliant for this). British brands Davy J and Finisterre should be on your radar too.
For extended sizing
It used to be that extended-sizing swimwear was limited to a single black shroud, hidden at the very back of the store. Then the fast fashion brands tapped into the opportunity, which was brilliant, unless you prefer your clothing to be of a higher quality and made to last. Today the landscape is much more appealing – there's genuinely something for every taste and body shape. Chelsea Peers goes up to a size 24 and Boden goes up to a 20. For something more special, Marina Rinaldi does lovely bikinis – it's also worth scouring the DD+ offering as the sizing is usually broad with a good degree of support and structure.
For post-mastectomy
The offering for mastectomy-friendly swimwear remains largely disappointing, so those that do it – and do it in a way that makes the wearer feel like their best self – deserve real praise. M&S, of course, is always reliable here, although its post-surgery offering is only available in store. Hunza G gets another mention because it's brilliant to see such a fashion favourite deliver this kind of inclusivity.
For a long torso
If you happen to be tall, or have a longer than average torso, one-pieces can be uncomfortable if they're not proportioned correctly. There are some brilliant longer iterations around if you know where to look, including a long torso-specific swimwear brand Skybak. Summersalt's offering is broad and very chic, and preppy American favourite has a strong and inclusive offering.
The best of the rest
If you just want a really great new piece of swimwear that is flattering, current and fun, these are the ones on the fashion desk radar currently.
