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New York Times

We Were Skeptical of One-Size ‘Crinkle' Swimsuits. Here's What Changed Our Minds.

The Hunza G Pamela suit's crinkle fabric stretches to fit sizes 2-12. Hannah Frye/NYT Wirecutter Popcorn suits defy the norms of swimwear. In contrast to suits that come in sizes small, medium, and so on, popcorn suits come in one size, sometimes two. And though we refer to these suits as 'one-size-fits-all,' there are limits. It's really more like 'one-size-fits-many.' Our official popcorn pick, the Youswim Aplomb One-Piece, comes in two sizes: Stretch I, for sizes 2 to 12, and Stretch II, for sizes 14 to 24. The Hunza G Pamela suit, which is featured in the guide as a suit worth considering, comes in just one size, for sizes 2 to 12. This textured suit comes in just two sizes, yet, remarkably, it expands to fit a wide range of bodies (from size 2 to 24). It's made from an impressively stretchy, comfortable crinkle material that gently hugs your shape, but it doesn't offer much compression. We loved this textured suit with thin straps, a high-cut leg opening, and a substantial, marvelously stretchy popcorn fabric. It comes in just one size (which fits sizes 2 to 12), and it's pricier than our Youswim pick. It's also more compressive than the Youswim suit, but it offers less backside coverage. The crinkles are what make these suits work, since they hide more fabric in plain sight. When you stretch a popcorn suit, you see the tightly bound crinkles start to expand, allowing the suit to cover more surface area. And in our swim tests, these suits didn't lose their shape or snappiness; instead they maintained their compression when wet and through multiple wears. Due to their thickness and texture, these suits look quite different on the contours of the body, almost camouflaging the lumps and bumps that traditional smooth suits may highlight, Zoe said. One drawback of this crinkle fabric, though, is the slow drying time, which is something to consider for swimsuits. The Hunza G Pamela Swim in Cornflower/Navy. Marki Williams/NYT Wirecutter Also, these suits notably lack side seams. So one-size-suits can mold to fit different sizes and shapes, and the stretch of the fabric ensures the swimsuit holds its structure even without the seams. The big difference between our two picks is the fabric used. Youswim's patented fabric is called Versoform, which is made of 88% nylon and 12% elastane. Hunza G's patented Original Crinkle fabric uses 97% polyamide (an umbrella term that includes nylon and other synthetic materials) and 3% elastane. The Youswim suit's higher elastane content is probably why our testers found it more flexible than the Hunza G suit — for better or for worse, depending on one's preference. The Youswim suit isn't incredibly compressive, so those who want to feel 'held in' by their swimwear may prefer the Hunza G suit. But overall, the Youswim suit's fabric is cushiony, and Zoe described it as a 'wonderful spongey hug.' The Youswim Aplomb One-Piece in Espresso. Marki Williams/NYT Wirecutter That lack of support is also a downside for some. You'll also notice these suits lack built-in bras and cups. This design accommodates a range of bust sizes, but there is also less support in the chest area than you get with a traditional padded swimsuit. Still, one tester with a 42DD cup size found the Youswim suit surprisingly supportive. 'For being so comfortable, it does a pretty good job of basic support for the chest,' they said. Other testers found the closer-hugging, compressive fit of the Hunza G suit to be more supportive. Our top pick, the Youswim swimsuit, took the cake because of its inclusive sizing and a more-affordable price point compared with the Hunza G Pamela suit's price. We know the Youswim suit isn't exactly cheap, but in testing we didn't find more-affordable options that we liked. Zoe put some under-$50 popcorn suits to the test, but she found them to be quite deceiving. Though they had the same look as the Youswim or Hunza G suits while lying on the table, they lacked the stretch that makes the magic trick work. These cheaper options compromised on fit and quality, and that's why they didn't land in our guide. It's safe to say that we have a less-suspicious approach to popcorn suits now that we've tested them on panelists with diverse body types. We know that these suits not only fit but also flatter a vast range of body shapes and sizes, as was proved in testing and our photoshoot for the guide. While popcorn suits aren't for everyone, they do offer very unique perks: They're comfortable, they can grow with you, and they might take the size anxiety out of swimsuit shopping. Plus, if you need to have some swimsuits on hand for visitors, there's a chance these suits could fit plenty of house guests. Think Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants , swimsuit edition. This article was edited by Hannah Rimm and Maxine Builder. We tested over 50 swimsuits (so that you wouldn't have to). These one-pieces, bikinis, and rash guards — for an array of bodies and budgets — are our favorites. Sun, salt, and sand wreak havoc on your swimwear. Here's how to clean and care for your suits (and yes, you do have to clean them every time you wear 'em). Shapewear has deservedly gotten a bad rap. We were determined to find better options, and—after extensive testing—emerged with seven (actually comfortable) winners.