Best swimsuits for women: find swimming costumes and tankinis for all shapes and sizes
On the hunt for the perfect one-piece? We’ve got the best, most flattering swimsuits for all body types and budgets, as recommended by Mumsnetters.
By Rebecca Roberts | Last updated Feb 7, 2024
Finding the best swimsuit can be a daunting task. Endless options, confusing sizing, and chilly changing rooms can turn the experience into an overwhelming ordeal. But fear not! Never ones to shy away from a challenge, we’re taking the stress out of swimsuit shopping.
As firm believers that there’s a swimsuit to suit everyone - no matter your size, shape or budget - we’ve hunted high and low for the swimming costumes that are worth investing in this year. Drawing on the collective wisdom of thousands of Mumsnetters, we've meticulously narrowed down our selection to bring you the crème de la crème of swimsuit brands.
We understand that each individual has unique preferences and needs. That's why our handpicked range encompasses a diverse array of styles, cuts, and designs, ensuring there's something for everybody. Whether you're seeking unparalleled comfort, flattering silhouettes, or trendsetting aesthetics, we've got you covered.
If you're in need of other holiday wardrobe essentials, check out our guides to the best beach cover-ups, the best plus-size swimwear and the best beach bags.
Time to dive in: here are the best swimsuits to buy this year.
At a glance: best swimsuits for women
Overall best swimsuit: Boden Santorini Swimsuit, £65
Best budget swimsuit: TU Black Swimsuit with Tummy Control, £16
Most flattering swimsuit: Derssity One-Piece Swimsuit, £21
Best sporty swimsuit: Arena Lightech Swimsuit, £19
Best swimsuit for a pool party: Ann Summers Milan Swimsuit, £12
Best patterned swimsuit: Batoko Narwhal Swimsuit, £60
Best bikini: Ann Summers Riviera Underwired Bikini Top (£15) and Bottoms (£9)
Three different colours available
Silicone tape and boning for maximum support
Lightly padded fixed cups for a smooth finish
Some buyers say that it is long in length
Sizes: 6 to 20 | Colours: French navy, black, french navy/ivory stripe | Materials: Polyamide, elastane, polyester | Washing instructions: Machine washable
This stylish swimming costume from Boden is our pick for best overall swimsuit. Mumsnetters love the great quality fabric and subtle scaffolding underneath. The Santorini has lightly padded cups, a body-sculpting lining and a hidden support shelf under the boobs. What’s more, it holds its shape and the colours will stay bright all summer long. The straight neckline and halter-neck fastening are supremely flattering, and it’s available in eye-catching colour block, chic stripes, French navy and classic black.
Classic design
Medium tummy control for a flattering shape
The bust is low cut compared to other options
Sizes: 6 to 20 | Colours: French navy, black, french navy/ivory stripe | Materials: Polyamide, elastane, polyester | Washing instructions: Machine washable
This classic swimsuit by Tu is designed to make a lasting impression as it effortlessly combines style and functionality. Crafted with medium tummy control, it’s your secret weapon for a flattering silhouette, no matter the occasion. Whether you’re lounging on the beach or gliding through the pool, this swimsuit is a versatile choice. Pair it with a floppy hat and pair of shades to complete your holiday-ready ensemble, or stick on a pair of white shorts for a quick lunchtime outfit that’s still comfy in the sunshine.
Adjustable and cross-strap back ties
Soft fixed bra for shape and support
Tummy control
High-leg cut
Sizes: S to XL | Colours: 13 colours available | Materials: Polyamide, elastane, polyester
The plunging neckline together with clever ruching make this tummy-control swimsuit from Derssity supremely flattering, whatever your body shape. The wireless bust has adjustable crossover back straps, and a soft fixed bra for subtle support. It’s cut high on the leg but has plenty of bum and back coverage, so you’ll feel secure and supported whether you’re in the pool or at the beach.
Lightweight fabric
Built to withstand all conditions
High cut at the front
Not a lot of sizes available
Sizes: 26 to 46 | Colours: Eight colours available | Washing instructions: Machine washable
If you’re serious about swimming, Arena swimsuits are built to withstand all conditions. They keep their colour and shape with regular exposure to chlorine, and are made of lightweight fabric that moves easily with your body. This Lightech swimsuit is cut high at the front, so there are no worries about escaping boobs while you do your laps.
Adjustable and detachable shoulder straps
Cut out detail on the back
Bikini bum coverage
Eco-friendly
The cups aren’t padded
Sizes: 8 to 18 | Colours: Black | Material: 80% recycled Nylon
Crafted from recycled materials, this swimsuit is designed to make a statement with its captivating corset-style lace-up detail running down the front. Versatility meets comfort with adjustable and detachable shoulder straps, allowing you to embrace a strapless lock or customised fit to your liking. The non-padded cups provide a natural silhouette, while the hardware accents on the apex and waistband add a touch of glamour that’s perfect for a poolside party.
Fully lined
Excellent bust support and coverage
Designed to fit a variety of body shapes and lengths
Digitally printed design may wear over time
Sizes: XS to 3XL | Colours: Blue, narwhal print | Material: Polyester, elastane
How adorable is this? If you’re looking for a statement cossie, Batoko is a treasure trove of bright and unusual patterns - from seals to floral prints and lobsters to leopard print. Made from recycled plastic, the British-based company intercepts rubbish on its way to landfill, and turns it into great quality swimwear. Each swimming costume is double lined and supportive, without the need for shaped cups, wiring or shelves.
Ann Summers Riviera Underwired Bikini Top and Bottoms, £48
Fully lined
Excellent bust support and coverage
Designed to fit a variety of body shapes and lengths
Digitally printed design may wear over time
Top sizes: 30A to 44H | Bottom sizes: 8 to 24 | Colours: White, pink | Material: Polyamide, elastane, polyester
Experience superior support and a flawless shape with the fully lined underwired cups, ensuring a secure and confident fit. The gold hardware detailing adds a touch of opulence on the top and bikini bottoms, elevating your beach look to new heights. Embrace a hint of allure with the cheeky cut-out detail at the front, exuding a subtle sense of playfulness. The adjustable straps on the Riviera top allow for a personalised and comfortable fit, ensuring you can enjoy your time in the sun without any worries. Rest assured, all hardware on this Riviera swimsuit is heat resistant, providing durability and peace of mind.
Fully lined
UPF 50 fabric
Lycra material resists breakdown from chlorine, sunscreen and heat
Hand wash only
Sizes: 8 to 20 | Colours: Deep sea/white media stripe | Material: Nylon, Lycra, polyester, elastane
With three body fits and a loyal Mumsnet fanbase, Lands’ End’s Tugless bathing suits are a real crowd pleaser. The secret to its success is the Lycra Xtra Life elastane in the fabric, which resists chlorine damage and keeps its shape for up to 10 times longer than other costumes. The fit is comfortable, practical and classic, with no bells and whistles. It’s got great bum coverage and, like the name suggests, it doesn’t budge.
Fully lined
UPF 50 fabric
Removable padded bra and adjustable tie back
Hand wash only
Sizes: 8 to 20 | Colours: Six available to choose from | Material: Nylon, Spandex, polyester
Swimming is one of the best forms of exercise while you’re pregnant, and this maternity swimsuit from Summer Mae will keep you looking stylish, whichever trimester you’re in. It features as our number one pick in our roundup of best maternity swimsuits to invest in. The delicate, frilled straps are deceptively supportive, and the cute tie-back is great for adjusting the fit as your body changes. Removable cups and ruched sides keep this swimming costume comfortable and flattering, and it comes in four different colours.
Fits true to size
Built-in bust support, including under-bust elastic
Zip back for getting on/off easily
Quite an expensive option compared to others
Sizes: 8 to 24 | Colours: Six available to choose from | Material: Nylon, Spandex, polyester
Deakin & Blue’s elegant range of swimsuits are a real hit with Mumsnetters. Each swimsuit is available in three body fits, based on bra size - the Hepburn, the Monroe and the Hendricks. This long-sleeved style is perfect if you prefer to cover your arms, or want to go for a surfer look. Featuring a double lining and smart paneling, it fits like a glove and has an extra long back zip for easy changing.
Underwired with fully adjustable, non-slip straps
Matching range of bikini tops and briefs
Tie fastening
Hand wash only
Sizes: 30DD to 40FF | Colours: Pink, black, blue | Material: Nylon, elastane
Tankinis are brilliant for getting just the right fit top and bottom, and this one from Curvy Kate is blessed with underwire support and fully adjustable, non-slip straps. Fitting like a proper, unpadded bra, it’s a godsend for the big of boob, and stands up to regular pool swimming. Mumsnetters recommend ordering a few sizes to figure out a perfect fit.
How to buy the right swimsuit for your body type
Just like with clothes, it’s important to find a swimsuit or swimwear collection that you feel like yourself in. Go for what makes you feel comfortable. If there are parts of your body you feel less confident about, look for a swimming costume that offers support or coverage in these areas.
What’s the most flattering type of swimsuit to wear?
When you feel confident, you naturally look your best. The most flattering swimsuit is a swimsuit you feel good in.
Do you need different swimsuits for different activities?
Not necessarily, but if you’re a regular pool swimmer you’ll want a practical swimsuit that’s resistant to chlorine damage - like the Arena LighTech or Lands’ End Tugless. For holidays you might want a more stylish swimsuit that can double up as a top, like one from Batoko or the Boden Santorini.
What’s the best swimsuit to buy?
Boden’s Santorini swimsuit is the top swimsuit to buy according to Mumsnet users - it ticks all the boxes for style, quality and practicality.
How we chose our recommendations
Recommendations from real Mumsnet users
Mumsnetters have certainly put swimwear brands through their paces when dressing up for nights out and special events, with many Mumsnet users sharing experiences (both good and bad) of the swimwear they’ve personally tried and tested.
First up, we sought out the trusted opinions of Mumsnet users to get their feedback on their favourite swimwear, as well as the brands that they have tried, rated, and would recommend to their friends.
We also looked out for any negative reviews, where Mumsetters highlighted products that they felt were poor quality, ineffective, or simply didn’t fit.
Expert opinions
We then cross-checked our recommendations with the swimwear praised by top stylists, fashion industry experts, and tastemakers, to ensure we were bringing you the best swimsuits that are rated across the board.
Authentic consumer reviews
Finally, to bring you our definitive list of the best swimwear, we thoroughly investigated genuine, in-depth customer reviews on retailer sites such as Amazon and Ann Summers and independent sites to get broader consumer experiences regarding the products on our shortlist.
Why you should trust us
We work hard to provide honest and independent advice you can trust and we spend hours scouring the Mumsnet forums and online bestseller lists to find products that real parents rate.
Transparency is really important to us and that's why we're always upfront about where we find our recommendations. We write about products that we feel offer the best value to most parents – the ones that our users would recommend to their own friends and family.
About the author
Rebecca Roberts is a writer, editor, and content marketing expert hailing from Leeds. Here at Mumsnet, she commissions, writes, and edits to bring parents content designed to make life easier. After falling pregnant with DC2 when her first was just six months old, Rebecca knows all too well how difficult it can be to find a swimsuit that suits her figure. That’s why, when on the hunt for the best condom for you, you can trust her experience and advice when it comes to finding the right ones.
Beyond her role as an editor here at Mumsnet, Rebecca can be found balancing life as a working mum of two toddlers and when she’s not at her desk, you’ll likely find her at a local playgroup, in a nearby coffee shop, or walking the dog up and down country lanes.