Found: Proof That Not All One-Piece Bathing Suits Are Boring

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There's never a wrong time to go swimsuit shopping. Whether you're daydreaming about your next tropical vacation on Pinterest, have an upcoming tropical wedding to attend (in that case check out the best beach wedding guest dresses!), or are fortunate enough to have a pool in your backyard, finding a stylish and flattering swimsuit can be challenging. When you finally come across one you truly love, it's crucial to seize the opportunity and snag it immediately.

Best one-piece swimsuits

One style you should always have in your swim drawer is a fun, classic one-piece swimsuit. They offer extra coverage and support, and sometimes they can even double as a bodysuit you can pair with jeans or a cute skirt (a great tip if you're trying to pack light for a trip!).

Before you pack your sunscreen and head off to the water, though, here's what to know before buying your dream one-piece.

What to consider

If you're currently shopping for one-piece swimsuits, here's what to keep in mind:

Material

When it comes to material, senior digital marketing specialist at SwimOutlet and former collegiate swimmer at UC San Diego Charlotte Meier says it depends on whether you're looking for a stylish option or something for training. "When looking for a one-piece training swimsuit, you want to find a material that is comfortable and durable for the laps you’ll be swimming," Meier says. "There are many chlorine-proof materials on the market like Sporti’s 'HydroLast,' JOLYN’s 'Foreverever,' Speedo’s 'Endurance+', Nike’s 'HydraStrong,' and others that hold their shape and color swim after swim. Meier says these swimsuits, typically made with a blend of polyester and PBT, hold up really well to chlorine, salt water, perspiration, sunscreen and other elements.

When it comes to a swimsuit for comfort and fashion, Meier says you have a lot more flexibility when it comes to fabrics. She personally recommends checking out sustainable options. "A lot of swimwear companies are getting more serious about their environmental initiatives—so if [the materials] have 'recycled' in front of them, don’t be afraid to check it out." Personal stylist at Holland & Bloom Style Co. Maddy Pelster also recommends checking out nylon and elastane, as these both give swimsuits the perfect stretch and have great UV protection. Finally, if you're looking for something with tummy control, Meier recommends checking out power mesh or a fabric with a high spandex content.

Design/color

The design of your swimsuit is pretty much up to you if you're wearing it for style. "There are V-neck, scoop neck, high neck, square neck, tank, and other options that fit a variety of different body shapes and sizes," Meier says. "For back styles, there is V-back, scoop back, H-back, tie-back, and more." To avoid tan lines, Meier says that a strapless one-piece could be solid option. When it comes to design, you'll also want to take note of the swimsuit's hip height. "Swimwear with a high hip height will make your legs appear longer, while lower hip height will provide more coverage and support," Meier says.

If you're looking for a one-piece for training, Meier recommends a swimsuit with a cut that creates minimal drag as you swim. "This would be a design that sits tight on the body, hugs the waist and bottom, and does not have any frills on the outside," she says, also adding that some suits come with an internal liner that serves as an extra layer of material between the water and your body.

The color and design you go for is up to you, and it's totally okay to have fun with your choice. "It is fun to show a pop of color on the pool deck," Meier says. But, if you prefer a vibe that's a little more sophisticated, Meier recommends exploring navy, deep olives, black, nudes, and whites.

Size/fit

Swimsuits can come in various kinds of sizing from numerical to alpha sizing, like small, medium, etc. If you're worried that a swimsuit may not be true to size, read reviews to get a sense of what other customers are saying. Ultimately, your swimsuit should fit snug, but not too tight, and you should feel comfortable in it. You don't want anything that uncomfortably digs into your body, Pelster says. "If you are ever in doubt, order two to three sizes from a store that has a good return/exchange policy, so you can try them on," Pelster recommends. "Remember swimwear tends to stretch a little over wear and exposure to sun/water," she says.

How we selected

For the past few weeks, Women’s Health editors, including our lifestyle and commerce editor Jasmine Gomez, tested the bestselling, most popular, and top-rated one-piece swimsuits. Our team consulted a personal stylist and a former collegiate swimmer, and then evaluated thousands of customer reviews and ratings to narrow down the best one-piece swimsuits for a wide range of preferences and activities.

Blow, check out our list of the best one-piece swimsuits, tested by Women's Health editors.

Square Neck One Piece Swimsuit

When it comes to bathing suits, associate health and wellness editor Tianna Soto says she has a hard time finding ones that fit her well because she has wider hips and a fuller bust. "Many bathing suits are either too baggy in some areas or don’t ~hug the right places~ if you know what I mean," she says. But she was pleasantly surprised by this Athleta swimsuit. "It went on like a glove (my jaw was actually on the floor in shock). The stretchy fabric is high-quality, comfortable, and provides great coverage," she says. She was originally skeptical about the ribbed design looking too baggy around the tummy area, but the bathing suit fit just right everywhere.

To help you achieve a more supportive fit, the swimsuit is also made with adjustable straps, a semi-open back, and square neck, which Soto says gives it a hot touch without being too revealing. One thing to note, though, is that she recommends that those with larger busts size up. "Although I wasn’t spilling out of it, the neckline gives a bit of cleavage," she says. So, if you want extra support, it may be worth going a size up.

Cancun One-Piece Swimsuit

As someone with a larger bust, one-piece swimsuits aren't always the most supportive. They can leave your prone to way too much bouncing when you're just after comfort. This one-piece from Bravissimo is the exception, though, says editorial assistant Sabrina Talbert. "As someone who's a bit bustier, I appreciate that this swimsuit has underwire for the added support," she raves. "Not to mention, the color is stunning and the material is nice and thick."

In addition to hidden underwire cups, the swimsuit also features a hidden clasp in the back to make it even more supportive, though Talbert says she wishes the swimsuit had even more hooks. "Just like any bra, I would imagine that this will lose elasticity over time. Having a swimsuit that can be adjusted in that way would've really made it a long-term investment," Talbert says. Still, she says it's a great ribbed swimsuit made from thicker material that style-wise felt like a nice departure from textureless swimsuits.

Blue Colorblock One-Shoulder One-Piece

When you're looking for cute swimsuits that will look flattering, no matter your body type, Cupshe is it. Lifestyle and commerce editor Jasmine Gomez says she's a fan. "You'd think a more budget-friendly price tag equates with poor craftsmanship or pieces you use once or twice and throw out. But that isn't the case with this Cupshe swimsuit, she says. "The fabric is thick, feels durable, and offers slight compression—something I love because I get a little self-conscious about my rounder tummy when I put swimsuits on." Gomez also says the swimsuit is supportive for even those with larger busts, and that the color-blocking is super stylish.

The only thing that she would change is that she would make the cups permanent as opposed to removable since the cups tend to shift out of place, especially after washing. That can give the chest area a clumpy look, if not properly fixed before wearing.

Pamela One-Piece

Before becoming pregnant executive health and fitness director Jacqueline Andriakos caved and bough this Hunza G one-piece because the fabric seemed stretchy, but still thick and of good quality, and she wasn't wrong. "It is not constricting at all—even for someone tall and with a long torso—and I was shocked at how stretchy it really is (one-size-fits-all can be a questionable thing to see on a website, I get it)," Andriakos says. "At eight months pregnant, it’s the only suit I’ve found that I feel totally comfortable in for hours on end."

Andriakos specifically likes that the bathing suit isn't designed with any metal hardware on the straps, which tends to dig into skin. She also says that the bathing suit has proved to be durable. "It’s held up for countless washes and dryer runs, and it also dries quickly after getting wet and sitting in the sun—no itchy wet bathing suit feeling."

But compared to other bathing suits on the list, this one will cost ya—even though it's worth it, it's definitely a splurge. "My only complaint is the price—it is a lot to spend on swimwear," says Andriakos. "But with how much use I’ve already gotten out of it, I’ve found it worth the investment and will be keeping an eye on sales to snag it in another color."

All Day One-Piece

A cross between a sporty and stylish option, love and life assistant editor Addison Aloian says this is one of her favorite swimsuits. "It's sporty, which I love, and can be worn with the zipper zipped all the way up or a little bit down for more of a hot look," Aloian says. She also raves about the swimsuit's fit and fabric. "The design, which features a half-zip in the front, is super cute. Plus, it has great coverage on the butt, short sleeves, and the fabric is sturdy, but lightweight."

While Aloian is a fan of the swimsuit's design, other testers did mention that the style does make the bathing suit a little harder to get into, as it's a little less stretchier than other options on the list. The swimsuit is also made with bra cups for added support, but they aren't removable. Testers say they may be prone to shifting during a wash.

The Ruffle Oasis

When it comes to merging style and comfort, Gomez says she loves a Summersalt swimsuit, particularly this one. It's made with cute ruffle details in the straps that elevate it from basic to fashionable. Gomez particularly likes the swimsuit's stretchy fabric. "When it comes to the wear test, this bathing suit snag's an A. It's designed so that it's forgiving on all body types, but snug enough that you still feel put together," Gomez explains. The design, though colorful, is also pretty neutral—it can take you from a tropical vacation to doubling up as a fancy brunch top, she adds.

The only thing Gomez would change about the swimsuit is that she would make the neckline a little higher. "The swimsuit is designed to show a bit of cleavage, but as someone with larger breasts, the lack of an underwire sort of just presses them into place—which isn't as flattering a look as if they were to be pushed up," Gomez says. "That being said underwire can be uncomfy, so I totally get why it isn't designed with any."

Pleated Swimsuit

The square neckline on this pleated Calvin Klein swimsuit is a cute little detail that makes this one stand out from the others. It's also made with sewn-in cups, adjustable straps, and UV protection up to 50+ UPF/SPF. Our testers particularly like the ruching on this swimsuit, since they say it serves both as tummy control and style. They also say that this is a great option if you're looking for a more modest option, since it offers full-coverage in the front and back.

If you don't like elastic in the thigh holes, this is also a great pick because it isn't tight in the leg area, testers say. That being said, if you like your swimsuits to be extra snug in that area, then this may not be the swimsuit for you.

Zippered Short Sleeve Bathing Suit

Like water sports? This mock-neck number is a great option for high coverage and support while surfing, paddle-boarding, or water skiing. Testers love that this swimsuit is easy to move in, and doesn't put anything at risk of slipping out. That can come in handy if you're getting some swim laps in or just participating in a game of beach volleyball. They also say that they love that this swimsuit looks particularly pricey, even though you can grab it for under $50—a steal, especially with so many designs to choose from.

That being said, testers say it is on the cheekier side, even though it appears to be a full-coverage swimsuit in the back. One tester says the fabric in the butt area also rode up for her, so if you have a larger bum, this may be something to keep in mind.

Plus-Size One-Piece Swimsuit

This plus-size one-piece swimsuit has adjustable straps and a hook-closure for an extra supportive fit. Made with a sweetheart neckline, it has a vintage feel. Our testers say the ruching makes it extra flattering, and that the molded cups and adjustable straps offer up extra support in the boob area. Though the ruching is forgiving in the tummy area, the fabric itself doesn't really offer tummy control, testers say. So, if you're looking for a super snug feel, this swimsuit may not offer it unless you size down.

One other note our testers had is that this suit does have a clasp, and it may be prone to coming undone during excessive movement. So, this definitely isn't a training swimsuit.

Athletic Adjustable Swimsuit

This one-piece is perfect for swim sports, whether you're swimming laps or triathlon training. It features a simple, sleek design using lightweight fabric that tucks you in without restricting movement. The back features a keyhole design which adds some flare and breathability to the swimsuit.

Most testers say that they like that how cozy the fabric feels against the skin, and that it's a lot more quick-drying than other swimsuits they've tried. However, one tester, who describes herself as having a long torso, says the bathing suit ran a bit small on her. So, be sure to check measurements before purchasing.

Meet the experts

• Charlotte Meier is senior digital marketing specialist at SwimOutlet and former collegiate swimmer at UC San Diego.

• Maddy Pelster is a personal stylist at Holland & Bloom Style Co.

Can a one-piece swimsuit be more flattering than other swimsuits?

It can be! Though, Pelster describes it as a more conservative option. But Meier says that modern one-piece swimsuits come in endless shapes and silhouettes, so you can definitely find something that's stylish to you. "There are also fashion swimsuits with specialty features to look for like long torso, maternity, unitards, underwire support, tummy control, and more," Meier says. "It’s all about preference here!"

Is it better to size up or down in a one-piece swimsuit?

Sizing in swimwear is really dependent on the body type and swimwear line, Pelster says. "Read reviews and look into how the material fits. Many stores have great customer service and can answer more in-depth when it comes to sizing—use this resource!"

Meier recommends staying true to size when you're just shopping for a fashionable option, unless you're getting a strapless swimsuit. In that case, she recommends sizing down so that the swimsuit stays put. On the other hand, "for training swimwear, it is ideal to stay true to size or to size down for an extra hydrodynamic fit," Meier explains. "You don’t want it to be too tight that it restricts your movement, but tight enough where it doesn’t feel like it is slowing you down." Ultimately, you just want to make sure your swimsuit is something you actually feel comfortable in without slipping off while you're swimming.

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