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We’ve talked to several women about their bikinis of choice, and several more women about their favorite plus-size swimsuits. But our survey of the best bathing suits wouldn’t be complete without getting opinions on that other swimwear staple: the eternally stylish one-piece. Here, we asked more than a dozen stylish women about their favorite one-piece swimsuits for everything from sunbathing with a book to dabbling in water sports (because you might be looking for something more resilient if you’re an avid swimmer, surfer, or diver). Below, we’ve listed their recommendations, which span a range of prices and include high-cut suits, low-back options, and the one-piece a writer surfs the Rockaways in. Generally, the suits on this list range in size from 0 to 24, and all are still in stock in many sizes, but given the time of year, some are selling out, so if you see one in your size, we suggest scooping it up, as there’s a lot of summer — and warm weather — still to come.
Best under-$50 one-piece swimsuits
Content creator Kelsey Kotzur loves Aerie swimwear for how “size inclusive and stretchy and soft” it is. “I feel like Aerie’s whole ethos is to make you as comfortable as possible in your body,” she says, plus she appreciates the brand’s affordable prices. She’s worn this sparkly purple suit while swimming at the beach, lounging by the pool, and “honestly just around Brooklyn, sitting in the park when it was really hot.” She’ll reach for it when she’ll be moving around a lot, like jumping off a boat, or if she’s around family members and wants a suit that’s “a bit more modest.”
Multiple people, including Megababe founder Katie Sturino and writer Amanda Richards, told us to check out the one-pieces from Swimsuits for All, most of which run up to size 24. “Swimsuits for All works with so many different body types when designing their suits so they all fit really well on every body size,” Sturino says, and Richards adds that their wide variety of offerings mean you can find pretty much anything you’re looking for: “They have anything from sporty swimwear, to boring one-pieces — which I love — to Ashley Graham’s super-sexy, super-revealing collection,” she says. Sturino calls this lace-up one-piece her “honeymoon suit” because “it’s sexy and fits really well,” adding that she wears it when she wants to feel like “the main character at the beach.”
Strategist editor Maxine Builder came across this sporty blue suit from Target’s Wild Fable line while looking for a one-piece to wear while swimming laps at the YMCA. “The price point was ideal, as was the cut, which wasn’t too high,” Builder says. She reports that it’s true to size, stays put while swimming, and makes her feel “modest but not matronly.” She’s since worn it everywhere from “backyard family barbecues to beach days with kids” — and likes it so much that she went back and picked up a second suit in red.
If you like your swimsuits to have some extra coverage around the waist, Strategist contributor Alyse Whitney loves this citrusy skirted number she bought from Amazon. “It looks like a scuba dress when it’s dry, with a tasteful, not-too-large cutout in the middle,” she writes. While “the photo on Amazon makes it look like a huge exposure of skin,” Whitney says that, depending on how you tie the drawstrings, you can hide (or show) as much of your midriff as you’d like. Plus, “the lemon isn’t aggressively cutesy,” she promises.
Best under-$75 one-piece swimsuits
Those looking for a one-piece that will stay put while you swim laps will need something with support and a tighter fit. When former Strategist senior writer Karen Iorio Adelson asked a panel of swimmers and coaches about the best athletic swimsuits, Jolyn suits — particularly fixed-back styles like this one — came recommended as a “top choice” among collegiate athletes and lifeguards.
Another athletic option is this two-toned Nike suit favored by professional swimmers and stylish people, such as freelance graphic designer Daisy Pyo. “I first got this suit in Hawaii, and I feel like it is great for when you’re on an island or on vacation, like an environment where you just live your swimwear. It’s a lot more casual and comfortable to walk around in,” Pyo says. She likes to pair the suit with Merrell Hydromocs or Crocs and some wraparound shades to complete the sporty vibe.
Strategist contributor Siraad Dirshe wears “this high-performance Speedo one-piece nearly every time” she surfs at Rockaway Beach. “It stays in place, so there’s minimal tugging or rearranging in the water or when peeling off a thick wetsuit,” she writes, adding that she’s “a fan of the crisscross back and fuller coverage” it offers.
Best under-$100 one-piece swimsuits
Freelance journalist Sophia Li says this Summersalt swimsuit fits like a glove: “The material has compression but is not so tight where you can’t move. It’s thick yet breathable — I’ve worn it while surfing, swimming, and jumping off a sailboat, and the shape hasn’t given up through multiple washes.” Beyond a great fit, the color-blocked, one-shoulder style comes in 13 different color combinations, and sustainable shoppers should know it’s made from 78 percent recycled polyamide fibers. If you’re not into this cut, all of Summersalt’s one-pieces happen to be priced under $100, so you can shop around without splurging.
“I think every woman should have a classic, practical one-piece in a solid color, and this J.Crew suit fits that bill,” stylist Ansley Morgan told us. The ruched, strapless one-piece is sold in 12 colors and comes with an optional shoulder strap.
We heard about this ruched one-piece from writer Jada Yuan, who wrote that it’s flattering on all bodies, from petite to plus-size. (Taylor Swift has worn a version of it, for what it’s worth.) Yuan says she has an “ample chest” that spills out of most one-piece suits, but tells us this style has “a halter top and light boning for the kind of chest support that most bathing suits never give me.” She adds: “The minute I put this on, I felt like Marilyn Monroe,” noting that the suit has a “lovely, eye-catching sheen, ruching in the front that minimized my belly, and low-cut leg holes that covered the widest part of my hips.”
For women with larger busts, stylist Samantha Brown suggests this ruffle-sleeved one-piece swimsuit because it has adjustable straps for “extra support.” She also loves the fact that it comes in several different solid colors — including blue, pink, and black — and has a fun belted waistline.
Andie Swim is known for its well-fitting, sleek suits. Strategist writer Lauren Ro particularly loves the “unassuming but still stylish” Amalfi one-piece, which she describes as “a classic silhouette with thin adjustable straps.” It has a built-in medium-support shelf bra with removable cups that Ro says “gives just the right amount of coverage without being too modest.” Plus, it has a higher back for those, like Ro, who don’t love a super-low-back style. And if you don’t like the version shown, Andie has a style of this suit for pretty much everyone: It comes in 15 different colors and prints made from a variety of smooth and textured fabrics.
Best $100 and over one-piece swimsuits
Content creator and talent manager Ariel Oz — who is currently five months pregnant — was initially skeptical of Hunza G’s one-size-fits-all swimsuits, but this square-neck one-piece made her a true believer. “Everyone said it’s so flattering, and I was like, There’s no way. I did not believe the hype,” Oz says. “Then I tried it out, and I was like, These are magical. I’ve never felt sexier.” Because the suit is made out of a crinkled material that’s extremely stretchy and flexible, Oz anticipates being able to wear it throughout the rest of her pregnancy and afterward, thanks to its “timeless” design. She wore it constantly during her “babymoon” in Italy and has since ordered three more Hunza G pieces, including this strapless black one that she’s excited to wear as a bodysuit.
Content creator April Lockhart says this feminine, vintage-inspired Galamaar suit is “one of my all-time favorite one-pieces” because of how the “thick, structured” material “flatters me in all the right areas.” It’s traveled with her everywhere, from Croatia to Hangout Fest, a music festival on the beach, but it still looks new. In addition to the Mellow Yellow color Lockhart owns, which makes her “feel like sunshine,” the suit comes in an array of pretty pastel shades including aqua blue, orchid pink, and grass green.
“Lushious has some really cool prints, and they go up to a 5X,” says content creator Jessica Blair. “Their swimsuits will definitely make you feel hot.” She points to this Disco one-piece — which is made from recycled nylon and has a splashy collage pattern, plunging neckline, and adjustable lacing — as one of her favorites.
For a one-piece with added sun protection (and that still shows some skin), Ashby Vose, the head of brand at Ori, told us she loves this long-sleeved style from Alpine Butterfly Swim. “I cannot recommend it enough for pale folks, like me, who can get sunburnt to a crisp,” she explains. “This long-sleeved style has a cutout in the front and the back and a cheekier, high-cut leg, all allowing you to still look like the sexy babe you are while maintaining coverage and sun protection for your arms.”
Celebrity stylists Danielle O’Connell and Alix Gropper love this very retro Norma Kamali suit since it “has all the elements of a timeless, flattering suit,” but with a sexy spin thanks to the “deep-scoop neckline and super-high thigh.” In addition to solid black and white, it’s available in a striped pattern and two shades of bubblegum pink for a very Barbie-core moment.
Size-inclusive Canadian brand Nettle’s Tale makes clothing and swimwear up to a size 4x. Writer and model Lydia Okello calls this Marielle one-piece the “perfect suit for tanning, lying on the beach, and taking as many selfies as you’re willing.” No matter what, she advises, “just know your butt will be out!” The suit comes in black, violet, and a checkerboard pattern; Okello also likes wearing it as a bodysuit and found it was still comfortable even after “eating a delicious burger!”
Additional reporting by Lori Keong
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