I'm over 40 and there are some bathing suits I just won't wear. Here are my favorite styles instead
Scoop-neck: Skims Signature Swim Scoop Neck One-Piece
Tummy control: Cupshe V-Neck Tummy Control One-Piece Swimsuit
Tankini: Bleu Rod Beattie Print Ruffle Tankini
Bikini bottom: Summersalt The Wrap High-Leg High-Rise Bikini Bottom
Square-neck: Hunza G Square-Neck Swim One-Piece There comes a time in a woman's life when she realizes she can no longer wear certain items of clothing. For me, that moment came when I was packing for a beach vacation and was met with a sea of skimpy bikinis in eye-catching day-glo colors that I'd accumulated over the years. These would not do.
That's not to say women over 40 shouldn't wear bikinis, I simply don't feel comfortable in the two-pieces I was wearing in my 20s and 30s. So, in search of some more flattering swimwear for my upcoming trip, I decided to call in some experts to see what I should be looking out for.
Elisa Ellis, stylist at Turnkey Style, shared some of the features I should be on the lookout for if I want swimwear that fits, flatters, feels fashionable and is actually comfortable. 'The essential details and features I look out for are things like high-waisted bottoms, ruching or twist designs. When it comes to the bust area, molded cups, built-in support and adjustable straps are non negotiables,' she said. 'These small details can make a big difference in how the suit fits and how confident you'll feel in it.'
After an extensive search, I found that spending a little extra money on swimwear really makes a difference in the quality and fit, which was directly proportional to how confident and comfortable I felt at the beach or lying poolside. As Ellis told me, 'There's a myth that you need to be a certain size to rock a swimsuit. The truth? Confidence comes from the right fit, not the size on the tag. Choose a suit that makes you feel good, gives you confidence, and you will shine.' So with that in mind, here are my favorite swimwear styles.
Skims Signature Swim Scoop Neck One-Piece
Black is a girl's best friend when it comes to having a slim silhouette, and Kim Kardashian's Skims did not disappoint. Fashion stylist Sarah Nearis said Skims is one of her favorite brands for swimwear. "The brands that really know how to flatter a real woman's curves use the best material that make you feel secure and snatched and have the cuts that hit in the right places to elongate the figure," she said. I loved the high leg in this suit which really helped make me feel (and hopefully look) taller.
Cupshe Ruffled One-Piece Swimsuit
'Ruching is wildly underrated," Ellis said. "I personally look for swimsuits with ruching because they flatter the figure and create a contoured look without making you hold your breath." She also recommends styles with a twist-front design, which she said "draws the eye inward and often includes built-in shaping panels for the tummy area." I love this colorful offering from Cupshe, which also has frills around the neckline to draw attention away from the midsection.
J.Crew Factory Scalloped One-Piece Swimsuit
When it comes to swimwear, I tend to gravitate towards black for its slimming effects. When you are trying to hide anything you don't like about your body, black helps discreetly camouflage. Sure, it's not the most tropical of colors, but it works. What I love most about this one-piece from J. Crew is the scalloped outline. It gives this otherwise boring suit a little je ne sais quoi. The swimsuit is fully lined, adjustable and super flattering.
Cupshe V-Neck Tummy Control One-Piece Swimsuit
Just like black, a pattern covers a multitude of sins and I love this Cupshe one-piece for its bright colors and fun pattern. It is also very supportive around the cleavage and has ruching around the midsection. This is fast becoming one of my favorite swimsuits.
Summersalt The Wrap High-Leg High-Rise Bikini Bottom
I know I said I was done with bikinis, but after consulting Ellis, she said there are still ways to incorporate them into your summer wardrobe. 'Just because you're over 40 doesn't mean you have to ditch bikinis or bold colors. But you do want to look for styles that offer the right fit, structure, support and coverage for your body today,' she said. This Summersalt wrap bikini is flattering in all the right places and comes in a variety of colors.
Hunza G Square-Neck Swim One-Piece
I can't say enough about this swimsuit. At first, I balked at the price, but once I put it on, I fell in love and felt so confident in it. The crinkle fabric is both comfortable and flattering, and I really love the scoop back and high-leg cut of this style. According to Nearis, Hunza G's crinkle material is similar to ruching or draping on a dress, providing both texture and a smoothing effect to the figure. "Usually the scrunched material has a firmness in elasticity that creates more security and support which any gal can appreciate in swimwear," she said.Read our review
Bleu Rod Beattie Print Ruffle Tankini
Offering more coverage than a string bikini but with the flexibility of a two-piece, we love a tankini. This one is so fun and flirty with the ruffle neckline and vibrant print.
Summersalt The Sidestroke One-Piece Swimsuit
I've loved Summersalt's swimwear line ever since it launched in 2017. I used to own a ton of bikinis from this brand and they have really maintained their quality over the years. They have since been donated to my 30-year-old niece. This one-shoulder number is comfortable, flattering and looks great on any size.
Lands' End Tummy Control Wrap Swimsuit
'This swimsuit is bust-friendly for those with fuller chests," Ellis said. "The Slendertex fabric offers light sculpting, while the twist detail adds a flattering shape.' Like most of Lands' End's swimwear, this is available in petite, tall and long torso sizes, and it often has sales on swimwear.
Boden Ruched Loop Swimsuit
This one-piece has everything; ruching, a pattern that elongates the torso, a middle loop that cinches in the waist, a halter neck for support and a vintage style that screams summer. I get so many compliments when I wear this and it looks great with a pair of denim shorts.
Bleu Rod Beattie Halter Tankini
The contrast white trim on this otherwise plain tankini really makes it stand out. I love a monochrome look and I felt so confident in this suit. "I am a huge believer in if you feel confident in a piece of clothing, then you can rock it. Whether it be a swimsuit or any type of outfit, I think it is important to enhance your favorite features and really lean into that so you feel good and confident," Nearis said.
TA3 Lifty Swimsuit
This was a personal recommendation from Nearis and is also loved by our fashion editor Sophie Shaw, who said this viral swimsuit is very much worth the hype. Along with its medium compression for the tummy area, the lace-up back acts like a corset so you can tighten the fit as much or as little as you wish. Plus, the color blocking creates a slimming illusion. The following FAQs have been answered by fashion stylist Sarah Nearis.
Are tankinis the most flattering for women over 40?
Are tankinis the most flattering for women over 40?
'Tankinis can work at any age, it really comes down to the fit and style,' Nearis said. 'Swimwear and any clothing looks best when it is enhancing your best features and silhouette. Making sure the fit and material has the best support and design to flatter your body is key.'
Do high-waisted swimsuits look good on everyone?
Do high-waisted swimsuits look good on everyone?
'I love a high-waisted swimsuit no matter the age. A high-waisted swimsuit really hits at the highest and smallest part of the waist which enhances your natural curves and shape and elongates the legs,' Nearis said.
How do you hide lower belly fat in a swimsuit?
How do you hide lower belly fat in a swimsuit?
According to Nearis, you can hide your lower stomach with specific silhouettes or accessories. 'It's all about finding the right pair of bottoms or a one-piece with the right material or pattern to distract from the area,' she said. She also recommends layering a sarong or skirt over your swimsuit for added coverage.
For this article, we consulted the following experts to gain their professional insights.
Elisa Ellis, stylist, speaker and founder of Turnkey Style. She is the author of The Style Advantage and has a decade of experience consulting people in their fashion journeys
Sarah Nearis, fashion stylist specializing in celebrity red carpet styling, commercial and editorial styling as well as brand and image consulting
CNN Underscored editors thoroughly test most of the products we cover and provide full transparency about how we test them. We have an experienced team of writers and editors who have many years of testing experience and ensure each article is carefully edited and products are properly vetted. We talk to top experts when it makes sense to ensure we are testing each product accurately and speaking about pros and cons of each item. For this article, managing editor Rachel Quigley rounded up her favorite swimsuits and spoke with style experts to get recommendations and tips on the best bathing suits for women over 40.
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