Claire's Picks

Bikinis Worth Having in Your Wardrobe

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Most people own a bikini they tolerate rather than one they actually love, and that is exactly the problem we set out to fix. A bikini you feel genuinely good in changes how you move on a beach, how you feel getting out of the water, how the whole holiday sits in your memory. It matters more than people admit. We have been pulling together the bikinis that earn their place, the ones with real structure in the top, proper coverage where you actually want it, and cuts that are considered rather than accidental. Some are bold prints that look incredible against a tan. Some are simple, clean colours that photograph beautifully and never date. We have included options across different body priorities because fit is not one conversation. A well made bikini top does a specific job and it should do it properly. The same goes for the bottom. Proportions, fabric quality, how the ties behave after a swim. These details are not small. The bikinis in this edit are the ones we would genuinely buy ourselves, and that is the only standard we apply.

Claire's Top Picks

Beach Bikinis Worth Packing for the Beach LA REDOUTE UK Beach Club Solids Triangle Bikini Top Jump to section ↓

£28.50 LA REDOUTE UK

Bikinis That Fit Where They Should JUICY COUTURE UK ISLAND GREEN ROXY x JUICY COUTURE DOUBLE LAYER BIKINI TOP - L Green Jump to section ↓

£45.00 JUICY COUTURE UK

Bikinis That Just Fit Right ETHICAL SUPERSTORE Fluxies Classic Bikini Period Pants Jump to section ↓

£18.63 ETHICAL SUPERSTORE

Bikinis Worth Bringing Along EGO (UK) Underwired Tie Side Thong Bikini Set In Leopard Print, Women's Size Jump to section ↓

£29.00 EGO (UK)

Bikinis Worth Packing for the Beach PUBLIC_DESIRE_UK_ Three Piece Starfish Thong Bikini & Mini Skirt Set Black Jump to section ↓

£42.00 PUBLIC_DESIRE_UK_

Full Coverage Bikinis You'll Be Glad You Packed HUNKEMOLLER_UK Hunkemöller Cannes Rio Bikini Bottoms Brown Jump to section ↓

£5.70 HUNKEMOLLER_UK

Gingham Bikinis You'll Be Glad You Packed LA REDOUTE UK Signatures Johane Gingham Bikini Top Jump to section ↓

£30.09 LA REDOUTE UK

Beach Bikinis Worth Packing for the Beach

Most bikinis look reasonable on a hanger and disappointing on an actual person at an actual beach. That gap between expectation and reality is exactly what we're trying to close here. A good bikini needs to do several things at once: stay in place when you move, hold its shape after a swim, flatter properly rather than just covering, and look genuinely good in photographs taken in real sunlight rather than studio lighting. That is a tougher brief than it sounds. We've been ruthless about which ones make the cut because a bad bikini ruins a holiday in a very specific and demoralising way. What we've pulled together here covers a range of styles, from structured underwired tops that provide real support to minimal triangle cuts for those who want them, with bottoms that actually sit where they're supposed to. Some are brilliant investment pieces. Some are genuinely good value that punch well above their price. All of them have been chosen because they work on real bodies in real conditions. A bikini should make you want to take your cover up off.

LA REDOUTE UK Beach Club Solids Triangle Bikini Top £28.50 LA REDOUTE UK

MONSOON Macie Shell Print Bikini Top Black £20.00 MONSOON

LA REDOUTE UK Asymmetric Pool Bikini Top £9.90 LA REDOUTE UK

INSTOCK UK Splicing Denim V Shaped Thong Bikini Women Swimsuit Female Swimwear Two Pieces Bikini Set Bather Push Up Bathing Suit Swim Lady £25.50 INSTOCK UK

GODDIVA Bow Detail Bikini - Animal Print by Goddiva £5.00 GODDIVA

INSTOCK UK In Sexy Solid Color Swimsuit Set Ladies Beach Bikini Swimwear, S, M, L, , X - Blue £5.99 INSTOCK UK

GODDIVA_UK Goddiva Zig Zag Bandeau Bikini £30.00 GODDIVA_UK

MONSOON Floral Print Halter Bikini Set White £34.99 MONSOON

EGO (UK) Ruched Contrast Bikini Bottoms In Zebra Print., Women's Size £11.00 EGO (UK)

GODDIVA Zig Zag Bandeau Bikini - Black by Goddiva £5.00 GODDIVA

INSTOCK UK ZTVitality Solid Tie Sexy Bikini Hot Sale Padded Bra High Leg Bandage Push Up Bikini Set Brazilian Swimsuit Women Swimwear £29.96 INSTOCK UK

EGO (UK) Tie Side Bikini Bottom In Orange Textured Print, Women's Size £13.00 EGO (UK)

Bikinis That Fit Where They Should

Most bikinis are designed around an idea of a body rather than an actual one. Tops that gap at the sides, bottoms that sit too low, triangles that cover nothing useful. We have all worn something on holiday that needed constant adjusting and spent the whole time thinking about it rather than enjoying the day. That is the problem this collection exists to solve. Every bikini here has been chosen because it genuinely fits across a range of body shapes and stays put. We have looked carefully at underwire options for women who need real support, at high waisted bottoms that sit properly at the waist and not somewhere vaguely near it, at adjustable ties and bralette styles with enough coverage to feel comfortable rather than just technically covered. Some of these are bold prints. Some are classic solids. All of them pass the actual test, which is whether you can swim, move, and exist in them without thinking about your bikini at all. The best swimwear is the kind you forget you are wearing.

JUICY COUTURE UK ISLAND GREEN ROXY x JUICY COUTURE DOUBLE LAYER BIKINI TOP - L Green £45.00 JUICY COUTURE UK

JUICY COUTURE UK ISLAND GREEN ROXY x JUICY COUTURE DOUBLE LAYER BIKINI TOP - M Green £45.00 JUICY COUTURE UK

LA REDOUTE UK Textured Bikini Bottoms £10.50 LA REDOUTE UK

HUNKEMOLLER_UK Hunkemöller Luxe Bikini Bottoms Black £5.00 HUNKEMOLLER_UK

HUNKEMOLLER_UK Hunkemöller Sunset Dream Rio Bikini Bottoms Purple £5.10 HUNKEMOLLER_UK

HUNKEMOLLER_UK Hunkemöller Costa Rio Bikini Bottoms Purple £10.00 HUNKEMOLLER_UK

HUNKEMOLLER_UK Hunkemöller Sunset Triangle Bikini Top Purple £7.20 HUNKEMOLLER_UK

SNEAKIN UK Non-wired padded bikini top for women Lisca Hawaii £47.05 SNEAKIN UK

JUICY COUTURE UK ISLAND GREEN ROXY x JUICY COUTURE DOUBLE LAYER BIKINI TOP - Green £45.00 JUICY COUTURE UK

MADE IN PARADIS UK Women's ruffled bikini top Selmark Basica £44.92 MADE IN PARADIS UK

MADE IN PARADIS UK Women's multi-position push-up bikini top Lisca Isola Rossa £38.68 MADE IN PARADIS UK

MADE IN PARADIS UK Underwired bikini top for women Lisca Puerto Rico £28.11 MADE IN PARADIS UK

Bikinis That Just Fit Right

Finding a bikini that actually fits is harder than it should be. Tops that gap at the sides, bottoms that ride up the moment you move, underwired cups designed for a body type that covers about twelve percent of the population. We know the frustration because we've lived it. This collection is our answer to all of that. Every bikini here was chosen because something about it works properly, whether that's adjustable ties that let you customise the fit, a bottom cut that stays exactly where you put it, or a top that gives real support without feeling like structural engineering. Some are minimal and sleek. Some have more coverage. All of them were chosen because they look good but more importantly because they behave. We've included options across cup sizes, body shapes, and budgets because good fit is not a luxury that should only be available at a certain price point. A bikini that fits correctly changes how you feel the entire time you're wearing it. That is not a small thing. That is the whole point.

ETHICAL SUPERSTORE Fluxies Classic Bikini Period Pants £18.63 ETHICAL SUPERSTORE

SUPERDRY_UK Superdry & Co Women's Classic Bikini Bottoms Navy Eclipse Navy - Size: £22.99 SUPERDRY_UK

SUPERDRY_UK Superdry & Co Women's Organic Cotton Large Logo Bikini Briefs White Whitegold - Size: £7.49 SUPERDRY_UK

JUICY COUTURE UK ISLAND GREEN ROXY x JUICY COUTURE CHEEKY BIKINI BOTTOM - X Green £45.00 JUICY COUTURE UK

MADE IN PARADIS UK Women's swimwear bikini bottoms Superdry Vintage Logo £24.58 MADE IN PARADIS UK

JUICY COUTURE UK ISLAND GREEN ROXY x JUICY COUTURE CHEEKY BIKINI BOTTOM - S Green £45.00 JUICY COUTURE UK

SUPERDRY_UK Superdry & Co Women's Organic Cotton Large Logo Bikini Briefs Yellow Pale Yellow Marl - Size: £7.49 SUPERDRY_UK

SUPERDRY_UK Superdry & Co Women's Bralette Bikini Top Navy Eclipse Navy - Size: £26.99 SUPERDRY_UK

JUICY COUTURE UK ISLAND GREEN ROXY x JUICY COUTURE TERRY THONG BIKINI BOTTOM - X Green £40.00 JUICY COUTURE UK

SOCK SHOP Women's Pack Ambra Bare Essentials Bikini Brief Black - £7.99 SOCK SHOP

SNEAKIN UK Iridescent Bikini Bottoms With Ties For Women Superdry £12.89 SNEAKIN UK

JUICY COUTURE UK ISLAND GREEN ROXY x JUICY COUTURE TERRY THONG BIKINI BOTTOM - Green £40.00 JUICY COUTURE UK

Bikinis Worth Bringing Along

Packing a bikini always feels like a small act of optimism, and we want to make sure the one you bring actually delivers. The wrong choice sits awkwardly, loses its shape the moment it gets wet, or looks nothing like it did on the model. The right one makes you feel genuinely good at the pool, on the beach, wherever the trip takes you. That is the standard we have applied here. We have been pulling together the bikinis that photograph well but more importantly feel secure and flattering when you are actually moving around in them. Not just posing. Moving. Some are bold in colour and cut. Some are more understated but made well enough that they look considered rather than plain. There are styles here that work for different body shapes because a bikini that flatters one figure completely fails another and we are not interested in one size fits all thinking. Every option in this collection earned its place by being genuinely worth the suitcase space. These are the bikinis you will actually be glad you packed.

EGO (UK) Underwired Tie Side Thong Bikini Set In Leopard Print, Women's Size £29.00 EGO (UK)

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Black Underwired Cross Front Bikini Top £11.00 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

EGO (UK) Strappy Bead Detail Underwired Bikini Set In Black, Women's Size £21.00 EGO (UK)

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Chocolate Ring Trim Underwire Bikini Top £11.20 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

HUNKEMOLLER_UK Hunkemöller Scallop padded underwired bikini-top Blue £32.00 HUNKEMOLLER_UK

HUNKEMOLLER_UK Hunkemöller Padded Underwired Bikini Top Leopard Black £32.00 HUNKEMOLLER_UK

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Red Basic Underwire Bikini Top £8.40 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK White Basic Underwire Bikini Top £8.40 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

HUNKEMOLLER_UK Hunkemöller Goldie Shimmer Bandeau Bikini Top Yellow £15.00 HUNKEMOLLER_UK

SNEAKIN UK Multiway padded bikini top for women Lisca Union Island £45.63 SNEAKIN UK

EGO (UK) Halterneck Underwired Bikini Set In Gold Metallic, Women's Size £19.00 EGO (UK)

SNEAKIN UK Underwired bikini top for women Lisca Umbria C À E £41.78 SNEAKIN UK

Bikinis Worth Packing for the Beach

A bad bikini ruins a beach day before it starts. You spend the whole time readjusting, worrying what happens when you get out of the water, or simply feeling like the swimwear is wearing you rather than the other way around. We have been through enough disappointing options to know exactly what separates a bikini worth packing from one that looks fine on a hanger and fails entirely in practice. Fabric that holds its shape when wet. Ties and fastenings that stay put. Cuts that actually flatter rather than just looking good in a flat lay photograph. We have pulled together bikinis across different silhouettes because bodies are different and occasions are different. A structured underwired top solves a different problem than a triangle. A high waisted bottom is not just a trend, it is a genuine preference for a lot of women and it deserves proper representation. These are the bikinis we would genuinely pack ourselves, the ones that earn their space in the case. Looking good at the beach should not require this much effort, but finding the right bikini absolutely does.

PUBLIC_DESIRE_UK_ Three Piece Starfish Thong Bikini & Mini Skirt Set Black £42.00 PUBLIC_DESIRE_UK_

HUNKEMOLLER_UK Hunkemöller Yucatan Triangle Bikini Top Green £12.50 HUNKEMOLLER_UK

DOROTHY PERKINS UK Gini London Tan Textured Stripe Bikini Bottom In Light Tan £16.50 DOROTHY PERKINS UK

EGO (UK) Strappy Hammered Abstract Trim Detail Underwired Bikini Set In Multi Tiger Print, Women's Size £17.00 EGO (UK)

EGO (UK) Triangle Abstract Hammered Trim Detail Bikini Set In Black, Women's Size £16.00 EGO (UK)

HUNKEMOLLER_UK Hunkemöller Scallop Floral Triangle Bikini Black £26.00 HUNKEMOLLER_UK

EGO (UK) Strappy Bardot Trim Detail Piece Bikini Set In Plum, Women's Size £19.00 EGO (UK)

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Purple Trim Detail Tie Side Bikini Bottom £5.25 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

LA REDOUTE UK Classics Mod Lace Up Recycled Bikini Bottoms £10.50 LA REDOUTE UK

LITTLE WOMEN LINGERIE Moontide Reversible Tie Side Bikini Bottoms - LimeNight £10.00 LITTLE WOMEN LINGERIE

DOROTHY PERKINS UK Gini London Red Textured Twist Front Stripe Bikini Top £13.60 DOROTHY PERKINS UK

LITTLE WOMEN LINGERIE Moontide Qirin Ring Front Bikini Top £18.00 LITTLE WOMEN LINGERIE

Full Coverage Bikinis You'll Be Glad You Packed

Coverage is not a compromise. That's the argument we keep making and the one this edit is built around. A full coverage bikini gives you the confidence to actually be on holiday rather than spending it rearranging a bottom that has other ideas. We are extremely familiar with that particular problem and we have very little patience for it. The bikinis in this collection hold everything where it should be, move with you rather than against you, and still look genuinely good. Not sensible in a dreary way. Good in a way that makes you feel like yourself. We've pulled together styles that work across different body shapes and different holiday situations, from high waisted bottoms that do serious work to longer line tops that offer real support without looking like swimwear from another era. The prints and colourways are considered. Nothing here feels like a fallback option. Full coverage has found its moment and the best versions of it are genuinely flattering rather than merely functional. Pack one of these and you will not be reorganising yourself poolside.

HUNKEMOLLER_UK Hunkemöller Cannes Rio Bikini Bottoms Brown £5.70 HUNKEMOLLER_UK

JUICY COUTURE UK ISLAND GREEN ROXY x JUICY COUTURE CHEEKY BIKINI BOTTOM - M Green £45.00 JUICY COUTURE UK

HUNKEMOLLER_UK Hunkemöller Lagoa Rio Bikini Bottoms Blue £12.50 HUNKEMOLLER_UK

THE_DOUBLE_F Mahon high-waisted bikini bottoms with Paisley motif £170.00 THE_DOUBLE_F

BONMARCHE UK Bonmarche Pink Stripe Knot Side Tie Bikini Brief £2.40 BONMARCHE UK

SNEAKIN UK Underwired bikini top for women Lisca Buenos Aires £28.11 SNEAKIN UK

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Purple Full Coverage Plunge Bikini Top £4.00 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

SNEAKIN UK Underwired bikini top for women Lisca Ancona £28.11 SNEAKIN UK

LA REDOUTE UK Triangle Bikini Top £13.99 LA REDOUTE UK

MONSOON Kyla Tie Front High Waisted Bikini Bottom Blue £15.00 MONSOON

MADE IN PARADIS UK Women's full-coverage bikini top Selmark Mai Thai £49.61 MADE IN PARADIS UK

MADE IN PARADIS UK Women's full-coverage bikini top Selmark Basica £42.92 MADE IN PARADIS UK

Gingham Bikinis You'll Be Glad You Packed

Gingham on a bikini is one of those combinations that just works, and we think it works because the pattern is inherently cheerful without trying too hard. It has a retro quality that sits naturally at the beach or by a pool without looking costumey. The check reads as intentional. Put together. Like you actually thought about what you packed rather than grabbing whatever was clean. What we love about gingham specifically is how it photographs. The contrast of the pattern pops in bright light in a way that plain colours and even some prints simply do not. It earns its place in every holiday photo. We have pulled together our favourite gingham bikinis across cuts and colourways because this pattern genuinely rewards a good edit. The classic red and white is here. So is navy, which we think is slightly underrated. Some of these are bold and structured, some are softer and more relaxed in fit. All of them are the kind of thing you see in your bag at the airport and feel quietly pleased about. Pack gingham once and you will pack it every time.

LA REDOUTE UK Signatures Johane Gingham Bikini Top £30.09 LA REDOUTE UK