Claire's Picks

Swimsuits Worth Getting Dressed For

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Most swimwear sits in a drawer for eleven months of the year because it never quite felt worth unpacking. We know that problem intimately. The suit that looked brilliant online and felt wrong on. The one that fit but needed constant adjustment. The one that washed out every photograph from the trip you spent months planning. A genuinely good swimsuit changes all of that, and we mean genuinely good in the strictest sense: cut for an actual body, constructed to stay where it's put, interesting enough that you'd want to be seen in it beyond the pool. This collection is built around the ones that earn their price per wear. Some are architectural and striking, the kind you build an entire holiday mood around. Some are quietly perfect, the sort you reach for without thinking because they never let you down. We've looked hard at fit, at fabric quality, at how they photograph in real light rather than studio conditions. These are not afterthoughts. A swimsuit worth getting dressed for is one you'd genuinely miss if it sold out. These are exactly those ones.

Claire's Top Picks

Padded Swimsuits Worth Bringing Along HUNKEMOLLER_UK Hunkemöller Neoprene Swimsuit Black Jump to section ↓

£50.00 HUNKEMOLLER_UK

Pink Swimsuits That Fit Where They Should THE_DOUBLE_F Floral print swimsuit Jump to section ↓

£71.00 THE_DOUBLE_F

Plunge Swimsuits Worth a Spot in the Case MADE IN PARADIS UK Women's swimsuit top Freya Kailua Shores Jump to section ↓

£32.51 MADE IN PARADIS UK

Polka Dot Swimsuits Worth a Spot in the Case LA REDOUTE UK Tummy-Toning Bustier Swimsuit Jump to section ↓

£29.99 LA REDOUTE UK

Red Swimsuits Worth Packing for the Beach BONMARCHE UK Bonmarche Women's Red & White Ditsy Print Twist Front Swimsuit, Size: Jump to section ↓

£5.00 BONMARCHE UK

Swimsuits With an Open Back Worth the Tan Lines SNEAKIN UK Women's -piece swimsuit Lisca Valencia Jump to section ↓

£67.08 SNEAKIN UK

Tall Swimsuits That Hold Up in the Water MADE IN PARADIS UK -piece swimsuit for women Banana Moon Belmar Scrunchy Jump to section ↓

£39.22 MADE IN PARADIS UK

Padded Swimsuits Worth Bringing Along

Padding in a swimsuit is not a vanity detail. It is a practical one, and it makes a real difference to how a swimsuit sits, moves, and photographs. Without it, certain fabrics go sheer in water, certain cuts lose their shape entirely, and the whole thing stops doing its job at the exact moment you need it to. We have pulled together our favourite padded swimsuits because this is a category that rewards a careful edit. There are options here that look genuinely sleek, not sporty in a clinical way, not fussy with unnecessary structure. Just well made swimsuits that flatter properly and hold their shape whether you are swimming lengths or lying flat on a sunbed pretending you might. We have paid close attention to the quality of the cups, the cut across the back, and whether the overall silhouette holds up once wet. Because that is the actual test. The padding should feel invisible to wear and entirely purposeful in effect. These are the swimsuits that pass it.

HUNKEMOLLER_UK Hunkemöller Neoprene Swimsuit Black £50.00 HUNKEMOLLER_UK

BONMARCHE UK Bonmarche Navy Tie Dye Print With Tie Detail Higher Leg Swimsuit, Size: £28.00 BONMARCHE UK

HUNKEMOLLER_UK Hunkemöller Shaping Shell Mesh Swimsuit Purple £25.00 HUNKEMOLLER_UK

HUNKEMOLLER_UK Hunkemöller Shaping Naples Swimsuit Pink £14.40 HUNKEMOLLER_UK

BONMARCHE UK Bonmarche Tie Dye Print With Tie Detail Higher Leg Swimsuit £28.00 BONMARCHE UK

ETHICAL SUPERSTORE White Stuff Recycled Belle Bandeau Swimsuit £27.47 ETHICAL SUPERSTORE

BONMARCHE UK Bonmarche Layered Palm Print Knot Front Swimsuit £25.00 BONMARCHE UK

FERRARIS BOUTIQUE UK MAX MARA BEACHWEAR CARISMA BLACK B CUP SWIMSUIT £171.00 FERRARIS BOUTIQUE UK

BONMARCHE UK Bonmarche Navy Beaded Detail Straps With Higher Leg Swimsuit, Size: £28.00 BONMARCHE UK

HUNKEMOLLER_UK Hunkemöller Nero Swimsuit Black £12.30 HUNKEMOLLER_UK

LA REDOUTE UK Signatures Elin Ruffled Swimsuit £28.99 LA REDOUTE UK

LA REDOUTE UK Maxlife Eco Performance Swimsuit £34.99 LA REDOUTE UK

Pink Swimsuits That Fit Where They Should

Pink is the easiest colour to get wrong in swimwear and the most rewarding to get right. The shade matters enormously. A washed out bubblegum pink does nothing. A hot pink, a deep rose, a coral leaning pink with some warmth in it, those are the ones that do something real against skin and against water. But colour is only half the problem. The bigger issue with swimsuits is fit, and we have been ruthless about that here. Bust support that actually holds. Bottoms that sit where they are supposed to rather than migrating. Straps that are adjustable because bodies are not all the same shape and the good brands understand that. We have pulled together one pieces, bikini sets, and a few bandeau options for people who know their shoulders tan better without straps. Across all of them the brief was the same: the pink has to be worth wearing and the fit has to be worth trusting. Because a swimsuit you keep adjusting is a swimsuit you stop wearing. These are the ones you wear without thinking about them at all.

THE_DOUBLE_F Floral print swimsuit £71.00 THE_DOUBLE_F

MILANOO_UK One Piece Swimsuit Kawaii Style Sweet Lolita Pink Ruffles Lace Up Bows Swimwear £13.24 MILANOO_UK

THE_DOUBLE_F Square bubble pink one-piece swimsuit £215.00 THE_DOUBLE_F

YESSTYLE_US_GLOBAL Strapless Plaid Swimsuit Pink £24.97 YESSTYLE_US_GLOBAL

SWEATY BETTY UK Sweaty Betty Riviera Swimsuit, Pink, Women's £65.00 SWEATY BETTY UK

BONMARCHE UK Bonmarche Women's Black & Pink Colour Piped Detail Swimsuit, Size: £24.00 BONMARCHE UK

MONSOON Ombré Asymmetrical Cut Out Swimsuit Pink £14.40 MONSOON

BONMARCHE UK Bonmarche Women's Green & Pink Watercolour Palm Print Bandeau Swimsuit With Detachable Straps, Size: £28.00 BONMARCHE UK

MONSOON Crinkle Textured Cut-Out Swimsuit Black £16.80 MONSOON

MONSOON Tropical Floral Frill Swimsuit Pink £20.00 MONSOON

MONSOON Floral Jacquard Asymmetrical Swimsuit Pink £16.80 MONSOON

BONMARCHE UK Bonmarche Women's Pink & White Palm Print Pearl Front Swimsuit, Size: £5.60 BONMARCHE UK

Plunge Swimsuits Worth a Spot in the Case

A plunge neckline on a swimsuit does something that a standard scoop simply cannot. It elongates the torso, draws the eye inward, and creates a silhouette that looks genuinely considered rather than just covered. We've always thought the plunge swimsuit is one of the most flattering cuts available, and we stand by that completely. The hesitation most people have is about security. Will it stay put in the water, on the lounger, anywhere that isn't a very controlled photoshoot. The answer with the right construction is yes, absolutely. A well built plunge swimsuit has internal structure that holds everything in place without requiring constant adjustment. That is the version worth buying. What we love most about this style is how confidently it reads. There is nothing tentative about it. Whether you are poolside in Greece or on a beach in Cornwall, a plunge swimsuit signals that you dressed for this rather than just grabbed something. We have pulled together our favourites across prints, solid colours, and different levels of plunge depth because this category rewards a proper edit. The right one makes packing feel like the easy part.

MADE IN PARADIS UK Women's swimsuit top Freya Kailua Shores £32.51 MADE IN PARADIS UK

LA REDOUTE UK Halterneck Swimsuit £19.50 LA REDOUTE UK

LA REDOUTE UK Halterneck Plunge Neck Swimsuit £16.80 LA REDOUTE UK

SNEAKIN UK Women's swimsuit top Freya Arizona Wave £33.66 SNEAKIN UK

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Chocolate Basic Plunge Swimsuit £12.60 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Black Basic Plunge Swimsuit £12.60 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

BONMARCHE UK Bonmarche Aqua Women's Light Blue Contrast Palm Print Ruched Front Swimsuit, Size: £5.00 BONMARCHE UK

MONSOON Kaylie Plunge Ruffle Swimsuit Black £47.20 MONSOON

BONMARCHE UK Bonmarche Women's Black & White Leaf Print Frill Detail Swimsuit, Size: £5.00 BONMARCHE UK

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Olive Crinkle Plunge Swimsuit £8.75 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Cream Crinkle Scoop Back Swimsuit £8.50 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

MADE IN PARADIS UK Women's plunge swimsuit top Freya Nomad Nights £46.91 MADE IN PARADIS UK

Polka Dot Swimsuits Worth a Spot in the Case

Polka dots on a swimsuit are one of those combinations that should feel dated and somehow never do. There is something about the pattern that reads as confident and playful in equal measure, neither trying too hard nor playing it safe. We think that is exactly what you want from a swimsuit. The scale of the dot matters enormously. Tiny dots feel retro and precise. Larger spots feel bolder and more modern. Both work, but they create very different looks and it is worth being deliberate about which you are going for. We have been pulling together our favourite polka dot swimsuits across one pieces and bikinis because this print deserves a proper edit rather than whatever the algorithm serves up. The ones that photograph well at the pool but also hold their shape after an actual swim. The ones where the lining is decent and the straps are properly adjustable. Polka dots have been earning their place on swimwear since the nineteen fifties and every summer reminds us exactly why. A good spot never goes out of season.

LA REDOUTE UK Tummy-Toning Bustier Swimsuit £29.99 LA REDOUTE UK

LA REDOUTE UK Polka Dot Triangle Swimsuit £29.99 LA REDOUTE UK

LA REDOUTE UK Polka Dot Print Swimsuit £31.19 LA REDOUTE UK

DOROTHY PERKINS UK Joe Browns Retro Polka Dot Halterneck Swimsuit In Red £55.00 DOROTHY PERKINS UK

SNEAKIN UK Women's swimsuit top Brigitte Bardot Lagon £26.85 SNEAKIN UK

SNEAKIN UK Women's underwired swimsuit top with straps Freya Jewel cove £30.57 SNEAKIN UK

DOROTHY PERKINS UK Yours Polka Dot Tummy Support Swimsuit In Black £34.00 DOROTHY PERKINS UK

LA REDOUTE UK Square Neck Swimsuit £31.19 LA REDOUTE UK

MADE IN PARADIS UK Women's swimsuit top Banana Moon Oko Beachpoint £19.72 MADE IN PARADIS UK

MADE IN PARADIS UK Women's swimsuit bottoms Freya Jewel cove £15.98 MADE IN PARADIS UK

MADE IN PARADIS UK Women's swimsuit top Freya Jewel cove £33.66 MADE IN PARADIS UK

Red Swimsuits Worth Packing for the Beach

There is a reason red has been the swimsuit colour of choice for decades and it has nothing to do with nostalgia. It looks extraordinary against every skin tone, it photographs with an intensity that other colours simply cannot match, and it has a confidence to it that feels different the moment you put it on. We've been pulling together the red swimsuits that genuinely deserve a place in your holiday bag, not just the ones that look good on a hanger. The cut matters as much as the colour here. A poorly fitted red swimsuit is unforgiving in a way that navy or black simply isn't, so everything we've chosen has been picked with real shape and structure in mind. We've included both one pieces and bikinis because the occasion decides the silhouette. Brighter true reds for maximum impact, deeper berry reds for something slightly more understated, all of them worth actually packing rather than leaving behind out of uncertainty. Red at the beach is not a statement you need to overthink. It is simply the right choice.

BONMARCHE UK Bonmarche Women's Red & White Ditsy Print Twist Front Swimsuit, Size: £5.00 BONMARCHE UK

BONMARCHE UK Bonmarche Women's Navy Blue & White Spot Print Tab Front Swimsuit, Size: £5.00 BONMARCHE UK

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Red Basic Plunge Swimsuit £12.60 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

MONSOON Zaria Plunge Knit Ruffle Swimsuit Red £45.50 MONSOON

BONMARCHE UK Bonmarche Women's Navy Blue & Red Hero Print Knot Front Swimsuit, Size: £25.00 BONMARCHE UK

YESSTYLE_US_GLOBAL Plain Swimsuit Red £24.24 YESSTYLE_US_GLOBAL

THE_DOUBLE_F Red one-piece swimsuit with Society motif £39.00 THE_DOUBLE_F

YESSTYLE_US_GLOBAL Contrast Trim Swimsuit Red £12.63 YESSTYLE_US_GLOBAL

THE_DOUBLE_F Square red one-piece swimsuit £215.00 THE_DOUBLE_F

GIGLIO.COM_GLOBAL DIESEL Swimsuit Kids color Red £45.00 GIGLIO.COM_GLOBAL

BONMARCHE UK Bonmarche Women's Black & Red Piping Detail Sports Swimsuit, Size: £24.00 BONMARCHE UK

GIGLIO.COM_GLOBAL MOSCHINO Swimsuit Kids color Red £89.00 GIGLIO.COM_GLOBAL

Swimsuits With an Open Back Worth the Tan Lines

The open back is the detail that makes a swimsuit actually interesting. A clean front can be perfectly nice, perfectly forgettable. But turn around and suddenly there is something to look at, a low scoop or a crossover strap or a tie that draws the eye exactly where it was meant to go. We are unambiguous about this. An open back swimsuit is simply more considered than a regular one. It rewards the effort of finding the right fit. It also creates those tan lines and we think that is a reasonable trade for looking this good on a beach or beside a pool. What we have been pulling together here are the ones with open backs that are genuinely well designed rather than just cut away for the sake of it. The strap placement matters. The support matters. The way the back interacts with the front matters enormously. These are swimsuits where the back view is not an afterthought but the whole point. Wear one and you will understand immediately why we cannot stop thinking about this category.

SNEAKIN UK Women's -piece swimsuit Lisca Valencia £67.08 SNEAKIN UK

LA REDOUTE UK Challenge Swimsuit £37.49 LA REDOUTE UK

LA REDOUTE UK Eco Pool Swimsuit £33.59 LA REDOUTE UK

LA REDOUTE UK Maxlife Eco Pool Swimsuit £36.54 LA REDOUTE UK

DOROTHY PERKINS UK Wovcor Square Neck Strappy Open Back Fitted Swimsuit In Black £63.61 DOROTHY PERKINS UK

SNEAKIN UK Women's -piece swimsuit Lisca Palma £53.90 SNEAKIN UK

LA REDOUTE UK Lightdrop Back B Pool Swimsuit £9.00 LA REDOUTE UK

SNEAKIN UK Women's -piece swimsuit Selmark Mykonos £87.73 SNEAKIN UK

MADE IN PARADIS UK Women's elastic triangle swimsuit top Superdry £24.58 MADE IN PARADIS UK

SNEAKIN UK Women's molded one-piece swimsuit Lisca Tanzania £60.56 SNEAKIN UK

MADE IN PARADIS UK Women's -piece swimsuit Ichi Rosian £25.96 MADE IN PARADIS UK

Tall Swimsuits That Hold Up in the Water

Finding a swimsuit that actually fits when you're tall is its own project. The torso is too short, the straps dig in before they should, and a one piece that works on paper turns unwearable the moment you try to move. We've been through enough of those to know the difference between a swimsuit that looks fine on a hanger and one that genuinely holds its shape once you're in the water, adjusting your straps, diving in, or doing anything more active than standing still looking elegant. This collection is specifically for tall women who want length where it counts and coverage that doesn't shift. We've looked at cut, at strap adjustability, at fabrics that hold their structure when wet rather than going slack and sad. Some of these are sleek and minimal. Some have more support built in for those who need it. All of them have been chosen because they solve the actual fitting problem rather than ignoring it and hoping nobody notices. A swimsuit should work as hard as you do on holiday. These ones do.

MADE IN PARADIS UK -piece swimsuit for women Banana Moon Belmar Scrunchy £39.22 MADE IN PARADIS UK