Claire's Picks

Swimsuits Worth Every Wear

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A good swimsuit is one of the hardest things to buy well and one of the most worth getting right. The difference between something that fits properly and something that almost fits is enormous when you are wearing very little else. We have been genuinely selective here because this category rewards it. What we have pulled together are the swimsuits that earn repeat wear, the ones with enough structure to actually support, enough style to photograph well, and enough quality to survive a full summer without losing their shape. We favour cuts that flatter rather than just trend. A good ruched detail can do real work at the waist. A well placed neckline changes everything. And colour matters more in a swimsuit than almost anywhere else because you are wearing it against bare skin in bright light with no layering to soften or distract. These are not panic purchases for a holiday you forgot to pack for. They are considered choices that make you feel genuinely good poolside, beachside, wherever the occasion happens to be. The right swimsuit does not just cover you. It works for you.

Claire's Top Picks

Swimsuits With a Zip Worth Bringing Along SNEAKIN UK Long-sleeved swimsuit shirt for baby girl Sterntaler Licorne Jump to section ↓

£23.93 SNEAKIN UK

Vintage Swimsuits You'll Be Glad You Packed MADE IN PARADIS UK Women's swimsuit bottoms Lisca Malaga Jump to section ↓

£21.70 MADE IN PARADIS UK

Yellow Swimsuits You'll Be Glad You Packed THE_DOUBLE_F Hazel Striped Swimsuit Jump to section ↓

£49.70 THE_DOUBLE_F

Swimsuits With a Zip Worth Bringing Along

A zip on a swimsuit is not a small detail. It changes how the whole thing works. You can get in and out of it quickly at the beach, adjust coverage mid swim, layer it under a wetsuit without a fight, and when you actually do it up properly it holds everything in place with a conviction that hook and eye closures simply cannot match. We have always thought the zip swimsuit is undersold as a practical piece of swimwear rather than just a stylistic choice. The ones we have pulled together here range from sleek sporty styles that mean business in the water to more fashion forward cuts where the zip is doing real visual work down the front. Some are ideal for actual swimming. Others are poolside pieces that happen to fasten beautifully. All of them are swimsuits we would genuinely pack rather than leave behind after one difficult changing room moment with a sticky back clasp. The zip is not a gimmick here. It is the reason these swimsuits work better than most of what else is on offer, and that is exactly why we built this edit around it.

SNEAKIN UK Long-sleeved swimsuit shirt for baby girl Sterntaler Licorne £23.93 SNEAKIN UK

MONSOON Tropical UPF+ Long Sleeve Swimsuit Black £18.20 MONSOON

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Black Scuba Zip Up Swimsuit £10.75 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

LA REDOUTE UK UV Protection Swimsuit £35.20 LA REDOUTE UK

SNEAKIN UK Long-sleeved swimsuit shirt for baby girl Sterntaler Arc-en-ciel £23.93 SNEAKIN UK

MONSOON Tropical Swirl UPF+ Short Swimsuit Orange £25.00 MONSOON

THE_DOUBLE_F Black swimsuit with logo patch £270.00 THE_DOUBLE_F

SNEAKIN UK Women's -piece swimsuit Banana Moon Smak Popmix £77.10 SNEAKIN UK

LA REDOUTE UK UV Protection Short Sleeve Swimsuit £17.99 LA REDOUTE UK

LA REDOUTE UK Apple Print Swimsuit £14.94 LA REDOUTE UK

DOROTHY PERKINS UK Minoti Long Sleeve One-Piece Swimsuit With Front Zip In Light Pink £20.00 DOROTHY PERKINS UK

DOROTHY PERKINS UK Wovcor High Neck Zip Detail Sleek Fit Swimsuit In Black £72.61 DOROTHY PERKINS UK

Vintage Swimsuits You'll Be Glad You Packed

Modern swimwear has become obsessed with tiny triangles and the kind of coverage that requires genuine confidence and a complete absence of lunch. Vintage cuts offer something different. High waists that actually hold things in, structured bodices that do real work, ruching placed with intention rather than as an afterthought. The silhouette is flattering in a way that feels almost architectural, which is why women keep returning to it. We have been collecting our favourite vintage inspired swimsuits because this category genuinely rewards a proper edit. Not everything labelled retro earns the description. Some are costumey. Some use the aesthetic without delivering the actual support. The ones we've chosen here have both. They look right and they feel right, which is a harder combination to find than it should be. Polka dots, bold florals, colour block panels that echo the fifties and sixties without tipping into fancy dress territory. These are swimsuits you will photograph well in, feel comfortable in, and genuinely look forward to wearing. That last part matters more than people admit. A swimsuit you are glad you packed changes the whole trip.

MADE IN PARADIS UK Women's swimsuit bottoms Lisca Malaga £21.70 MADE IN PARADIS UK

MADE IN PARADIS UK Women's swimsuit bottoms Lisca Amovibles Iceland £31.82 MADE IN PARADIS UK

SNEAKIN UK Women's high waist swimsuit bottom Lisca Malaga £25.46 SNEAKIN UK

MADE IN PARADIS UK Women's swimsuit top Lisca Malaga £34.57 MADE IN PARADIS UK

SNEAKIN UK Women's swimsuit top Lisca Iceland £50.89 SNEAKIN UK

SNEAKIN UK Women's high waist swimsuit bottom Lisca Iceland £31.82 SNEAKIN UK

Yellow Swimsuits You'll Be Glad You Packed

Yellow is the colour that makes absolutely no attempt to go unnoticed, and that is precisely why it works so well in a swimsuit. Against water, against white sand, against a sun lounger, it hits differently to every other colour. It photographs brilliantly. It makes skin glow in a way that navy and black simply do not. We have heard people say yellow is a difficult colour to wear and we disagree almost entirely. The right shade matters, yes. A warm golden yellow sits beautifully on deeper skin tones. A softer buttercup works brilliantly for fairer complexions. There is a yellow for everyone and finding it is worth the effort. This collection brings together the cuts and styles we genuinely love, from classic one pieces that feel polished and considered to bikinis with enough coverage to actually swim in. These are the swimsuits that earn their place in your case rather than sitting at the bottom of it because you packed them optimistically and then lost your nerve. Yellow at the beach is a decision you will not regret.

THE_DOUBLE_F Hazel Striped Swimsuit £49.70 THE_DOUBLE_F