Claire's Picks

Swimsuits Worth Adding to the Rotation

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Finding a swimsuit that genuinely flatters rather than just fits is harder than it should be, and most of us have a drawer full of evidence to prove it. A good one changes how you feel the moment you put it on. That is not an overstatement. We have been editing this collection with that standard in mind, looking for swimsuits that earn repeat wear rather than a single holiday outing before being retired. What we are drawn to are the cuts that understand the body properly. Styles with good internal structure. Fabrics that hold their shape after a swim rather than going limp and sorry. We have included options across the range, from classic one pieces with a sculptural quality to styles with more coverage, more colour, more personality. Because swimwear is not a purely functional category no matter how much the practical side matters. The right swimsuit gets worn again and again, across pools and beaches and weekends away, because it works every single time. These are the ones we think deserve a permanent place in your rotation, not a trial run.

Claire's Top Picks

High Cut Swimsuits Worth Bringing Along EGO (UK) Halterneck Trim Detail High Leg Swimsuit In Orange Metallic, Women's Size Jump to section ↓

£24.00 EGO (UK)

High Leg Swimsuits That Hold Up in the Water GIGLIO.COM_GLOBAL BOTTEGA VENETA intrecciato nylon one-piece swimsuit Jump to section ↓

£390.00 GIGLIO.COM_GLOBAL

High Neck Swimsuits That Hold Up in the Water SNEAKIN UK Women's V-neck one-piece swimsuit Red Point Yoli Jump to section ↓

£41.03 SNEAKIN UK

Holiday Swimsuits You'll Be Glad You Packed MADE IN PARADIS UK Women's -piece swimsuit Cruz Azta Jump to section ↓

£39.35 MADE IN PARADIS UK

Long Sleeve Swimsuits You'll Be Glad You Packed SNEAKIN UK Baby girl -piece swimsuit Paper Boat Candy Jump to section ↓

£40.60 SNEAKIN UK

One Shoulder Swimsuits Worth Packing for the Beach SNEAKIN UK Women's -piece swimsuit Lisca Hawaii Jump to section ↓

£63.24 SNEAKIN UK

Swimsuits With a Low Back Worth Bringing Along MADE IN PARADIS UK Women's cutaway swimsuit bottoms Lisca Calvi Jump to section ↓

£23.98 MADE IN PARADIS UK

High Cut Swimsuits Worth Bringing Along

The high cut swimsuit does something very specific to the body and we are firmly in its corner. That high leg opening lengthens the leg visually in a way that a standard cut simply cannot compete with. It draws the eye upward, makes you look taller, and creates a silhouette that holds its own whether you are standing at the pool bar or actually swimming. It is a proper style choice rather than an accidental one. We have been picking out our favourites across a range of fits because the details matter enormously here. The cut of the leg, the depth of the back, the quality of the fabric under sun and water. A poorly made version loses its shape the moment it gets wet, which defeats everything. The ones we have gathered hold their structure, their colour, and their confidence throughout an entire holiday. Some are sleek and minimal. Some have beautiful print work or interesting necklines that make them the kind of thing you actually want to wear rather than just pack. Every swimsuit on this list earns its place in your bag.

EGO (UK) Halterneck Trim Detail High Leg Swimsuit In Orange Metallic, Women's Size £24.00 EGO (UK)

THE_DOUBLE_F Black Cabana swimsuit with ruffles £169.00 THE_DOUBLE_F

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Chocolate Crinkle Plunge Swimsuit £21.00 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Cream Plunge Rattan Belted High Leg Swimsuit £10.50 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

LA REDOUTE UK Seersucker Asymmetric Swimsuit £15.00 LA REDOUTE UK

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Cream Bead Detail One Shoulder Cut Out Swimsuit £8.50 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

LA REDOUTE UK Icons Recycled Pool Swimsuit £13.50 LA REDOUTE UK

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Black Plunge Rattan Belted High Leg Swimsuit £10.50 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

EGO (UK) Keyhole Cut Out Trim Detail High Leg Swimsuit In Multi Abstract Print, Women's Size £26.00 EGO (UK)

EGO (UK) Keyhole Cut Out Trim Detail High Leg Swimsuit In Lemon, Women's Size £26.00 EGO (UK)

EGO (UK) Bandeau Cut Out Trim Detail Swimsuit In Bronze Metallic, Women's Size £22.00 EGO (UK)

DOROTHY PERKINS UK Wovcor One Shoulder Cut Out Detail Swimsuit In Khaki £66.01 DOROTHY PERKINS UK

High Leg Swimsuits That Hold Up in the Water

The high leg cut does something architecturally clever to the body. It lengthens the leg visually, pulls the eye upward, and creates a silhouette that looks intentional rather than accidental. We are completely sold on it. The problem has always been finding versions that actually stay where they are supposed to when you move from sunlounger to sea and back again. A swimsuit that rides up, loses its shape in the water, or needs constant readjustment is not a swimsuit worth wearing. These are the ones that held up when tested properly. We looked for good quality fabric with genuine stretch recovery, linings that do not go transparent when wet, and leg openings that stay put. Some of these lean sporty. Some are genuinely glamorous in a seventies supermodel kind of way. All of them photograph beautifully because the proportions are just right. The high leg swimsuit has earned a permanent place in our summer edit and we are not apologising for the enthusiasm. When the cut works this well and the construction backs it up, you simply wear it with confidence.

GIGLIO.COM_GLOBAL BOTTEGA VENETA intrecciato nylon one-piece swimsuit £390.00 GIGLIO.COM_GLOBAL

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

LA REDOUTE UK Enduraflex Hydrasuit Pool Swimsuit £42.49 LA REDOUTE UK

JUICY COUTURE UK BLACK HALTER TIE SWIMSUIT - X Black £60.00 JUICY COUTURE UK

BONMARCHE UK Bonmarche Tie Detail Crochet Print Higher Leg Swimsuit £28.00 BONMARCHE UK

JUICY COUTURE UK BLACK HALTER TIE SWIMSUIT - XXX Black £60.00 JUICY COUTURE UK

LA REDOUTE UK Silvia Shapewear Swimsuit £48.74 LA REDOUTE UK

GODDIVA_UK Goddiva Deep Plunge Halter Neck Swimsuit £35.00 GODDIVA_UK

JUICY COUTURE UK BLACK HALTER TIE SWIMSUIT - XX Black £60.00 JUICY COUTURE UK

LA REDOUTE UK Essential One Piece Swimsuit with Ballerina Shape £19.99 LA REDOUTE UK

SNEAKIN UK Women's -piece swimsuit Lisca Calvi £47.44 SNEAKIN UK

DOROTHY PERKINS UK Wovcor Textured Square Neck High Leg Swimsuit In Black £63.61 DOROTHY PERKINS UK

High Neck Swimsuits That Hold Up in the Water

Coverage without compromise is the whole argument for a high neck swimsuit, and it is an argument we find completely convincing. Whether you are actually swimming lengths, chasing children around a pool, or just want to feel secure without thinking about it all day, a high neck does something a standard scoop simply cannot. It keeps everything in place. It removes a whole category of worry. And when the cut and fabric are right, it looks genuinely considered rather than just sensible. The problem is that a lot of high neck styles photograph beautifully and then let you down the moment you move. Straps that stretch, fabric that goes see through when wet, necklines that gap. We have been very deliberate about only including the ones that actually hold their shape in water, with proper lining and construction that earns the price being asked. What we love most about this edit is that coverage has stopped being code for boring. These swimsuits have strong silhouettes, colours that feel intentional, and details that reward a second look. A high neck swimsuit done well is not a compromise. It is a preference.

SNEAKIN UK Women's V-neck one-piece swimsuit Red Point Yoli £41.03 SNEAKIN UK

LA REDOUTE UK Pool Swimsuit £13.80 LA REDOUTE UK

JUICY COUTURE UK BLACK HALTER TIE SWIMSUIT - M Black £60.00 JUICY COUTURE UK

LA REDOUTE UK Octopus Print Swimsuit £13.99 LA REDOUTE UK

JUICY COUTURE UK BLACK HALTER TIE SWIMSUIT - S Black £60.00 JUICY COUTURE UK

MADE IN PARADIS UK Women's swimsuit top Freya Koh Tao £36.09 MADE IN PARADIS UK

MADE IN PARADIS UK Women's -piece swimsuit Selmark Luxor £84.75 MADE IN PARADIS UK

SNEAKIN UK Women's -piece swimsuit Lisca Iceland £70.50 SNEAKIN UK

SNEAKIN UK Women's halter neck one-piece swimsuit Selmark Tanzania £76.91 SNEAKIN UK

DOROTHY PERKINS UK Rapanui Clothing High Neck Swimsuit In Black £65.00 DOROTHY PERKINS UK

SNEAKIN UK Women's swimsuit top Lisca Ensenada £33.09 SNEAKIN UK

LA REDOUTE UK Floral UV Protection Swimsuit £13.99 LA REDOUTE UK

Holiday Swimsuits You'll Be Glad You Packed

The swimsuit you packed in five minutes because you were focused on everything else is the one you'll wear every single day and quietly resent. We've been there. This collection exists to fix that. We've pulled together the swimsuits that actually reward a proper decision made before you leave, the ones that photograph well by a pool, hold their shape after repeated sea swims, and make getting dressed for a beach day feel like a genuine pleasure rather than an afterthought. There are flattering one pieces for people who want coverage and elegance without sacrificing anything. There are bikinis with real support in the top. There are styles that go straight from water to lunch without looking like you've made zero effort. We've also thought about versatility because a good holiday swimsuit works harder than just one beach afternoon. These are not the ones you settle for. They are the ones you come home raving about to friends who are still wearing the same tired styles they've had for three summers. Pack with intention and the holiday genuinely feels better.

MADE IN PARADIS UK Women's -piece swimsuit Cruz Azta £39.35 MADE IN PARADIS UK

DAMART Damart Perfect Fit Leopard Print Swimsuit £42.99 DAMART

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK White Basic Scooped Swimsuit £12.60 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Black Ruched Plunge Halter Swimsuit £17.50 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Black Ruched Detail Halter Tie Swimsuit £17.50 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

MONSOON Baby Mesh Ruffle Swimsuit Green £12.60 MONSOON

MONSOON Ice Cream Print Swimsuit Blue £12.60 MONSOON

MONSOON Halter Cut Out Swimsuit Black £15.40 MONSOON

SNEAKIN UK Women's swimsuit top Freya Fiji Falls £33.66 SNEAKIN UK

MONSOON Alba Floral Print Swimsuit Green £35.40 MONSOON

ETHICAL SUPERSTORE White Stuff Recycled Sunshine Reversible Swimsuit £32.95 ETHICAL SUPERSTORE

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Black Textured Plunge Swimsuit £15.40 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

Long Sleeve Swimsuits You'll Be Glad You Packed

Sun protection is not a compromise and neither is coverage, but for a long time swimwear treated both like they were. Long sleeve swimsuits solve something specific: the long beach day where sunscreen alone feels inadequate, the holiday where you burn before lunch, the self-consciousness that makes swimming feel less like pleasure than endurance. We are genuinely fond of this category because it delivers real protection without making you look like you dressed for a different activity entirely. The best ones have enough stretch to move properly in the water, fabrics that dry quickly and don't drag, and cuts that feel considered rather than clinical. Some lean sporty with rash guard energy. Others are more sculpted, almost elegant, the kind you would wear for an afternoon on a boat without feeling underdressed. We have pulled together our favourites across both directions. The ones worth packing are the ones where coverage feels like a choice rather than a fallback, and every swimsuit in this edit earns that description completely.

SNEAKIN UK Baby girl -piece swimsuit Paper Boat Candy £40.60 SNEAKIN UK

MONSOON Baby Floral UPF+ Swimsuit & Hat Yellow £26.00 MONSOON

LA REDOUTE UK Printed Long Sleeve Swimsuit £16.09 LA REDOUTE UK

LA REDOUTE UK UV Protection Long Sleeve Swimsuit £19.99 LA REDOUTE UK

MONSOON Tropical UPF+ Long Sleeve Swimsuit Blue £18.90 MONSOON

SNEAKIN UK Baby girl long-sleeve shell pattern one-piece swimsuit Sterntaler £24.65 SNEAKIN UK

MADE IN PARADIS UK -piece long sleeve swimsuit for women Protest Malia £54.56 MADE IN PARADIS UK

MADE IN PARADIS UK Women's swimsuit top Lisca Jersey £39.65 MADE IN PARADIS UK

MONSOON Baby Floral UPF+ Short Sleeve Swimsuit Green £15.40 MONSOON

SNEAKIN UK Space-patterned swimsuit with UV protection for kids Sterntaler £30.34 SNEAKIN UK

MADE IN PARADIS UK Women's swimsuit Payper Thermo Pro Ls £20.57 MADE IN PARADIS UK

DOROTHY PERKINS UK Wovcor Zip Front High Neck Long Sleeve Swimsuit In Khaki £91.21 DOROTHY PERKINS UK

One Shoulder Swimsuits Worth Packing for the Beach

Symmetry is overrated when it comes to swimwear. The one shoulder silhouette does something that a standard bikini or a plain one piece simply cannot: it creates a line that draws the eye upward, adds sculptural interest, and looks genuinely considered rather than just functional. We love it because it sits in that sweet spot between sporty and elegant without being either entirely. It works on different body shapes precisely because it redirects attention rather than distributing it evenly. That asymmetry is doing real work. What we have pulled together here are the one shoulder swimsuits worth actually packing, not just pinning. The ones with structures that hold their shape through a full day at the beach, with fabrics that photograph well both wet and dry, and with details like ruching, cut outs, and hardware that feel intentional rather than decorative. We have included a range of colours and silhouettes because the one shoulder style itself has enough variety to suit very different tastes. Some are bold. Some are classic. All of them earn their place in the bag. One shoulder is not a trend. It is a decision.

SNEAKIN UK Women's -piece swimsuit Lisca Hawaii £63.24 SNEAKIN UK

SNEAKIN UK Baby girl -piece swimsuit Paper Boat Minty Waves £38.46 SNEAKIN UK

LA REDOUTE UK CK Wire One Shoulder Swimsuit £77.99 LA REDOUTE UK

LA REDOUTE UK Swimsuit £69.34 LA REDOUTE UK

HUNKEMOLLER_UK Hunkemöller Bandeau Scallop Swimsuit White £25.00 HUNKEMOLLER_UK

LA REDOUTE UK One Shoulder Swimsuit £31.49 LA REDOUTE UK

HUNKEMOLLER_UK Hunkemöller Luxe Shaping Swimsuit Beige £22.50 HUNKEMOLLER_UK

LA REDOUTE UK Astarita Swimsuit £10.20 LA REDOUTE UK

MADE IN PARADIS UK Women's non-wired one-piece swimsuit Lisca Imperia £74.77 MADE IN PARADIS UK

HUNKEMOLLER_UK Hunkemöller Shaping Ocean Swimsuit Purple £15.30 HUNKEMOLLER_UK

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Red One Shoulder Underwired Swimsuit £8.50 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Shape Chocolate One Shoulder Ruched Swimsuit £15.40 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

Swimsuits With a Low Back Worth Bringing Along

The back of a swimsuit is doing serious work. It's what people see when you walk away, what catches the light when you're in the water, and what makes a plain swimsuit feel considered rather than functional. A low back changes all of that. It introduces an element of elegance that a standard swimsuit rarely achieves, and it solves the tan line problem in a way that a bikini top simply cannot. We've been pulling together the swimsuits with a low back that are genuinely worth the luggage space. Not the ones that gap awkwardly or require you to forgo all movement to keep them in place, but the ones engineered to actually stay put while looking genuinely beautiful. Some are halterneck styles that frame the open back perfectly. Some are scoop fronted with a dramatic dip at the rear that feels almost architectural. The cut matters enormously here and we've been uncompromising about it. A well made low back swimsuit earns its place every time you wear it, and these are the ones that prove exactly that.

MADE IN PARADIS UK Women's cutaway swimsuit bottoms Lisca Calvi £23.98 MADE IN PARADIS UK