A good swimsuit is genuinely hard to find, and most of us have a drawer full of evidence to prove it. The ones that looked promising online but fit badly. The ones that sagged after a single swim. The ones that were fine but never quite right. We've been pulling together the swimsuits that actually clear the bar, and it's a higher bar than it sounds. Fit matters more here than almost anywhere else in dressing. So does fabric quality, because a cheap swimsuit announces itself almost immediately. We look for structure where structure is needed, flattering cuts that have real intention behind them, and colours and prints that hold their appeal once you're actually in the sun wearing them rather than just browsing. One piece swimsuits are well represented here because we think they deserve their moment. Some are sleek and minimal. Some have detail that earns its place. All of them are the kind of thing you actually want to pack rather than settling for. The swimsuit is too important a piece to treat as an afterthought.
Claire's Top Picks
Black Swimsuits Worth a Spot in the Case
SOCK SHOP
Love Luna Pack Women's Period Squad Swimsuit Black -
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£35.99
SOCK SHOP
Brown Swimsuits That Fit Where They Should
THE_DOUBLE_F
Brown Cabana swimsuit with ruffles
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£169.00
THE_DOUBLE_F
Swimsuits That Fit Where They Should
PRETTYLITTLETHING UK
Espresso Cross Front Strappy Swimsuit
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£17.50
PRETTYLITTLETHING UK
Swimsuits Worth Packing for the Beach
INSTOCK UK
Tropical Leopard Neutral Swimsuit - High Quality & Stylish Swimwear for All!
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£12.94
INSTOCK UK
Black Swimsuits Worth a Spot in the Case
Black swimsuits have a reputation for being the safe choice, the backup plan, the thing you reach for when you can't decide. We'd argue they're actually the most considered choice you can make. A really good black swimsuit is one of the hardest things to find because the cut has nowhere to hide. No print to distract, no colour to charm. Just shape, fabric, and how it sits on your body. That's exactly why we've been so particular about the ones we've chosen here. Some are simple and sculptural, doing everything through line and construction. Others have interesting details that reward the closer look without shouting. All of them photograph well, pack without fuss, and work from the pool to the beach to a sunlounger at a hotel you've been saving up for. We've also made sure there's genuine variety in silhouette, from high-cut and minimal to more supportive styles with real structure. Black is not the boring option. In the right cut, it's the most intentional thing you can pack.
SOCK SHOP
Love Luna Pack Women's Period Squad Swimsuit Black -
£35.99
SOCK SHOP
THE_DOUBLE_F
Celine black one-piece swimsuit
£230.00
THE_DOUBLE_F
YESSTYLE_US_GLOBAL
Puff-Sleeve Ruffle Swimsuit Black
£24.09
YESSTYLE_US_GLOBAL
STUARTS LONDON
Adidas Originals Womens Trefoil swimsuit - Black
£10.48
STUARTS LONDON
GODDIVA_UK
Goddiva Multiway Swimsuit
£40.00
GODDIVA_UK
YESSTYLE_US_GLOBAL
Set: Cap-Sleeve Plain Swimsuit + Swim Skirt Set of - Swimsuit & Swim Skirt - Black
£11.24
YESSTYLE_US_GLOBAL
LA REDOUTE UK
Kalima Black Swimsuit
£121.00
LA REDOUTE UK
JUICY COUTURE UK
BLACK HALTER TIE SWIMSUIT - Black
£60.00
JUICY COUTURE UK
MONSOON
Alicia Rib Halter Swimsuit Black
£34.30
MONSOON
JUICY COUTURE UK
BLACK HALTER TIE SWIMSUIT - L Black
£60.00
JUICY COUTURE UK
LA REDOUTE UK
AquaNite Shaping Swimsuit
£50.99
LA REDOUTE UK
DAMART
Damart Perfect Fit Swimsuit
£42.99
DAMART
Blue Swimsuits That Fit Where They Should
Finding a swimsuit that actually fits is harder than it should be. The bust gaps, the bottom rides, the fabric goes transparent the moment it gets wet. We've been through all of it. Blue swimsuits are worth caring about specifically because the colour works across every skin tone and photographs beautifully in natural light, which matters when you're somewhere worth photographing. But none of that counts for anything if the fit isn't right. So the edit here is built around swimsuits that hold where they need to hold, cover what they're supposed to cover, and don't require constant adjustment once you're in the water. We've included one pieces and bikinis across a range of blues, from pale sky through to deep navy, because the shade changes everything about how a swimsuit reads. Structured cups for those who need support. Fuller coverage bottoms for those who've given up on triangles. Styles with adjustable straps because bodies are not standard. These are the swimsuits we'd actually pack. The ones that make getting into a swimming costume feel like a decision worth making.
DAMART
Damart Swimsuit
£42.99
DAMART
PRETTYLITTLETHING UK
Blue Crinkle Low Scoop Back Swimsuit
£6.50
PRETTYLITTLETHING UK
HUNKEMOLLER_UK
Hunkemöller Shaping Kai Swimsuit Blue
£15.90
HUNKEMOLLER_UK
HUNKEMOLLER_UK
Hunkemöller Shaping Shell Mesh Swimsuit Blue
£37.50
HUNKEMOLLER_UK
THE_DOUBLE_F
Crypto Duck swimsuit
£45.05
THE_DOUBLE_F
PRETTYLITTLETHING UK
Aqua Blue Crinkle Strappy Swimsuit
£8.75
PRETTYLITTLETHING UK
INSTOCK UK
In Sexy Solid Color Swimsuit Set Ladies Beach Bikini Swimwear, S, M, L, , X - L Dark Blue
£5.99
INSTOCK UK
INSTOCK UK
In Sexy Solid Color Swimsuit Set Ladies Beach Bikini Swimwear, S, M, L, , X - X Blue
£5.99
INSTOCK UK
YESSTYLE_US_GLOBAL
Strapless Plaid Swimsuit Blue
£19.97
YESSTYLE_US_GLOBAL
YESSTYLE_US_GLOBAL
Set: Spaghetti Strap Plain Swimsuit + Cover-Up Skirt Blue
£35.77
YESSTYLE_US_GLOBAL
YESSTYLE_US_GLOBAL
Plain Swimsuit Blue
£24.24
YESSTYLE_US_GLOBAL
INSTOCK UK
Premium Tropical Floral Sea Blue Swimsuit - High Quality & Stylish
£12.94
INSTOCK UK
Brown Swimsuits That Fit Where They Should
Brown is having its moment in swimwear and honestly it makes complete sense. The whole range of it, from pale sand to deep chocolate, works with warm skin tones in a way that brighter colours rarely do. It photographs beautifully against water. It looks expensive without trying. And yet finding a brown swimsuit that actually fits properly is where most people get stuck, because a great colour in the wrong cut is still a great colour you won't wear.
That is what this edit is actually about. Fit first. We have been specific about the cuts here, the ones that offer real support across the chest, that sit where they are supposed to sit, that do not gap or roll or require constant adjustment the moment you move. One pieces that hold their shape. Bikinis where the bottoms do not creep. We are not interested in swimwear that looks good on a hanger and gives up entirely on a body.
Brown swimwear done well is one of the quieter style wins of a summer wardrobe. Wear it once and you will understand why we made the fuss.
THE_DOUBLE_F
Brown Cabana swimsuit with ruffles
£169.00
THE_DOUBLE_F
YESSTYLE_US_GLOBAL
Couple Matching Two-Piece Swimsuit Swim Shorts Women - Swimsuit - Gingham - Brown & White
£30.81
YESSTYLE_US_GLOBAL
PRETTYLITTLETHING UK
Bronze Circle Trim Halterneck Swimsuit
£18.20
PRETTYLITTLETHING UK
PRETTYLITTLETHING UK
Stripe Plunge Knot Front Swimsuit
£17.50
PRETTYLITTLETHING UK
MONSOON
Saylor Halter Two Tone Swimsuit Brown
£39.20
MONSOON
GIGLIO.COM_GLOBAL
ZIMMERMANN Swimsuit Woman color Brown
£136.51
GIGLIO.COM_GLOBAL
GIGLIO.COM_GLOBAL
MAGDA BUTRYM Swimsuit Woman color Brown
£380.00
GIGLIO.COM_GLOBAL
BONMARCHE UK
Bonmarche Women's Brown & Cream Palm Print Layered Knot Front Swimsuit, Size:
£25.00
BONMARCHE UK
GIGLIO.COM_GLOBAL
JACQUEM Swimsuit Woman color Brown
£270.00
GIGLIO.COM_GLOBAL
EGO (UK)
Keyhole Cut Out Trim Detail High Leg Swimsuit In Brown, Women's Size
£26.00
EGO (UK)
SNEAKIN UK
Basic women's swimsuit Red Point Fiama Basico
£67.52
SNEAKIN UK
SNEAKIN UK
Women's swimsuit top Red Point Fiama Bando aros
£35.23
SNEAKIN UK
Swimsuits That Fit Where They Should
PRETTYLITTLETHING UK
Espresso Cross Front Strappy Swimsuit
£17.50
PRETTYLITTLETHING UK
LA REDOUTE UK
Asymmetric Pool Swimsuit
£17.70
LA REDOUTE UK
LA REDOUTE UK
Tankini Hyperboom Swimsuit
£37.09
LA REDOUTE UK
GODDIVA
Halter Neck Floral Embroidered Swimsuit - White by Goddiva
£5.00
GODDIVA
LA REDOUTE UK
Fruit Print UV Protection Swimsuit
£12.64
LA REDOUTE UK
LA REDOUTE UK
Floral Print Halterneck Swimsuit
£15.19
LA REDOUTE UK
GODDIVA_UK
Goddiva Halter Neck Floral Embroidered Swimsuit
£25.00
GODDIVA_UK
MADE IN PARADIS UK
Women's swimsuit top Brigitte Bardot Reveuse
£25.99
MADE IN PARADIS UK
MADE IN PARADIS UK
Women's bandeau swimsuit top Brigitte Bardot Seventies
£28.15
MADE IN PARADIS UK
MADE IN PARADIS UK
Women's swimsuit top Brigitte Bardot Macrame
£24.69
MADE IN PARADIS UK
SNEAKIN UK
Women's swimsuit top Inaska Chill Classic Multiway
£46.60
SNEAKIN UK
SNEAKIN UK
Women's swimsuit top Lisca Quito
£45.63
SNEAKIN UK
Swimsuits Worth Packing for the Beach
INSTOCK UK
Tropical Leopard Neutral Swimsuit - High Quality & Stylish Swimwear for All!
£12.94
INSTOCK UK
THE_DOUBLE_F
Jean Lighting swimsuit with Vespa
£45.05
THE_DOUBLE_F
PRETTYLITTLETHING UK
Teal Crinkle Plunge Swimsuit
£9.00
PRETTYLITTLETHING UK
THE_DOUBLE_F
Striped swimsuit with crabs
£53.00
THE_DOUBLE_F
PRETTYLITTLETHING UK
Cream Embroidered Bead Detail Halter Swimsuit
£9.75
PRETTYLITTLETHING UK
THE_DOUBLE_F
Square lilac one-piece swimsuit
£215.00
THE_DOUBLE_F
MONSOON
Baby Floral UPF+ Swimsuit & Sun Hat Pink
£19.60
MONSOON
INSTOCK UK
Adjustable Bandage Bikini Set Swimwear Swimsuit Woman Sexy Bathing Suits Solid Bikinis Triangle Female Summer Beachwear
£21.65
INSTOCK UK
BONMARCHE UK
Bonmarche Women's Blue & White Coral Print Ruched Front Tummy Control Swimsuit
£12.00
BONMARCHE UK
BONMARCHE UK
Bonmarche Textured Khaki Swimsuit With Shell Metal Detail
£28.00
BONMARCHE UK
BONMARCHE UK
Bonmarche Women's Navy Blue Floral Print Ruched Front Swimsuit, Size:
£25.00
BONMARCHE UK
MONSOON
Baby Floral Jacquard Swimsuit Pink
£12.60
MONSOON
Swimsuits Worth the Tan Lines
MONSOON
Floral Jacquard Cut-Out Swimsuit Pink
£14.00
MONSOON
INSTOCK UK
Premium Miami Tropics Navy Swimsuit - High Quality, Eye
£12.94
INSTOCK UK
DOROTHY PERKINS UK
Gini London Navy Textured Stripe Twist Front Swimsuit
£32.30
DOROTHY PERKINS UK
SNEAKIN UK
Women's low-rise swimsuit bottoms Lisca Portofino
£23.98
SNEAKIN UK
SNEAKIN UK
Women's swimsuit top Cruz Stephanie
£30.26
SNEAKIN UK
SNEAKIN UK
Swimsuit bottoms New Morning Studios
£15.90
SNEAKIN UK
MADE IN PARADIS UK
Women's swimsuit top Protest Mixale
£23.84
MADE IN PARADIS UK
MADE IN PARADIS UK
Women's swimsuit top Protest Mixsuperas
£29.96
MADE IN PARADIS UK
SNEAKIN UK
Women's swimsuit top Lisca Calvi
£38.22
SNEAKIN UK
MADE IN PARADIS UK
Women's swimsuit Athlecia Almi V
£18.16
MADE IN PARADIS UK
MADE IN PARADIS UK
Women's molded one-piece swimsuit Lisca Rimini
£53.90
MADE IN PARADIS UK