Are you looking forward to wearing your bathing suit or bikini again, or are you dreading it? I’m sure that right now all of us are so appreciative of being able to travel again that our body shape isn’t of so much concern. However, finding a great bathing suit is never easy so I’m here to help and have selected some of the best bathing suits for women over 40 this summer.
You may one day go to the dead sea and float in the water, go for a wonderful beach holiday or plunge into a natural pool in the jungle. Or you may just be enjoying the sunshine in your back garden. Either way, you may as well look good!
This time of year is perfect for swim suit hunting
If you’re thinking of getting a new swim suit, now is the best time to buy as the selection is usually the biggest.
You will have plenty of opportunity to try on a few swimsuits at home. Plus, choosing a new one may help to give you something to look forward to when travel, or exercising at your nearest pool, becomes a possibility once more.
Many of the options shown below are comfortable and flattering for women over 40 so you can be sure you will step out on the beach or swimming pool in confidence and style.
Where to buy swimsuits: Brands to consider
If you aren’t sure where to start your search, some great brands to consider for swimwear include:
- Seafolly – high quality, hip & youthful
- Miraclesuit – figure flattering and slimming
- Lands’ End – Also has a lot of modest swimwear
- Becca – edgy and on trend
- Sea Level – timeless with flattering ruching options
- Summersalt – modern with color blocking
- Magicsuit – stylish tankini options
What swimwear will you wear this summer?
Are you still wearing bikinis or do you prefer bathing suits?
My preference is still for a bikini as I find them more comfortable and, on my body, still more flattering.
However, when I go snorkeling or do some serious swimming I wear a rash guard, which is why I have included some in this list too.
I’m not interested in getting a tan and always protect my skin with high SPF sunscreen. Here is why I feel you too should embrace your beautiful pale skin!
Whatever your preference, you’re sure to find something you like in my selection of bathing suits, bikinis and rash guards.
Sandra @lapecosapreciosa above looks incredible in her halterneck two-piece.
Check out these two piece swimsuits from Sovoyontee, luvamia, Yonique and Adisputent for a similar look.
My favorite swimwear brand
Like many of you, I don’t enjoy buying swimwear, but I love browsing the collections of brand Seafolly.
These pieces are high quality, have a wonderful tactile feel and are comfortable. Check out their current collection at Nordstrom and at Amazon.
I got the kaftan in this design as well from Seafolly.
Best bathing suits for women: Below are other pieces I loved and considered
Below is a Seafolly bikini you could choose. Here are the bikini bottoms. Or you could always choose to wear this with another color of bottoms to match any of the colors in the top.
Seafolly Peek a Boo Bikini Top / Banded Wide Side Retro Bikini Bottom Swimsuit
If you like your bathing suit to be slimming, you may like to choose an optional illusion swim suit like this one, also from Seafolly.
Seafolly Block Party Diamond One Piece Swimsuit
One of the difficulties with bikinis can be finding a high-waisted pair of bottoms to keep everything tucked in. The classic black bikini (below) fits the bill.
Seafolly Bandeau Halter Bikini Top Swimsuit / Seafolly Twist Band Hipster Full Coverage Bikini Bottom Swimsuit
If you’re looking for a matching rashguard, the black option below is classy and classic.
Seafolly Milea Mini Ribbed Long-Sleeve Rash Vest
I also like the striped bikini below which features a timeless striped pattern and a nice high waistband.
Tommy Breaker Bay Reversible Halter Bikini Top / Hipster Bikini Bottoms
One-piece bathing suits
Now that you’ve seen some bikini choices, let’s look at one-piece bathing suits. One piece swimsuits are just as stylish as a bikini.
Sheree @shesheshow above looks glamorous in her print swimsuit.
Get her look with this similar sun hat, and swimsuits from CUPSHE, Firpearl and Tempt Me.
I also really like the draped bathing suits from Miraclesuit (plus size option here), which I believe are perfect for women over 40.
Their bathing suits have strengthened panels to tuck in the tummy area and the drapes hide the bulges so you will look streamlined and beautiful. This swimsuit below has a flattering illusion style designed to create a slimming effect.
Miraclesuit Swimwear Oceanus Tummy Control One Piece Swimsuit (plus size option here)
The graphic print of the Miraclesuit one-piece (below) looks very modern and, like all Miraclesuit options, it promises to make you look 10 pounds lighter!
Miraclesuit Tummy Control Temptation Underwire One Piece Swimsuit
Sea Level is another brand that I’ve recently discovered. I like the flattering crisscross detailing and ruching of the one-piece option below.
Sea Level Cross Front Multifit One-Piece Swimsuit
Another good place to have a look for flattering swimsuits is Boden which understands that women over 40 want stylish options that aren’t too revealing.
Boden Kefalonia Swimsuit
I couldn’t resist including the fun vacation print (below) which could be your favorite place in Italy or France.
Boden Placement Print Swimsuit
Best tummy control swimsuit
Below are more very well reviewed options for you.
The fabulous asymmetric swimsuit (below) from Summersalt also offers compression technology.
Summersalt The Sidestroke Swimsuit
The retro style halterneck swimsuit (below) comes in a huge range of colors and has more than 20,000, largely positive reviews, from women who say it is quite possibly the most flattering swimsuit for an older demographic.
Smismivo Tummy Control Swimwear Halter One Piece Swimsuit
The tummy control swimsuit (below) would look great on many figures. If you have a pear shape, it will help to minimize your lower half and put the focus on your bust. It will also help you if you like to look curvier on your bust as the print makes the bust look larger in comparison to the plain black part of the swimsuit.
PERONA Tummy Control Swimsuit
Another tummy control option for you. The bathing suit (below) has ruched fabric around the tummy area for a flattering effect. Reviewers say it has good coverage while still feeling sexy for a middle aged women.
RXRXCOCO Tummy Control Ruched Bathing Suit
Black swimsuits
You really can’t go wrong with a flattering black swimsuit, in the same way as a little black dress will never go out of style.
Adaline @sdmomstyles above chooses a black bikini top with her cutoff shorts.
Recreate her outfit with this similar bikini (another option here), hat and denim shorts.
Boden Levanzo Ruched Halter Swimsuit
DOULAFASS Ruffle Tummy Control Monokini Bathing Suit
Rash vest picks
I am a big fan of rash guards. I love how they protect my skin and many are very sexy too.
I always wear them when I do some serious swimming or go on a snorkeling trip or white water rafting.
The long sleeve rashguard (below) is a swimming suit rashguard hybrid that is perfect if you don’t want to pop your rashguard on top of your bathing suit.
AXESEA Long Sleeve Rash Guard
I think a zip on a rashguard like the Attraco rashguard (below) adds subtle sex appeal. There’s a good choice of colors and reviewers say it offers stylish sun protection.
ATTRACO Zip Front Rash Guard
Another well-reviewed option is the print rashguard (below). Women who have worn this one say it is thick and good quality but not heavy.
AXESEA Rash Guard
Bikinis
I still love bikinis and when I’m not snorkeling or spending a lot of time in the water, that is what I will wear.
I usually opt for ones that have good coverage of the breasts and which have a higher brief. I also like briefs that have small pipes, so I don’t have to constantly keep up my bikini line!
Nikki @midlifechic above chooses a classic, striped bikini.
Take a look below at more flattering bikini options.
The black bikini below featured high-waisted bottoms.
Summersalt The Ruffle Oasis Bikini Top / The Ruffle Oasis Bikini Bottom
If you want a higher waist, then choosing a retro style bikini like the two-piece below is a good choice.
Tempt Me Women Two Piece Halter Swimsuit
If you like some extra coverage, you can choose a tankini style two piece like the bathing suit (below) which features a draped top.
SouqFone Two-Piece Bathing Suit
One way to give your beach outfit a modern look is to choose mismatched colors or patterns for your bikini top and bottom. The Cupshe bikini (below) has good reviews from women who say it covers up a “mommy tummy”.
CUPSHE High Waist Bikini Swimsuit
The bikini (below) features a high waisted bikini bottom and a flattering crossover top. Reviewers say that it is figure flattering even if you don’t usually wear a bikini.
SUUKSESS Wrap Bikini Set
Tankinis
A great hybrid between the one-piece swimsuit and the bikini, tankinis can be a fantastic option if you don’t feel tummy confident, but you want to wear a two-piece.
It also means you can mix and match, perhaps opting for a bikini top one day for sunbathing, and the tankini top when you want more coverage. Here are some of my favorites.
You can wear these tankini tops (below) with your favorite bikini bottoms.
Miraclesuit Love Knot Sweetheart Neckline Tankini
Miraclesuit Dazzle Scoop Neck Underwire Bra Tankini
Magicsuit Carma Side Tie Solid Tankini Top
swimwear with sleeves
If you aren’t keen on your upper arms, the options used to be fairly limited when it came to swimsuits. However, swimsuits with sleeves (like the choices below) are particularly on trend this summer.
Summersalt The Ruffle Backflip
Byinns V-Neck Belted One-Piece Swimsuit
COCOSHIP Retro High Waist Bikini Set
Sea Level Long Sleeve One-Piece Swimsuit
Plus size swimwear
Summersalt The Perfect Wrap One-Piece
There’s some beautifully flattering plus size swimwear and plus size cover-ups in stores right now, which makes the most of curves while providing support where it’s needed.
Swimwear which has a retro vibe often works wonderfully for curvy women!
Sovoyontee Plus Size High Waisted Tummy Control Swimwear
Daci Plus Size One Piece Swimsuit
Bathing suits for your body type
As with everything, choosing a bathing suit that you love and which suits you is much more important than opting for the latest fad. Below are some ideas about the best swim suits for your body type.
big bust
If you have a large bust, it can be tricky finding swimwear to fit.
Georgette @grownandcurvywoman above (read her style interview here) looks great in her blue swimsuit.
Steal her look with this similar swimsuit (another option here).
The choices below are well reviewed as well-fitting, supportive options.
BLEU by Rod Beattie Kore Shirred Bandeau Bikini Top
Fantasie Ottawa Underwire Wrap Front Bikini Top
Freya Freestyle Underwire Molded One-Piece Swimsuit
Small busts
Those with small busts may find that bathing suits with ruffles on the bust and hips add shape, while those with larger busts will need much more support than that afforded by the likes of string bikinis!
CUPSHE Ruffle Hook Closure Bikini Set
Summersalt The Cinched One-Piece
Hourglass
If you’re an hourglass, then you could play up those curves by opting for retro styles.
Ekouaer Tummy Control Shirred Bathing Suit
AMOURRI Vintage Polka Underwire High Waisted Swimsuit
Inverted triangle
Meanwhile, inverted triangles could try halter neck styles. It is flattering as it shows the collarbone and neckline without adding weight up top.
CUPSHE High Neck Tummy Control Swimwear Bathing Suit
Rectangle
Rectangles and athletic shapes can either add some curves with embellishments or patterns, or can choose to play up their slim figure by opting for stripes.
S Sunyokini Printed One Piece Swimsuit
Pear
If you are a pear shape, you could opt for a bright color on top and a darker color on your bottoms to draw attention away from your hips and thighs.
SouqFone Swimsuits for Women Two Piece Bathing Suits Ruffled Flounce Top with High Waisted Bottom Bikini Set
SouqFone Ruffled Flounce Top with High Waisted Bottom Bikini Set
long torso
If you have a long torso, it can be difficult to find a swimsuit that fits. The Summersalt brand has swimsuits specially designed to fit a long torso.
Summersalt The Long Torso Perfect Wrap One Piece
Modest swimwear
While swimwear and modesty can seem like an oxymoron, you may like to choose modest swimwear because of religious reasons, because of who you are vacationing with, or because you are self-conscious about a certain part of your body.
So, what modesty means will be different for different people. You will need to think about what you want to cover up.
Do you, for example, want a long-sleeve or a high-neck option, or do you want a tankini to cover your tummy, or a skirted swimsuit to cover up your thighs?
Judith @stylecrone above (read her beauty interview here) opts for a swimdress and colorful cover up.
Check out these swim dresses from COSKAKA, Peddney, SHEKINI and GEMAN.
Below you will find more swimsuit choices offering a little more coverage than a ‘regular’ bathing suit or bikini.
Aleumdr Rashguard Long Sleeve Zip Swimsuit
Husmeu One Piece Swimdress
Tournesol Swim Shorts
Boden Elastic Band Beach Short
Swimsuit cover-up selections
Almost just as important as your swimwear, a nice cover-up is essential for any trip to the beach to pop over your best bathing suits for women choices.
After all, you never know when you might want to pop into the beach bar for a cocktail!
HARHAY Swimwear Cover-up
Bsubseach Caftan Beach Dress
Elan V-Back Cover-Up Maxi Dress
You can read more in my article on the best tunics and cover-ups for the beach.
shop some of the items above here:
Do you have a favorite women’s swimwear brand? What are you going to wear to the beach this Summer? What do you think the best bathing suits for women over 40 are?
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