Swimsuit Reviews

6.22.2019

If you follow me on Instagram, then you probably know I've been on the hunt for a swimsuit. I have one I bought a few years ago from Target, and I like it fine, but it's a little bit big, and I'm just in the mood for something new. Now that the internet is onto my search, I am seeing nothing but ads for swimsuits on all my social media accounts. I've checked out so many sites! And I would be up for trying out some of these shops, but I think any store that sells swimsuits online should offer free shipping and free returns. It's so hard to find suits that fit, and I need an easy return process if something doesn't work out.

With that said, I know of course that all body types are different and suits are going to fit people differently, but I thought it might be helpful to share a few of the suits I've tried recently!
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TARGET

I bought this without trying it on when I was in Target and saw it on the model. I got a size Medium. The size was correct, but unfortunately this didn't work for me and I took it back.

PROS: 
-Price
-Fun colors and design
-Free shipping + returns

CONS:
-Skimpy butt coverage
-Wasn't long enough in the torso, so it pulled down in the front, even after adjusting the straps all the way.

SUMMERSALT
>>>> The Sidestroke ($95)

I first saw this suit when a blogger I follow posted a photo wearing it. I have never in my life spent this much on a swimsuit, but it has amazing reviews, and I figured I could at least try it. I filled out their fit guide, and it recommended I get a size 6, but I bought a size 8, and I'm glad I did. It was a good fit for me. That said, I was super sad this didn't work because I truly loved it.

PROS:
-Extremely easy return process + free shipping back to them
-Love the colors
-The design is fun and unique. LOVE the one-shoulder strap and how the back looked.
-SUPER SOFT. The softest swimsuit I've ever touched.
-Loved how it fit on my upper half.

CONS:
-Skimpy butt coverage (the website says this is a "C" butt coverage, but there's not way that's true)
-No cups built in, so I looked "cold" all the time even when I wasn't, if you know what I mean. Also the white band hits right on the *ipple, so that's a huge concern. I could have lived with the butt coverage, but for the price, I didn't want to be constantly worried about headlights. <-- a few of the reviews mentioned this, but honestly I'm shocked more people didn't have this issue. Or maybe they just don't care?
-Shipping to me cost $8. Boo. Free shipping back, but really $8 shipping is a ripoff for how expensive the suit is.

AMAZON


This suit was recommended by a friend of mine. I purchased a version of the same suit just without the ruffle. I think this has potential! Unfortunately I don't know what Amazon's problem was, but it had been over a week and hadn't shipped, so I cancelled the order because it was coming with something else I needed that wasn't going to arrive in time. I haven't reordered the suit yet, but I still might. It has good reviews and looks promising! Sorry I can't actually review this one, but I know someone in real life who has tried it and loved it! Just make sure and look at the sizing guide. This runs suuuuper small.

ATHLETA

When I posted about swimsuits on Instagram, I had numerous people recommend Athleta, so I figured I would give them a try. With free shipping and free returns, I didn't have anything to lose. And I actually found something to keep! Here's what I ordered:

>>>> Loop Back One Piece (Tranquil Blue color on sale $64.99)

I ordered a Medium Tall in the Tranquil blue because that color was on sale. The red and black were both $108. I loved the detail on the back, and after the Summersault problem, I was happy this suit had built-in cups. Unfortunately, it was horribly unflattering. I am not a large person, and this suit made me look extremely poochy in the stomach area. I don't understand what kind of photoshop magic they did to the models to make it not look awful in these photos.

PROS
-Price
-Cute detail in the back
-Built-in cups
-Adjustable straps
-Tall options for longer torsos

CONS
-VERY unflattering color and design; I don't think a different color would have looked any better.
-The chest area bunched up horribly and looked silly
-Butt coverage was still not as much as I'd prefer but was ok

>>>> Cloudbreak Rib Bottom (sale $29.99)

I bought these bottoms to go with the top below. They were comfy and I liked the material, but I didn't keep them.

PROS
-Price
-Material
-Design (I liked the little cutouts on the leg; it was cute without being too much)

CONS
-Skimpy in the butt (are you noticing a pattern???)


Heyyyyyy we have a winner! Yes, I kept one finally! Although I had been looking for one-piece suits, I loved the look of this tankini top. It had an athletic vibe without looking like something an Olympic swimmer would wear. Plus, a fun design!

PROS
-Price
-Long enough to cover my stomach even with a longer torso
-Cute design
-Built-in bra (you actually purchase by bra size)
-Adjustable straps
-Fit perfectly!

CONS
-None!

Since I obviously returned the bottoms I bought to go with this top, you're probably wondering what I'm wearing with this. I actually have 2 bottoms that will work that I've had for years from Target. One is a blue bikini bottom. The other is a black swim skirt. It's really cute, and I love that my entire butt area is covered by the skirt part! 

And maybe you're thinking I'm a grandma and should calm down about my constant need to cover my butt. But I really don't think I'm asking too much to find a swimsuit with enough material to cover my bottom so I don't have a wedgie after taking 5 steps. I'm going to be bending down to pick up my kids and running to play with them, and I just want my butt covered, dang it! It really should not be that difficult.

I've checked out a number of other options for swimsuits besides the ones above. If you're going to suggest it, I'm sure I've looked at it. But after finding the Athleta tankini, I think I might be good for now. I've burnt myself out on suits for the moment, and surprisingly many of these other sites don't offer free shipping or returns! I already lost money paying shipping for my Summersalt suit, so I'm not eager to repeat that mistake.

All that to say, where is your favorite swimsuit from? What are you the most picky about when trying on suits? What is your preferred swimsuit style?
Birchwood Pie said...

Yep, no headlights and no cheeks is pretty much all I ask from a swimsuit and yes it's way too hard to find. The tankini & boy shorts combo is pretty much the only thing that works for my small top and bigger bottom. Target was my go to for years but last year I scored with a sale at Land's End and I should be good for a while.

Ali said...

I have the same desire to cover my butt when wearing a bathing suit. I recently had great luck with a Calia bikini by Carrie Underwood from Dick’s Sporting Goods (the boyfriend bottoms are amazing) and a bikini from Land’s End. Bathing suit shopping is definitely super hard!

Kaity B. said...

I'm totally with you on the butt coverage! Especially if you have little ones and know you're going to be squatting to deal with toddler shenanigans all the time lol That's why I only buy boy short bottoms!

The Lady Okie said...

I don't love the look of boy short bottoms on me, so that's why I have issues haha. I don't know why. But my skirt bottom I think is the best solution I've found. It's just, why can't stores make bottoms with enough coverage on the sides???? I don't get it. I don't have a super large butt or anything. It's average!

The Lady Okie said...

A few people have said Land's End! I need to check them out!

Lindsay C said...

Victoria Secret has brought back their swimsuit line so I'd recommend checking them out. ALSO ... definitely check out Columbia, Lands End, North Face and Nordstroms for swimsuits! I need full coverage too so I generally buy swim shorts or skirts! I also LOVE one pieces! :)

Callie said...

Oy, swimsuit shopping. I just got a new one this year too, but it was a process. I actually got a top from Lime Ricki and bottoms from DM Fashion, and I’m pretty happy with how it turned out! I was curious about that Summersalt one, so that’s really good to know.

Rach said...

I like the tankini top you decided to keep! I like how it has a built in bra plus the cute strappy look. Also, it looks like it has a higher neckline which is definitely something I look for these days when chasing a toddler. :)

Kristen Skelton said...

I saw this one on Amazon while looking at another and decided to chance it and order, and it's PERFECT. It's comfortable in the rear, doesn't slip, doesn't ride up, has padding in the cups, and I'm a huge fan of a halter neck. It's definitely the most expensive suit I've purchased and it's 100% worth every penny, plus I always get compliments on it. https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B01LZI0YNS/ref=twister_B07G4RTTR4?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Carolann @ Finding Ithaka said...

Swimsuits are so hard to find! I'm so glad that you found one that works! When I lived in Hawaii, I had like 3-4 bathing suits at all times that worked. I found the most luck at TJ Maxx! I wasn't into ordering online in Hawaii because everything took forever to arrive and Hawaii was usually excluded from free shipping/returns (I Know, poor me.) I found an Australian brand at TJ Maxx that I really liked called Nip Tuck. Now that I am pregnant I bought exactly one maternity bathing suit that I have been wearing a lot because my apartment complex has a pool. It's black which I think works perfectly when you have a 37-week bump!

Sarah @ Sweet Miles said...

Hahah oh geeze, shopping for swimsuits in the worst thing ever. Especially in my mom-bod that's just, different, than before. Not worse, just different, and a bit harder to fit and flatter enough to make me feel GOOD. I have a tankini from Target that I love - it's got a nice top and a cute 'skirt' bottom. The only downside is the support up top isn't that great, so you can't exactly RUN around the pool haha but I like it. Other than that, I've been eyeing a few on Amazon and there's a brand I follow that's popular amongst all the Utah bloggers and vloggers I follow but I can't for the life of me remember the name of it now!

Rachel said...

The Summersalt suit was a really cute design but at that price...who skipped out on the built in cups? That's just ridiculous. Is anyone gonna be happy with a design like that?
That tankini top you got is really cute! I've always ended up with a better fit from two pieces...I was probably under 10 years old last time I wore a one piece, haha! Shorts are what I feel most comfy in for swimming, and I wear a long-sleeved rash guard which makes me feel like a way more serious athlete (i don't know, surfer or something?) than I actually am. In reality, I avoid most swimming occasions, although I like waterslides.

Jenny Evans said...

I definitely need a new swimsuit. The one I wear is one we purchased for my daughter who is a little smaller than me but it came too big, and didn't have free returns, and my swimsuit was wearing out so I just took that one. But I don't like it and it doesn't fit right. These are cute but I converted to tankinis and boy shorts a few years back and now I legit feel like I'm in my underwear wearing a one-piece swimsuit! I did a bunch of searching on Amazon and left the tabs open for the ones I liked a while ago, and then someone closed them so I guess I have to start over now. Sigh. Thanks for the help.

Michelle said...

I cannot even tell you the trauma I’ve gone through trying to find a good suit. I found one at Target a few years ago that I love, and I have a retro style one from ModCloth that’s good, too. I have a borderline Kardashian situation and a super long torso which are a toxic combo in bathing suit land. I tried one at Old Navy that I loved. I tried on the Tall size and it was STILL too short! I finally went with another one from Target for our beach trip. That was a huge mistake, because I wasn’t thinking about the fact that I was post stomach bug and had dropped a ton of weight 😂 sigh.

Amy said...

Ugh, I'm with you on lack of butt coverage in alllll the swimsuits. I have a pair of Zella boy short swim bottoms that I use with two different Lands End tankini tops (neither of which I especially like) and I want to get a one piece. I just am not in a swimsuit enough to justify the purchase right now when I have perfectly functional options. Even if I don't like them. Haha! Thanks for these reviews. I've had my eye on a one shoulder piece with a ruffle like the Amazon one you have posted above but haven't bit the bullet yet. I love the tankini top you chose! So glad you found something that works for you.

Lena Charles said...

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