With the warmer months in full bloom, it’s finally time to swap out our cool weather capsule wardrobe and swap in our easy, breezy champions like white tank tops and jeans, sheer staples. But, most importantly, it’s time to scope out the best bikinis to live in for summer because swimsuit season is so close, that I can practically feel the sunshine and salt water on my skin.
Here’s the downside to needing to shop for a new bikini year after year: The market becomes, impressively, even more saturated with each passing season. It’s a great paradox, right? Too much of a good thing can be a bad thing and with so many established and new brands constantly dropping new styles, narrowing down the best bikinis out of the bunch is like setting out to find a needle in a haystack.
To save you time, trial and error, and hopefully help you bypass irritating return policies, I tested over 40 bikinis and researched the category’s most popular brands and best-sellers. The following list is a compilation of the best bikini tops, bottoms, and sets based on my hands-on experiences and findings, and I can almost guarantee there is a suit that will suit your needs and preferences.
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Third Love Swim Classic Bikini Swim Set
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Size inclusivity in the swim space has come a long way (though undoubtedly, there is still a long way to go), and one of the pioneering brands designing styles for all shapes and sizes is Third Love. For example, the brand’s Classic Bikini Swim Set is available in a wide size range, catering to cup sizes from A to H and band sizes from 32 to 44 without sacrificing comfort. The bikini top offers the fit, coverage, and support of the brand’s loyalist-favorite t-shirt bra, and the bottoms stay put, so you won’t constantly be pulling and adjusting them.
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Marsyia Bambole Top
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If you’re blessed in the chest, Marsyia’s Bambole Top doesn’t wear well, but if you’re a proud member of the itty bitty committee, turn your attention to this style. The sweetheart neckline and strapless construction of the Bambole make for one gorgeous bikini top. It’s made of polyamide and elastane, and the Italian fabric boasts a basketweave texture. It’s fully lined, so it’s guaranteed to stay put and offer your bust a generous amount of support, but note that it does run small.
Look of the day
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Must see fits from all your favorite celebs.
See the looks
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Spanx Pique Longline Flounce Swim Top
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It was love at first wear when I put on the Spanx Pique Longline Flounce Swim Top. The style runs small, so I sized up, and the fit was comfortable, but if you’re pregnant like me and experiencing the inevitable changes up top, you might even size up two sizes to determine your perfect fit. What I love about Spanx Swim is that all the pieces are smooth and supportive; the Flounce is no exception. It offers modest coverage in the front and back, with a bonus longline overlay that veils the stomach, too.
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Cupshe Boho Rhapsody Lace-Up Back Bralette & Hipster Bikini Set
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Cupshe has gained a lot of traction on social media, and for good reason. The brand offers shoppers quality suits at affordable prices. The Boho Rhapsody Lace-Up Back Bralette & Hipster Bikini Set is a fan-favorite. It comes in seven color options and sizes ranging from XS to XL. Highlighted features include a v-neckline with medium coverage around the bust, removable padding, a lace-up back with cami straps, and a classic, standard-rise waist.
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Hermes Crystal Bikini
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High-end bikinis come with a steep price tag, but when it comes to designer brands like Hermes, you get what you pay for a swimsuit that will last you years and years of wear. The label’s Crystal Bikini comes in four colors (Noir, Rouge H, Rouge Dolomites, and Jaune Impérial), each featuring a Medor stud detail at the center of the bust. The set is made in France and constructed from a cotton jersey fabric. The ribbed triangle bra features removable cups, and the briefs are low-cut with moderate coverage.
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L*Space Sandy Bikini Bottom
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Not into the cheeky look? Opt for L*Space’s Sandy Bikini Bottoms instead. They’re classic to full coverage in the front and back for maximum comfort.
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Hollister High Apex Ribbed Underwire Bikini Top
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If you’d prefer more coverage around the chest, I loved the Hollister’s High Apex Ribbed Underwire Bikini (as do many Hollister shoppers). It highlights the area without being too revealing, and the soft polyester/elastane material is as secure as it is comfy. The best part? The top comes in over a dozen colors and patterns, so once you fall in love with the piece, you can stockpile its many versions.
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Monday Swimwear Riviera Bottom
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Despite the return of low-rise, high-waisted swim bottoms are still very much in style. My favorite cut is the Monday Swimwear Riviera Bottom because although the style shows plenty of leg, your front has plenty of coverage.
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Summersalt High Neck Cut Out Bikini Top and Diagonal Mid Rise Bottom
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Support and coverage are the key components you should look for when shopping for the best bikini for water sports and active beach activities. Summersalt’s High Neck Cut Out Bikini Top and Diagnol Mid Rise Bottom check these boxes. You’ll feel comfortable knowing the suit moves with you, not against you, when you take to the water and sand, especially because it caters to a wide range of sizes (from a 2 to 22).
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SKIMS Signature Swim Bandeau Bikini Top
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If straps get on your nerves, bandeau is likely the best bikini style for you. I’ve had heart eyes for the SKIMS Signature Swim Bandeau Bikini Top since its release, and reviewers rave the piece performs as good as it looks. It comes in six limited edition shades (including neon red and pink) and two classics (onyx and cocoa). Likewise, SKIMS swimwear lives up to the brand’s reputation for inclusive sizing, with a range that starts at a size XXS and extends to 4X.
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Victoria’s Secret Swim Mix & Match Full Coverage Bikini Top and High-Waist Full-Coverage Bikini Bottom
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Oftentimes, when people think of Victoria's Secret, they associate the brand with trendy patterns and over-the-top designs. However, VS has a lot of great staple pieces for capsule swim collections, especially if you’re on the hunt for an LBB (little black bikini). This set is a personal favorite because it’s a classic cut with full coverage all around, but it still offers the sex appeal you want from the VS label.
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Mara Floral Cabana (w/ Trim) Bikini Top and Floral Lulu (Zig-Zag Stitch) Bikini Bottom
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One thing about me is I’m a sucker for florals. Call me basic, roll your eyes, and tell me florals for summer are not groundbreaking. I do not care! If you love a blooming pattern, too, you will love the Mara Floral bikini by Montce. The push-up bra top offers medium support (thank you, side boning), ruched and lace details, and dainty cap sleeves. I love the Lulu bottoms, but you can also get an added coverage high-rise bottom if you want more left to the imagination.
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Me+Em Adjustable Bikini
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If the price tag makes you double-take, the cost covers both the bikini top and bottoms. That said, I love the Forever Adjustable Bikini Triangle Top from Me+Em because it offers wearers moderate coverage, all-around adjustability (tie back and neck), and removable bust cups. The Italian fabric also offers UV protection, which is always a welcomed detail.
What to Keep In Mind When Shopping
According to personal stylist and style therapist, Christina Stein, unlike how you can’t truly judge a story by its book cover, you can absolutely judge a bikini’s quality by its construction.
“A cheaper made suit is thinner and almost plastic feeling, and a more expensive suit will be thicker and more luxe to the touch with a high-quality lining,” Stein tells InStyle. However, Stein is quick to note that you cannot rely on brand names and a bigger price tag to reflect a suit’s quality. Ergo, “trying on a suit is important.”
A Note on Sizing
If you’re unsure if a suit fits properly, Stein tells InStyle that the pieces should feel secure - they should not dig into your skin or leave marks. Her rule of thumb when styling clients in swimwear is to size up, to ensure “the fit is fitted, not tight.”
What’s more, Stein explains that if you feel like your chest is overexposed, this can also be a red flag that your suit is ill-fitting. “You might always want to try different cuts of suits if a bikini isn’t fitting just right,’ she tells InStyle over email. “Make the garment work for you, not the other way around.”
