ICYMI: Splashy Swimsuits

For stylish dipping: Lisa Marie Fernandez’s seersucker one-piece, a bandeau suit in denim from Karla Colletto and YouSwim’s stretchy two-piece.

By Janet Kelly

FEAR OF public speaking, heights, death? Ha! Often cited as three of our greatest phobias by I-don’t-know-whom, they don’t hold a candle to the terror of trying on a bathing suit under fluorescent lights in front of a full-length mirror. Feeling so exposed, there’s no better opportunity for self-critiquing, a process women excel at, as LittleBird Nancy eloquently explains.

Guilty as charged. When the one bathing suit I would dare put on started to wear around the neckline and I eventually had to toss it, my lame excuse for not going swimming became that I had no swimsuit, not that I dreaded going to a store to try one on. I’m not alone. Even my good-looking daughter-in-law avoids the public pool at her private club.

All joking (kind of) aside, there’s some good news in a sea of new bathing suits. Itsy, bitsy, teenie, weenie polka dot bikinis don’t flatter anyone except rail-thin, skinny-legged pre-pubescent 11-year-old girls, but there are plenty of other choices. Brands like Hunza G and Summersalt have woken up to size inclusivity with tech-smart fabrics. Miraclesuit and Paula Beachwear aim to whittle waists and smooth out tummies. And many of these labels keep the environment in their sights by using recycled materials.

Yes, we’re still a long way from self-acceptance, but knowing there are options to stoke our self-confidence, well, that’s something.

Below, swimsuits for every figure.

YouSwim’s ribbed, seamless Aplomb High-Waist Two Piece accommodates seven sizes from US 2 to 14 in size Stretch I, as well as fits busts from cups A to G. In size Stretch II, it extends to US size 24. The suit will stretch in all directions to complement big busts, no butts, and the in-betweens. In addition to adapting to your curves, the Aplomb, which sells for $139, is available in 16 colors, including this bright yellow.

Even if you’re not a strapless suit kind of girl, this denim-look swimsuit with a keyhole bowtie from diva swimwear designer Karla Colletto might just convince you. It sells for $295 at Mytheresa.

Summersalt gets good marks for its best-selling Sidestroke, which flatters figures with bust support (without padding), offers full butt coverage and fabric that compresses those wiggly body parts into place. Its one-shoulder style comes in 14 different stripe combinations for $95.

If you like the look of a wetsuit, consider Boden’s Neoprene Swimsuit with a sleek, streamlined silhouette that offers maximum sun protection. And, it’s reduced from $130 to $91.

With a built-in bra, removable pads and wide straps, Everlane’s V-neck one piece is an easy-fitting suit. Moreover, it’s fully lined, dries quickly and is fade-resistant. The company says this style was “fit-tested on 112 different women to ensure it feels comfortable, looks flattering, and stays put—no matter how you move.” Did we mention it’s on final sale for $28?

Heads-up, gingham lovers. How cute is this Lilly Pulitzer preppy piece? In addition to the cheery pattern, soft, molded cups lift busts, shirred details cinch in the waist, and removable straps give the option to go strapless. It’s $158 at Zappos.

This svelte swimsuit with Totême’s monogram pattern is made from a four-way stretch, recycled polyamide fabric. A classic silhouette with a deep U-back and high-cut legs, it sells for $190 at Saks Fifth Avenue.

In seamless seersucker, Hunza G’s Nadine Bikini stretches to fit most sizes. It’s currently sold out in this metallic denim, but available in a chocolate brown for $225 at Net-a-Porter.

I always admire how good my friend Diana looks in what I’m sure is a Miraclesuit. The aptly named Illusionists Palma Swimsuit virtually whittles the middle and hips with its shirred, wrapped waistline. Mesh detailing just above the bust and at the waist lightens the look and adds a sexy peek-a-boo effect. A combination of Lycra and Spandex makes the material long-lasting and the look exceptionally slimming. It’s $176 at Bloomingdale’s.

Last summer Lise Marie Fernandez was making her suits out of terry cloth; this season seersucker is her fabric of choice for this glam, Marilyn Monroe-inspired tomato red-hot suit. It’s on sale for $297, down from $495, at Moda Operandi.

This was the bathing suit—mine was in black and white—that I kept long past its sell-by date. Ample rear-end coverage, a bra lining, and wide shoulder straps for support, plus Paula Beachwear’s signature stretchy fabric for tummy, etc. control won my thumbs-up. This “swordfish” style from the Stockholm-based label comes in 15 other colors. It’s $200.

When she’s is not sifting through artifacts from an archaeological dig, my Italian pal Paola spends a lot of time swimming in the Mediterranean, a short stroll from her apartment in Santa Margherita. That’s her justification for her collection of Eres bathing suits, such as this Asia Tank swimsuit, which is $430 at Farfetch.