The Best Swimsuits for Women Over 50 in 2024

Scoop to flatter a curvy body thanks to in-sync rounded lines. Look for classic tanks with double scoops — front and back — and wide-set wide straps.

Women’s Freshwater Scoop Back One Piece Swimsuit in Turquoise Pucker ($24, kohls.com)

Source: Kohl's

Square neckline for a trendy scoop alternative that avoids cleavage. Classy, discreet and minimalist.

Halter to highlight the back, add lift for full breasts, flatter narrow shoulders. Choose a self-tie to avoid neck strain. Another sexy option.

Santorini Halterneck Swimsuit ($62, bodenusa.com)

Source: Boden

Strapless to make it all about your amazing bare shoulders. Look for structured tops, not blousons. Not the best style for large chests.

Anne Cole Women’s Live In Color Twist Front Shirred One Piece Swimsuit in Magenta ($62, target.com)

Source: Anne Cole

High neck to swim, do yoga and be active, stress-free.

3. Choose your level of bust boosting.

Swimsuit “construction” — just like bras — has changed. Most suits, regardless of neckline, now include gently rounded natural-looking removable cups for DIY control of shaping and adjustable straps for personalized lift. Look for outer shaping details like empire seams under the bust to lift and separate breasts from the torso, twists between cups and ruched cups.

Have a 36 DD chest or more? Bra-sized swimsuits and those that specifically fit up to a DD cup are available by brands like Magicsuit, Fantasie, Panache, Freya and Pour Moi. Many feature underwires and/or molded cups for a more defined shape. Specialty sites like BareNecessities and HerRoom simplify the search with hundreds of styles and have charts that convert European sizes to U.S. ones. Yes, these suits are pricier, but you’re paying for extra workmanship and exact sizing. Figure cost per wear for at least eight stress-free weekends this summer and it’s (almost) a bargain.

4. Let the suit deal with your middle.

Nearly every older woman says her belly and torso are a big swimsuit problem. Compression suits (the shapewear-based category that debuted in the early 2000s), which feature a power mesh lining that basically sucks you in for a more streamlined fit, have evolved too. They still reduce volume (especially at the belly) and firm up ripples, but the constricting squeeze is gone and the compression is often combined with ruching for extra camouflage. They’re an instant confidence booster for anyone who has gained weight or slacked off on exercise and is faced with a summer of pool parties. You can also opt for suits with ruching at the front or print swimsuits in an overall flowing pattern to optically blur away bulges.

Cupshe Women’s Ditsy Floral Flutter Sleeve One Piece Swimsuit in Orange Ditsy Print or Blue Paisley in XS to XL ($38, kohls.com)

Source: Kohl's

Aqua Green Women’s UPF50 Shirred V-Neck One-Piece Swimsuit in Multi Tropical Print ($45, target.com)

Source: Target

Lands’ End Chlorine Resistant Bandeau Tankini Swimsuit Top in Coral Bliss ($83, landsend.com) and Lands’ End Chlorine Resistant Bandeau Smoothing Control High Waisted Bikini Bottoms in Coral Bliss ($63, landsend.com)

Source: Lands' End

5. Address the leg and derriere issue.

OK, your suit fits great on top and your middle is managed, but what about the bottom half? Many mature women concerned about full thighs and rear coverage gravitate toward the endless avalanche of shapeless swim dresses and suits with low-cut legs that hit exactly at the widest part of the thighs. One better solution: a suit with a higher-cut leg that reveals more to slim and elongate the legs. No need for an extremely high cut — a moderately high leg will do the job without feeling too cheeky. The other alternative is a contemporary-style swim dress in a flirty A-line or mini sarong shape that looks like you’re out to play tennis/pickleball or on a tropical island vacation.

Roxanne Solid Bra Sized V-Neck Sarong One Piece Swimsuit in 001 Black ($50, target.com)

Source: Kohl's

Magicsuit Parker One Piece Swim Dress in Vamp ($170, miraclesuit.com)

Source: Miracle Suit

6. Go sexy in a new way.

You can still add sizzle when a bikini is out of the question! One-piece suits with discreet cutouts, one-shoulder styles, lace-up fronts and backs, and plunge Vs that are cleverly designed to go low without revealing too much cleavage all provide a subtle lift for your body and mojo. While sleek black suits with fashionable twists (like those above) always look alluring and feel “slimming,” consider buying a suit in color this summer. Right now, there are more styles in a range of cosmetic-like shades of pink, red and coral; every shade of blue from sky to powder and vibrant cobalt; new neutrals like chocolate and soft army and khaki greens; and shimmery fabrics that glow against mature skin. All counteract sallow, ashy or pasty undertones and add a cool stand-out-in-the-crowd attitude. Bet you can’t buy just one!

Lane Bryant Lurex No-Wire Plunge One-Piece in Four Leaf Clover ($49, lanebryant.com)

Source: Lane Bryant

Lands’ End Women’s Slender Suit Shine Grecian High Leg Tummy Control Chlorine Resistant One Piece Swimsuit in Amethyst Shine ($77, landsend.com)

Source: Lands' End

7. Make sure the swimsuit and you are in sync.

Lots of swimsuits have eye appeal, but try-ons can be discouraging. It’s not you — it’s the suit! Two women may both wear a size 14 but have very different body proportions and fit or coverage concerns. Every body issue has a solution. For example, if you have a long torso — which means the distance from the top of your head to your crotch is more than half your total body length — choose brands with a long torso fit option like Andie Swim, Summersalt or Lands’ End. A short, busty torso and long legs? Stretch your body and boost your bust with a one-shoulder suit. The takeaway here is to stay open to new-for-you suit styles and brands and do a test run of every possibility. Check the suit from every angle — sides and back too. Move around, bend, sit, squat and try walking to make sure it’s body-and-lifestyle friendly.

Summersalt The Sidestroke in Lava & Hibiscus & White Sand and Seaweed & Seaglass & White Sand in Classic and Long Torso ($95, summersalt.com)

Source: Summersalt