The Smart Swimsuit Styles Women Over 50 Love Now

A practical guide to modern cuts, gentler shaping and colors that make any style feel better to wear

Lois Joy Johnson,

Updated May 14, 2026

AARP

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Updated May 14, 2026

three models wearing different styles of bathing suits

(From left) Look for a swimsuit that is comfortable, provides coverage and highlights your assets, such as the Lands’ End Women’s Plus Size Tugless QuickDry V-Neck Multi-Way High-Leg One-Piece Swimsuit in Neon Tangerine; Swimsuits for All Women’s Crinkle Knot Front One-Piece Swimsuit in Lemon Mist; Shapesolver Sport Paddle Board Chlorine-Resistant One-Piece Swimsuit in Grecian Tile.

AARP (Kohl’s, Target, Nordstrom)

Key takeaways

Black swimsuits are still hands-down winners, and updated necklines and backs keep them from feeling dull.
Newer shaping suits focus on lighter all-over contouring that smooths without stiff compression.
Color-saturated swimsuits visually brighten uneven or sun-damaged skin on the arms, chest and legs.

Who looks forward to wearing a swimsuit? Almost no one. It’s a lot like being naked, only you’re in public. That’s because swimsuits are as much about what they don’t cover as what they do. Just the idea of wearing one encourages otherwise confident women to obsess about their thighs, belly, breasts and rear end, and to stress over jiggles, crepey cleavage, broken capillaries and leg discolorations. They agonize over design details and ask whether cutouts are cool or creepy, whether swim dresses are chic or frumpy, and whether to stick with basic black or try a fresh color.

How do I know? I’m a beauty and fashion editor who has done hundreds of magazine swimsuit shoots and is a personal shopper for women over 50 who share their swimsuit flaws and faux pas with me every summer. The solutions have never been better, so dive in. Here’s a cheat sheet to make it easy. If you want:

a model wearing a black one piece bathing suit alongside two other styles of black bathing suits

(From left) Lands’ End Women’s Plus-Size Side Tie Wrap One-Piece Swimsuit in Black; Freshwater Women’s Bow-Tie Bandeau One-Piece Swimsuit in Black; Old Navy Women High-Neck One-Piece Swimsuit in Black Jack.

AARP (Lands’ End; Kohl’s; Old Navy, 2)

1. A do-everything black suit that’s anything but blah

Many women want a practical black suit that’ll tuck in all their “bits and bulges” and make them look slim. As we all know, black does that very well. However, they also say, “Isn’t there a black suit that’s not boring?” or “I want to go a little sexier, but no mesh inserts, please!”

The best move is to stick with black for body confidence and then tweak the neckline and suit style. You might choose a modern high-neck with a lower back, like the Old Navy Women High-Neck One-Piece Swimsuit in Black Jack ($27, oldnavy.gap.com); a curve-conscious, V-neck wrap, like the Lands’ End Women’s Plus-Size Side-Tie Wrap One Piece Swimsuit in Black ($135, landsend.com); the Freshwater Women’s Bow Tie Bandeau One-Piece Swimsuit in Black ($50, kohls.com), with white piping; or a sporty zip-front suit piped in white, like the Beach House Sport Plus Racy One-Piece Swimsuit - Beach House Solids in 001 Black ($109, beach2ocean.com). The funny thing is, once women try a black suit in a new look, they say, “Love it! Does it come in another color, too?”

four models wearing different styles of one piece bathing suits

(From left) Swimsuits for All Women’s Tank One-Piece Swimsuit in Electric Iris Hibiscus; S3 Apparel Women Adjustable Low Cinched One-Piece Swimsuit in Dolce Leopard; Lands’ End Women’s Plus-Size New SlenderSuit Pleated Low Leg One-Piece Swimsuit in Black/White; Miraclesuit Women’s Plus-Size Underwired One-Piece Swimsuit in Black/Multi.

AARP (Kohl’s, Nordstrom, Lands’ End, Macy’s)

2. A shape-maker with comfier compression

Not everyone is on a GLP-1 or a strict diet and exercise regimen. But even those who are often join the over-50 women who want a little extra help controlling loose skin and extra pounds. Shape-suits that mold and hold like a girdle have strategically built-in compression panels in power mesh that flatten bulges.

The swimsuit tide has changed, so to speak. Familiar brands that make shapewear swimsuits have eased up on the squeeze and are using new technology that contours without the ouch. This time around, avoid maximum firming suits that give the torso a stiff, armored look, and try allover slimmers such as the Swimsuits for All Women’s Tank One-Piece Swimsuit in Electric Iris Hibiscus ($68, kohls.com), available in sizes 6 to 26 and featuring sewn-in cups and wide straps for a bust boost; the Lands’ End Women’s Plus Size New SlenderSuit Pleated Low Leg One-Piece Swimsuit in Black/White ($135, landsend.com), in sizes 16 to 24 and clever black-and-white crisscross pleating up front to enhance its control (the leg line is not “low” but rather a modified high); and the Miraclesuit Women’s Plus-Size Underwired One-Piece Swimsuit in Black/Multi ($208, macys.com), in plus-sizes W16 to W24 with a faux-wrap design and widely spaced straps. Or look at a new shape-shifter brand: the S3 Apparel Women Adjustable Low Cinched One-Piece Swimsuit in Off Grid or Dolce Leopard ($53, nordstrom.com), available in S to XL, with a V-neck, square back, shirring, removable soft cups and a roster of contemporary prints. You’ll breathe easy — and be able to eat lunch.

a model wearing a yellow one piece bathing suit

Swimsuits for All Women’s Crinkle Knot Front One-Piece Swimsuit in Lemon Mist.

AARP (Target)

3. A body-friendly, show-off-your-figure suit

So, you have great breasts? A toned back? A trim waist? Fabulous legs? Plenty of women over 50 are far from shy and still in show-off mode … in a good way. They prefer plunging necklines, daring low backs and attention-getting design details over boring basics. The trick here is to avoid extremes like super-low Vs that display too much bosom, midriff keyhole cutouts that inadvertently give a front-row view of flab, or ultra-high legs that offer a too-cheeky view.

There are plenty of suits to do the job, with flair to spare. Those worth snapping up include the Soma Swim V-Neck One-Piece in Azure Blue ($78, soma.com), with ruching and a perfect low back; the Swimsuits for All Women’s Crinkle Knot Front One-Piece Swimsuit in Lemon Mist or Coral Pink ($57, target.com), with discreet and well-placed keyholes front and back; and Summersalt The Perfect Wrap One-Piece in Leopard, Seaglass and Seaweed or Sea Urchin ($81, summersalt.com), which adds extra whittle to an almost hourglass shape. All have leg lines cut just high enough above the thigh crease to visually stretch leg length without being too much.

three models wearing different styles of one piece bathing suits in bright colors

(From left) Lands’ End Women’s Plus-Size Tugless QuickDry V-Neck Multi-Way High Leg One-Piece Swimsuit in Neon Tangerine; Swimsuits for All Women’s Ruched Twist-Front One-Piece in Very Fuchsia; Ann Taylor Tortoiseshell Ring One-Piece Swimsuit in Bougainvillea.

AARP (Kohl’s, Macy’s, Ann Taylor)

4. A swimsuit in a skin-enhancing color

No matter which style you choose, there’s going to be a lot of skin on display, and that alone can sabotage the joy of swimsuit shopping and wearing. While a black suit is still No. 1, I see mature women leaning toward color-saturated suits with cosmetic benefits. Here’s why: Color works like a giant dollop of body makeup to brighten, warm up or clarify ashy, sallow, ruddy, pale, dull or sun-damaged skin on the chest, arms or legs.

Try red, like the Aqua Club V-Neck One-Piece Swimsuit, Ottoman in Red Pop ($139, talbots.com); pinks, corals, peaches or orange, found in the Carmen Marc Valvo Underwire One-Piece Swimsuit in Grenadine or Coral Rush ($146, everythingbutwater.com); the Lands’ End Women’s Plus Size Tugless QuickDry Strappy Back High-Leg One-Piece ($50, landsend.com); or the Aqua Club Faux Wrap One-Piece Swimsuit in Tropical Punch ($139, talbots.com), to energize your skin the way a vibrant lipstick and blush do for your face. Give swimming-pool blues, violets and purples, like Andie Swim’s Mykonos One-Piece in Serene Shimmer ($142, andieswim.com) or the Swimsuits for All Women’s Ruched Twist-Front One-Piece in Very Fuchsia ($81, macys.com) and the Ann Taylor Tortoiseshell Ring One-Piece Swimsuit in Bougainvillea ($83, anntaylor.com), a try to counteract redness, yellow tones and discolorations. You may never wear a black suit again.

a model wearing a red halter top swim dress alongside a black swim dress in a similar style

(From left) Charmo Women’s Scalloped Wrap-Front One-Piece Swim Dress With Adjustable Tie and Back Bow in Red; L.L.Bean Women’s Shaping Swimwear Clasp Halter Dress in Black.

AARP (Target, L.L.Bean)

5. A cool swim dress for thigh and rear coverage

Considering a swim dress this year? Listen up. There are plenty of swim dresses that are frumpy, dowdy, and what we used to call “age-appropriate.” Forget those. Most look exactly the way they did 10 years ago, with a loose, baggy, figure-hiding style and dated patterns meant to resemble op art, waves or a view from a spaceship. Find a swim dress with some body definition and a saucy attitude instead.

There’s the Charmo Women’s Scalloped Wrap-Front One-Piece Swim Dress With Adjustable Tie and Back Bow in Black or Red ($44, target.com), with a fashion-forward scalloped V-neck, back tie and cutout detail (so you make a statement coming and going); the splurgey but eye-catching Magicsuit Amal One Shoulder Swimdress in Blue/Multi ($186, everythingbutwater.com), with a versatile skirt that can be worn ruched for a peek of thigh; and the chic black L.L.Bean Women’s Shaping Swimwear Clasp Halter Dress in Black ($120, llbean.com), a plunge-neck minidress with a shelf bra, soft cups and a little compression up front, right where you need it. And the neck strap is adjustable.

a black full coverage one piece bathing suit alongside models wearing patterned surfing rash guard style suits with long sleeves

(From left) L.L.Bean Women’s BeanSport Highneck Tanksuit in Black; Beach House Sport Women’s Sculpt Long-Sleeve Zip-Front One-Piece Swimsuit, Wild Calypso in 001 Black; Shapesolver Sport Paddle Board Chlorine-Resistant One-Piece Swimsuit in Grecian Tile.

AARP (L.L.Bean, Beach 2 Ocean, Nordstrom)

6. A swimmable, sporty-ish, sun-protected suit

Anyone who swims, goes boating or kayaking, plays volleyball or does yoga on the beach needs a suit that’s spillproof and sunproof. In other words, a style that won’t leave your chest or tush bouncing out of bounds, or your skin vulnerable to UVA/UVB rays. Swimsuits with long sleeves, a zipper front and built-in UPF 50, like the Sporti Active Solid Zip-Front Long-Sleeve One-Piece Swimsuit in Reef Blue, Black or Stone Blue ($49, swimoutlet.com); the Shapesolver Sport Paddle Board Chlorine-Resistant One-Piece Swimsuit in Grecian Tile ($78, nordstrom.com); and the Beach House Sport Women’s Sculpt Long-Sleeve Zip-Front One-Piece Swimsuit, Wild Calypso, in 001 Black ($129, beach2ocean.com) keep everything in place, protected and are a major trend.

So are high-neck suits, such as the Quince Women Italian Zip-Front One-Piece Swimsuit in Cherry, Lagoon Teal Blue, Electric Blue or Black ($50, quince.com), with UPF 50 and subtle hold; the Jantzen Women’s Mirage Farrah High-Neck One-Piece Swimsuit in Pantheon Blue ($105, swimoutlet.com), without UPF but with a stylish print, tummy control and a keyhole back; and the L.L.Bean Women’s BeanSport Highneck Tanksuit in Black ($80, llbean.com), a frill-free suit with UPF 50-plus, a stay-put shape and a low, square-back view. All offer the extra top coverage and freedom of movement — no tugs or checks necessary.

a brown tankini style bathing suit alongside a model wearing a pink tankini that is shown in another image to have a removable skirt

(From left) Lands’ End Women’s Slender Lite Sweetheart Shirred Tankini in Acorn; Lands’ End Women’s Slender Lite Ultra High-Rise Bottoms in Acorn; Bleu by Rod Beattie Kore Tankini Top in Pink Punch; Bleu by Rod Beattie Ring Me Up High-Waist Skirted Bikini Bottoms in Pink Punch.

AARP (Lands’ End, 2; Nordstrom, 2)

7. A two-piece suit for extra help

Some women over 50 still prefer a two-piece suit for restroom convenience, gentle belly coverage and the ability to mix and match top and bottom sizes. Many of the new tankinis, including swim dresses, are way more flattering than their predecessors, with an improved, body-skimming fit and contemporary design features that disguise body concerns.

If you want extra bosom lift and support, for example, look for a bra-sized duo, like the Sunsets Forever Underwire Bra Tankini Top (D+cup) in Electric Blue ($116, everythingbutwater.com) and Sunsets Darci High-Waist Shirred Bikini Bottom in Electric Blue ($79, everythingbutwater.com), which features bra sizes from 32D to 40DDD on top, and a high-waist bottom with a wide, shirred band. For belly control and camouflage, try a duo with a shirred top, like the Lands’ End Women’s Slender Lite Sweetheart Shirred Tankini in Acorn ($100, landsend.com) with Lands’ End Women’s Slender Lite Ultra High-Rise Bottoms in Acorn ($80, landsend.com). The top features “lite” shapewear compression for comfy bulge management, and the bottom is high-waisted. It says “ultra high rise,” but it’s actually just a normal, waist-high fit on most women, and neatly tucks in muffin tops.

For a little extra derriere and thigh coverage, try a skirted tankini, like the Bleu by Rod Beattie Kore Tankini Top in Pink Punch ($64, nordstrom.com) with Bleu by Rod Beattie Ring Me Up High-Waist Skirted Bikini Bottoms in Pink Punch ($49, nordstrom.com), which looks more like a flirty pickleball outfit. All three of the tops have adjustable straps.

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The key takeaways were created with the assistance of generative AI. An AARP editor reviewed and refined the content for accuracy and clarity.

Lois Joy Johnson is a beauty and style editor who focuses on women 50 and older. She was the beauty and style editor at Ladies’ Home Journal and a founding editor of More magazine. She has written three books: The Makeup Wakeup, The Wardrobe Wakeup and The Woman's Wakeup.