I’ve never felt swim fabric this good. And as much as I’ve raved about J.Crew’s swim for years now, I have to say that Left On Friday has officially taken over the top spot for my favorite swim line. Bold claim, I know.
But the fabric really is unbelievably soft, smooth, and comfortable, and the fits feel secure and supportive without feeling restrictive. Left on Friday has a ton of different styles to choose from, all in the same incredible fabric, plus a huge range of colors that you can either match together or mix and match across styles, which I loved. I focused on the two bikini styles I liked most and compared them in both the A-C and D-F sizing, along with two bottom sizes. I also tested one of their one-pieces against my longtime favorite J.Crew style.
And if you’re curious about the J.Crew swimsuits from this year, I have an entire article dedicated to that.
Left On Friday vs. J.Crew Swim: I Tested Both – Here’s What I Actually Think
For reference, I’m typically around a 34D, although I size differently depending on the brand, which is part of why I wanted to compare the A-C and D-F versions. Let’s start with the Reef Top and Dip Bottom because this was the set that immediately made me understand the hype.
1. Left On Friday: Reef Top & Dip Bottom
reef top (m) | dip bottom (l)
I loved the way this set felt and looked. I love that it has the look of a classic string bikini top, but with way more support and without the long dangling straps or knots digging into your skin.
reef top (m) | dip bottom (l)
The straps aren’t adjustable, which initially made me nervous, but the back can slide higher or lower to help customize the fit. Even though the top felt slightly small on me, I never felt like I was spilling out of it.
Left On Friday Sizing: A-C vs D-F – What’s The Difference?
And because one of my girls is about a cup size bigger than the other, which can make finding bikini tops that fit a little tricky, I wanted to try the same top in the D-F version for comparison.
reef top (left: D-F medium, right: A-C medium) | dip bottom (l)
What’s interesting, though, is that the difference isn’t dramatic. They still look very similar on, which I actually appreciated. Sometimes fuller-bust versions completely change the vibe of a bikini top, but this one still felt sleek and minimal. The D-F version just gave me a little more support and coverage through the center and along the sides.
Crossed Straps: A-C vs D-F Sizing Comparison
reef top (left: D-F medium, right: A-C medium) | dip bottom (l, left, medium right)
I actually preferred the A-C version when wearing the straps crossed in front. The D-F worked perfectly when worn traditionally, but crossing the straps created a little extra gapping on me because of the additional fabric. The smaller size actually laid smoother on me when worn crossed.
Dip Bottom: Medium vs Large Sizing Comparison
reef top (m) | dip bottom (left: large, right: medium)
The Dip Bottoms definitely run smaller than J.Crew’s swim bottoms, but that actually made me feel more comfortable wearing them in the water because I never had to worry about them shifting around or sliding down while swimming. The difference between the medium and large wasn’t dramatic, but the medium was slightly cheekier with a little less coverage through the back, while the large felt a bit more comfortable and forgiving on me overall.
2. Left On Friday: Plunge Top & Skinny Dip Bottom
plunge top (l, A-C) | skinny dip bottom (l)
I wanted to try the ‘skimpy bum’ version of the Dip Bottom to see how it compared (I’m planning to try the Rio next). There’s definitely less coverage, but the fit was still really good. It’s hard to explain, but Left On Friday somehow makes minimal bottoms feel secure without digging in too much at the sides or creating weird gaps in the back.
plunge top (l, A-C) | skinny dip bottom (l)
I also tend to think slightly skimpier bottoms are actually more flattering on most body types, especially when the fit is this clean and smooth. They still give that minimal/string bikini look, just without the bulky side ties that always seem to bunch up under cover-ups. This is definitely a very cheeky/minimal back coverage style, but it still stayed in place surprisingly well, even in the ocean.
Left On Friday Sizing: A-C vs D-DD – What’s The Difference?
Both of these sizes actually worked on me, it just depends what I’m looking for. The large B-D version (yellow) gives a slightly more minimal look with a bit more cleavage, while the medium D-G version (left) feels a little more supportive and secure overall.
plunge top (left: D-DD medium, right: A-C large) | dip bottom (l, left) | skinny dip bottom (l, right)
If I were mostly lounging or wanted the skimpier/string bikini vibe, I’d happily wear the B-D version. But if I were swimming a lot or running around after kids, I’d probably reach for the D-G version because the extra coverage helps keep everything a little more secure. What I liked is that the fuller-bust version still looked sleek and minimal instead of overly built-up or bulky.
3. Left on Friday: Sunday Suit One-Piece
Sunday suit (m)
This is where I still slightly prefer J.Crew swim. The Left On Friday fabric is still incredible here, soft, smoothing, and really comfortable, but I personally think J.Crew’s one-pieces fit curves a little better overall.
Sunday suit (m)
The Sunday Suit felt more compressive through the bust and less forgiving through the leg opening on me, while J.Crew’s cuts tend to feel slightly easier and more flattering on my body shape. (To be fair, though, I did try the A-C version in the Sunday Suit, so I’d be curious whether the fuller-bust sizing would change the fit up top.)
Why I Still Prefer J.Crew One-Pieces
Mira One-Piece (6) | Ruched V-Neck One Piece (6)
J.Crew’s one-pieces just tend to give me a little more support and shaping through the bust while also feeling slightly more comfortable through the hips and leg line. Their sizing also runs from 0-24, so the fit feels a little more exact and curve-friendly overall, especially in a one-piece.
That said, if you’re looking for the softest swim fabric I’ve ever tried and really chic, minimal bikinis that still feel supportive, Left On Friday completely lives up to the hype.
Overall, I genuinely get the hype around Left On Friday now. The fabric is next-level, soft, smoothing, comfortable, and somehow supportive without feeling tight or restrictive. I also love how customizable the line feels with the different cup sizing, bottom cuts, and huge range of colors you can mix and match across styles.
Even the fuller-bust options still felt sleek and minimal instead of overly supportive-looking, which I appreciated. And despite the skimpier cuts, I still felt comfortable actually swimming and moving around in them instead of just laying poolside trying not to flash everyone. For bikinis especially, Left On Friday has officially become my new favorite swim brand. 🙌🏼
Next up I want to try their Sunday Top & Rio Bottom!
XOXO,
Scotti
