There’s an adorable (locally owned) surf shop just down the street from where we always stay in Carolina Beach. It has the cutest beach gear and swimwear (think Billabong, O’Neill, Rip Curl, etc.,) and we’ve been shopping there for years now. However, I’m not *quite* the same size I was when we first started coming down here. And this year, the first time I went and tried anything on there, my chest was too big for any of it.
Like, laughably so.
But I kept popping back into the surf shop because their stuff was just so cute, I was determined to find something that worked for me.
Found: A Sexy One-Piece Swimsuit For Larger Chests
So when I took my mom there during her visit down to N.C., I found it: a one-piece suit made for D/DD chests that’s not dowdy but actually sexy. (But not too sexy that you can’t wear it around the in-laws!)
This Rip Curl one-piece features a built-in bra (with removable padding!) that has an underwire for extra support for the girls. And while there’s a hint of cleavage at some angles, this suit does a great job of covering the chest without totally flattening it. The straps are adjustable and I feel nice and secure the entire time I’m wearing it.
The fabric itself is super-flattering. It’s thicker than a typical suit and it’s lined all over (front and back!). The ribbed texture helps to smooth everything out and kind of sucks you in without feeling constrictive.
The cut isn’t ultra high, but it’s high enough that I don’t feel like I’m wearing an old-school “mom suit.” Not that there’s anything wrong with that! I just always find that the suits with really low-cut legs make my legs look short (and at 5’4″ I need all the help I can get!)
So while the back of this suit has a little less coverage than a completely full-coverage suit, it doesn’t ride up like some cheekier cuts do. I can walk around/chase after my toddler without worrying about a cheek hanging out. (Or a boob, for that matter!) 😂
If you’re interested in more swimsuits that balance sexiness with support (and are especially good for a larger bust), I’ve embarked on a quest for the 2026 summer. Here’s my Cupshe swimsuit review & try-on, here’s a TA3 Swimwear review & try-on, a J.Crew swimsuit review & try-on, and a Becca Swimsuit review & try-on. More to come!
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The Cover-Up & Beach Bag That Top Off My New Suit
Speaking of covering up, a little lightweight beach dress is perfect for throwing on over a suit when you want more coverage. I throw it on when we walk to the beach or the pool or anytime I don’t feel like running around in a suit alone.
suit (m) | similar cover up (L) | tote | earrings
Oh, and this tote is my favorite beach bag. It holds everything I need for the beach and is also cute in case we go get food or something like that. I bought this one last year, and it’s still holding up great. 😍
suit (m) | cover up (L) | tote | earrings | sandals
XOXO,
Scotti
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Gorgeous, Scotti! Can you tell what size you’re wearing? We are the same height and shape. The boobs definitely make swimsuit shopping/vacationing with family tricky!
Sorry guys! I got a medium, my typical size! It fit great everywhere (it wasn’t overly big in the bottom or anything), so I’d say TTS!
What size did you get? It’s not clear if you need to go up in size to get the D/DD coverage.
Not necessary to go up! I stuck with my normal size medium (usually 6/28).
I find it problematic that any woman feels the need to downplay her body “for the inlaws.” This seems to go hand in hand with the onus put on women, even little girls, to wear clothing that doesn’t emphasize our bodies vs. putting the responsibility on men to keep themselves in check.
I can totally appreciate this comment! In my case, it’s more of a matter of comfort. I want to be able to run after my kids without my boobs popping out–and when I wear suits that aren’t made for larger chests, that’s often the case! 😬😂 (And it would be the same whether I was wearing it in front of my in-laws or total strangers…but I thought that title sounded better than “A Sexy Suit I Can Wear Without My Boobs Popping Out.”)
Hi thank you for this post! Did these swimmers last in the surf/chlorine? Were they good quality?