Hey, hey, HEY!! It’s 2019, and time for a seriously cool suit. Swimsuit, that is. There’s been a resurgence of one-piece suits in the last few years, and this new crop is not just for Mama (or Grandmama). These one-pieces have been completely reinvented, and they’re more fresh and exciting than ever.
featured above: black suit | towel
To help wade through the vast amount of swimsuit options, we’ve come up with this handy little guide. We have a whole section dedicated to black one-piece suits that are anything but boring, girl-next-door stripes, the prettiest florals, chic white swimsuits, and our top recommendations for postpartum. New for 2019? Personally, I’m really excited about lingerie-inspired swimsuits, animal print (very Jane of the Jungle, but in a good way) and…brown (which is way beachier and much more gorgeous than it sounds!).
A note about plus-size swim: You’ll find plus size options in almost every category below…or just go here if you’d like to see them all at-a-glance.
As always, many of our swimsuit recommendations are based on the emails and rave reviews of our readers over the years — so a huge thank you to those of you who have written in, left comments, or sent in pics.
The Mom Edit’s 2019 Swimsuit Guide
Shop by color… BLACK | BROWN | RAINBOW | BRIGHTS | WHITE
Shop by pattern….ANIMAL PRINT | TROPICAL PRINT | STRIPES | GINGHAM | FLORAL | DARK FLORAL | MIXED PRINT | PAISLEY | COLOR-BLOCKED
Shop by embellishment…LINGERIE | CROCHET | BELTED | RUFFLED
Shop by shape….SURF SUITS | POST-PARTUM | PLUS-SIZE
The Best Black One-Piece Suits
Year after year, we’ve noticed that many of you choose a black one-piece as your default, go-to swimsuit. But there’s nothing basic about these suits. The latest ones have been elevated with cool details, sexy cut-outs, interesting shapes…all with creative backs (think:lacing) so they really stay put, too. Here are our hands-down favs….
Lingerie-Inspired Swimsuits
New for 2019…lingerie-inspired swim. We’re talking strategically-placed mesh panels, daring necklines and lace. There’s a certain sort of Bond-Girl vibe here, but I’ve actually found that they’re surprisingly wearable. (I have — and love — this Becca one.)
Animal Print Swimsuits
The key to wearing animal print swim is to keep the vibe playful and fun. You want a cut that’s a bit revealing (steer clear from old-lady-classic), but not so bare that it looks too Jane of The Jungle. (Betty Rubble, maybe? Haha just kidding.) Retailers seem to be having trouble keeping these in stock, so if you’re tempted…don’t hesitate!
Bronzed, Tan and Brown: The Surprisingly Sexy Suit
In the spirit of full disclosure…I’ve been waiting for brown to make a comeback. I have a brown string bikini that is at least eight years old, and it’s still one of my favorite colors to wear to the beach. Nothing makes me feel like some sort of 70’s beach babe more than a swimsuit in shades of tan.
Tropical Print Swimsuits
Looking for that vacation vibe? Here ya go.
Wear a Rainbow
These suits are just playful, fun, and….happy.
Striped Swimmers
Can there be anything more flushed-cheeks, girl-next-door sexy than a striped suit? I think not. (And stripes can sometimes help distract from a pooch Strange but true.)
Girl-Next-Door Gingham
Pair with cut-offs and and old-school flip flops….or go for a retro vibe with red lips. Both work.
Pretty Floral Swimsuits
Romantic and pretty and still a little bit sexy. It’s hard to beat a good floral.
Dark Floral Swimsuits
Every bit as romantic and pretty…but with an edgier vibe.
Mixed Print Swimsuits
These are just tons of fun. (And the Maaji ones will always stay put, no matter how active you are.)
Pretty Paisleys, Tie Dye, And Other Fun Prints
These prints were too good not to include.
Color-Blocked Swimsuits
Color-blocking is a genius trick. The darker bottom camouflages a softer stomach, and a high-rise dark bottom will make your legs look miles long.
Bright and Bold Swimsuits
Orange, yellow and red are having a serious moment.
White Hot Swimsuits
The funny thing about white suits is that they look good on all skin tones…even the really pale ones.
Boho Babe Swimsuits (Think: Crochet)
These suits only look daring. They’re actually really easy to wear (yet super sexy).
Belted Swimsuits
This trend is completely blowing up. A close cousin of the wrap suit, this one is giving off some serious 70’s vibes.
Ruffled Swimsuits
These suits are both sexy and sweet.
Surf Suits
Surfing, waterskiing, playing in the waves without fear….I find that I’m more inclined to play when I’m dressed for it. Since I’m always cold, my preferred method is to don a Spring Suit (aka a lightweight wetsuit with shorts) over my bikini – something like this. But if you don’t need all of that insulation (it is summer, after all), one of these will let you play — hard — without a wardrobe malfunction.
The Best Swimsuits for Postpartum
The best suits for postpartum tend to have tummy control or ruching, a color-block situation (with the darker color over the tummy), and/or a front zip. Those sporty front-zip swimsuits are shockingly good postpartum! If you want to see a few different types of suits on a postpartum body, I covered this years ago….and then Julieta bravely re-created it, and added a few suggestions of her own (it’s awesome).
There are plenty of suits featured above that would, in fact, work great for stylish postpartum Mamas. So please don’t feel limited to this list below. If, however, you want a go-to suit that will just….suck it all in, then try one of these tried-and-true reader and TME team favorites.
Our Favorite Plus-Size Swim
Most of these suits have been included in the roundups above, but for ease of shopping, I’ve grouped them all together, here. (And added a few more….)