2020 Swimsuit Guide: Swimsuits for Women Over 40
This time of year, I get tons of requests for bathing suit recommendations, so I’m updating my Swimsuit Guide with the latest trends and tons of swimsuits for women over 40!
It’s a big task because every woman’s body is different and we all have different features we want to camouflage or flaunt, but I’ll do my best to cover all the bases.
First let me just say that I hate shopping for swimwear like some women hate shopping for jeans. I mean, I know everyone dreads shopping for swimwear, but I REALLY HATE IT. Maybe I’m just too picky, but it seems like there is almost nothing out there that works for me, and the older I get, the harder it gets to find something that offers the support and coverage I want without the frump.
When I go bathing suit shopping, it’s all about finding something that supports and shapes the girls. I’ve always had more than my fair share in that department, which creates enough of a challenge, but now that age and gravity have taken their toll, it’s almost impossible to find a cute, trendy swimsuit that fits the bill.
Most suits with proper support have a way of aging me about 20 years. I also have wide hips in proportion to my legs, and a bit of a belly. Basically, have the trifecta of problem areas… boobs, hips, and belly. No wonder I hate bathing suit shopping. Haha!
I know you will say I’m being too hard on myself, but the point is, we all have problem areas we want to disguise.
Maybe in your case, it’s a long torso, a menopausal midsection, a pear shape, a mastectomy, extra weight, or a small chest… these all make searching for swimwear a bit of a challenge. Thankfully, there are swimsuits designed to target all of these issues.
I highly recommend shopping online so you can try on your swimsuits in the comfort of home. The lighting is more forgiving, and I think overall it’s an easier experience. Plus, you can get the opinion of your husband or kids, which I always find helpful.
When I’m in the market for a new swimsuit, I usually order a bunch and send back the ones that don’t work. I asked on Facebook where women my age like to shop for swimsuits, and I got a lot of great suggestions. Some of the retailers mentioned multiple times are Athleta, Everything But Water, Soma, Bare Necessities, Macy’s, Hapari, Garnet Hill, and Swimsuits For All.
If you’re looking for budget-friendly suits, Cupshe, Target, Walmart (the Catalina brand, specifically), T.J.Maxx (you can now shop online!), and Costco were all suggested.
Swimsuit Trends for 2020
All images below are clickable. Click thru to shop.
This year, animal print suits are popular. You’ll find a lot of bright colors and bold prints, and florals are also having a moment. Earth tones and bronze suits are another color trend I’m seeing a lot, and the white swimsuit trend from the past few years is still going strong.
Style-wise, just about anything goes. One piece suits are getting more popular, and I’m noticing a lot of interesting details like ruffles, sleeves, and one-shoulder suits. I guess if you have a bunch of suits and switch them out a lot, you won’t get weird suntan lines. Plus, a lot of women these days are using sunblock and relying on self tanner to get their summer glow.
I spend way too much money on my suits to keep a large collection, so I tend to rotate the same two or three. Plus, I do like to tan, so I stick to more traditional styles, but that’s me. There’s basically something for everyone out there right now.
Swimsuits for Women Over 40
Once you hit 40, swimsuits become extra challenging because it’s all too easy to fall into the frump zone if we’re not careful, but it is possible to look good and feel confident in your swimsuit. It just sometimes takes a lot of trial and error to find the right one.
Bikini vs. Tankini vs. One-Piece Bathing Suits
These days, anything goes. It’s possible to look super cute or super frumpy in any of these bathing suit styles. The key is knowing what works for your body and staying within your comfort zone.
I haven’t worn a bikini top since I was 3 years old, but I think some women look fabulous and perfectly appropriate in a bikini top. It’s definitely easier to pull off if you’re smaller chested.
If you prefer some belly coverage, high rise bikinis are a great option, and one piece suits are trending right now.
Personally, I prefer the tankini for the ease of potty trips — which, less face it, are more frequent these days than they used to be. Ahem…
To Skirt Or Not To Skirt
When it comes to swimsuits, it’s easy to end up looking matronly in our attempts to keep it modest and get the support we need. There was a time when I thought the tankini top and swim skirt look was so cute and new and fresh. Now, I fear it has become the “mom suit.”
I’m not saying you shouldn’t wear them if that’s what you like and feel most comfortable in, but it definitely can age us or put us in the frump category if we’re not careful about fit and styling.
If you do go the skirt route, make sure the skirt isn’t too voluminous. The shorter, and sleeker the skirt is, the better. The Athleta Tidal Skirt is a good one.
Another option, if you like some hip coverage, is swim shorts. The same rule applies to swim shorts as to a swim skirt — shorts that fit close to the body usually look best.
I love the swim short options at Athleta, and Swimsuits for All has a whole section of “shortinis” — tankinis with boy shorts.
Swimsuits for a Larger Chest
One of the best things to happen to swimsuits recently is the bra-sized swimwear. If you have a larger chest, I highly recommend swimsuits with a built-in bra. Most stores carry them now, but unfortunately they don’t always come a very wide variety of sizes.
If you’re bigger than a DD, you may have to look at specialty shops such as Everything But Water, Swimsuits for All, and Bare Necessities. Some sites even have a section just for DD+ sized swimwear.
Shop Swimsuits for a Larger Chest:
Swimsuits for a Smaller Chest
Obviously, I’m no expert on this, but I can tell you what I cannot wear and wish I could. LOL! Ruffles, padding, and push-up styles all add volume and give the illusion of a larger chest.
Deep v-necks and halters also flatter smaller chests.
Cupshe actually has a section for small-bust friendly swimsuits, and Lands’ End often offers the option of regular or D/DD sizes.
Shop Swimsuits for a Small Bust:
Swimsuits with Thigh Coverage
Skirted suits are the obvious solution, but sometimes they can read frumpy. Be sure to choose one with clean lines that isn’t any longer than necessary to cover what you’re wanting to cover.
As I mentioned above, the swim shorts are another great solution for those wanting some thigh coverage.
I personally like a boy short style that fits snug to the body, I realize that shorts will fit every pair of thighs differently. If you have bigger thighs, a looser short might fit you snug to the body.
And this is clever! Soft Surroundings makes this unique sarong swimsuit. It has a mesh sarong you can wear as a skirt, as a sarong, or you can tie up when you get in the water to swim.
They also carry a few other swimsuit styles that offer full coverage without the frump. Unfortunately, no bra cup sizing, but I realize not everyone needs that.
For more ideas, Swimsuits for All, Lands’ End, and Macy’s each have a whole section dedicated to thigh minimizing swimsuits.
Shop Swimsuits with Thigh Coverage:
Swimsuits to Disguise a Belly
The swing tankini tops don’t cling to the bumps and rolls of the midsection but rather skim over them. Swimsuits for All has a bunch, and Lands’ End has a few as well.
The blouson style swim tops work much the same way, and I find them a bit more youthful.
I definitely think the blousy tops look best with a bikini bottom or super close-fitting shorts. If you add a blouson or swing top to a skirt, it’s going to look frumpy. These shorts would be really cute with the Athleta top pictured above, if you don’t like the bikini option.
And this set with a swing top and shorts is really cute.
Another option for disguising a bit of a tummy is to wear a swimsuit with some ruching or shirring. This one is a good example, plus it has built-in tummy control.
Patterns also help distract the eye from any bumps or bulges we don’t want to draw attention to.
You can also find suits with tummy control at Macy’s, Lands’ End, Swimsuits for All, and others.
Shop Swimsuits to Disguise a Belly:
Plus-Sized Swimwear
If you need plus sizes, Modcloth, Bare Necessities, and Swimsuits for All all have a nice selection. You can filter your results by your size so you’re only seeing suits that work for you, and Swimsuits for All has a ton of filters under the REFINE dropdown menu on the sidebar.
Shop Plus Sized Swimwear:
Long Torso
Got a long torso? Lands’ End has a whole section with tall sizes and swimsuits for long torsos, and some are also available in tall plus sizes.
Athletic Swimwear
If you’re athletic and want a good quality suit to swim in, a friend recommend the TYR brand, and they sell it at Zappo’s — super fast shipping and free returns! I also love Title Nine swimwear.
Post-Mastectomy Swimwear
Several ladies recommended Lands’ End for post-mastectomy swimwear.
I also found a large selection at Swim Outlet. If this is something you have experience with and you have another recommendation, feel free to leave it in the comments.
Okay, that’s all I’ve got. I hope it’s helpful as you’re swimsuit shopping this spring and summer.
And hey, when in doubt, throw on a cute coverup!
Seriously, coverups are where it’s at! I’ve been living in mine lately, so I rounded up some good options for you.
Shop Swim Cover-Ups:
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Thanks for putting together this post. I bought my most recent swimsuit (a one-piece in navy and white) at Lands’ End. I think they have a good variety and they often offer the free shipping option, which I don’t always get when shopping online in Austria.
As usual you have perfect timing for this post. I have now ordered the black tankini from bare necessities and think it will be a great addition for our summer plans. I’m still struggling to find a cover up that doesn’t look frumpy or age me by 20 years. They blue one you have linked to by soft surroundings looks like it may be a good option. I need to give it some thought since there are zero reviews for it.
Wonderful post – sooooo helpful! Had to be a tremendous amount of work. Thank you!
(And yes, you are way too hard on yourself! You look fantastic!!)
This post was so timely and helpful. You really covered all of the basic issues we face. Thank you for making this a little less painful! Ha!
I have a large bust but a small ribcage, so I can rarely buy budget friendly suits. But I’ve found a few really cute suits this year at Target and Old Navy with a tie back, which allows me to pull the straps/back as tight as I need while buying a size that will fit in the cup. Yay for trends that are functional!
Thanks for putting this post together! You look great, but I know the pain of trying to find good swimsuits especially over a certain age. The older I get it seems I’m leaning towards the more pricey suits because I need good fabric that supports but won’t make me feel like I can’t breathe. I bought several to try from Venus and found a few that actually work. Some of their tankinis are lined which helps hold things in, but I do like to go up a size in that brand. Thanks also for your coverup recommendations, Jolynne!
Great post! I ordered the camo Athleta suit from previous post of yours. Excited for it to come in! I actually have Athleta takini top and shorts and really like for and quality! This style does work well for petite, smaller sizes. Unfortunately I did something to top so going to check out pink one you have in this post!
THANK YOU for doing so much research to put this post together for us! While I am not a water gal, it would be nice to have one suit I’d feel comfortable in, if the need for it were to arise. Not only do I need camouflage for my tummy, I also need it for my torso on the backside of my body. The one you shared from Swimsuits for All looks perfect and the sale price is reasonable. I hope that you are having a great Thursday!
Thank you for this guide. My suits are from Lands End (yes, shopping from home.) I need to minimize my waist, am very short waisted, busty, and I don’t mind hiding my top thighs a bit. I get the tankini tops and either small skirt or one that is thigh minimizing. Yesterday Cyndi suggested Amazon for some cover-ups, and I found a swing dress type cover up. Hope I like it.
Lots of great choices based on our needs. Awesome job! 🙌🏻
Personally I like to be as covered up as possible. Ha ha. Think the swimming dresses of the late 1800s early 1900s. 🤪. Just kidding – kind of. 😉
I do really like the blouson tankinis with the swim shorts. I may have to trade my one piece for one of those. 👍🏻
Have a blessed day.
I have given up on trying to find suits with supportive tops. I have started buying sleeveless or short sleeve rash guards and just wear a bra underneath. I have a variety from Old Navy and Athleta that I have worn the past several years, mixed and matched with bikini bottoms. It might not be for everyone, but I think it looks sporty and not frumpy.
I love the Prima Donna suits for support, but they are $$$. I actually think the rash guard and bikini bottoms is a cute look.
Excellent post. You hit the nail on the head. The swimsuit. My most hated article of clothing to buy……but you certainly covered all the bases! Lands End is my go to place for swimwear as I can get coverage for all my problem areas in one suit! From mastectomy, to my long torso, to shorts to cover those thighs! Love their mix and match 2 piece suits. No more tugging on a wet one piece swimsuit for those potty breaks! So many choices out there today!
Wow, this was such a helpful post, thank you so much for putting all of this info together! We live on a lake and are on our boat often, so being comfortable in a bathing suit (& cover up) is very important to me. I was accustomed to only a couple of retailers but you have opened up new options which has been amazing!
In California we’re always near the beach, lakes and waterparks. Last summer I saw a woman at the waterpark with her kids in a wetsuit kind of swimsuit. It zipped up in the front and had a regular cut bottom (not shorts). Later she had it unzipped to show a neon bikini top. I think this is a great idea as a “safe” swimsuit to swim in the ocean or wave pool or water slide and then you can remove to sunbathe. Anyone using rashguards or wetsuit style swimwear?
I have a surfer style suit that I like. It is made by O’Neil, which I believe makes a lot of surf stuff. It has a boy short style, and zips up the back with a cord, so easy to get in and out of. It has no support, so might be difficult if you have a bigger chest (I don’t), but you can easily wear it with a sports bra, which I have done. I also have a rash guard from athleta that I like. It’s a plain dark pinkish purple, so goes with a lot. It is super light weight, which some rash guards are not. I am pale, and don’t like sunblock if I can avoid it, so I only swim in long sleeves.
Great ideas! I got two new suits for this year but haven’t worn them yet. As a small chested gal, I love the floral one in the photo but I would definitely not choose a strapless option…too high of a chance of an OOPS! LOL!
Thanks! I have 2 of the La Blanca 1 piece bathing suits and I love them. It looks like you have them under the small chest category but I’m larger chested and have a longer waist. They fit great and the back on them is pretty and flattering. I also love the fit of the Tommy Bahama tankini.
The struggle is real. So hard to find the right swimsuit. Thank you for giving us options. I just ordered the animal print one piece.
Thanks for all of the tips and pictures. I have a DD bust and a larger waist, so finding swimsuits are a challenge. I have found some cute ones on Amazon and Lands End. I love the shorts with tankini tops or a rash guard. My mom wore the blouson tops in the early 90s, so I just can’t do those myself. Lol
Yeah, I hear ya on the blouson style. I don’t like to hide my waist, since it’s actually kind of small compared to my chest, so I try to find tankini tops that aren’t super snug. My favorite brand is Prima Donna but they are $$$.
Hi Jo-Lynne
I saw your picture, in summer striped sweater, at the top of the Loftimist
page, where Loft features style bloggers. Maybe you get a notice when this happens?!
Annalee
I don’t, thanks for letting me know!
Thank you for this helpful guide!
I also hate swimsuit shopping, I swear their dressing room lighting makes you look like a corpse! Or a plucked chicken!
And swimsuit sizes are not in the same category as clothing: I wear 0 or mostly 2 in pants shorts, and jeans, but my bathing suit size is an 8 or 10? Makes me hesitate to guess sizes. You’re right, buy multiple sizes and try at home!
You’re looking very good in yours, the IF program isn’t doing good by you, friend.
Thanks for a great swimsuit post. I also have the postmenopausal trifecta: large bust, belly, and long torso. I love swimsuit.com. You can filter by body area and they have some pretty good sales if you sign up for email updates.
Good job, Jo-Lynne! I just. bought one from Amazon, Tempt Me. I was surprised how much I like it, especially for the price. My favorites are from Lands End.
You are spot on in your recommendations for smaller busted women. Last year, I discovered I look fantastic in low cut swimsuits. I had been trying to wear padding/ruching and it just looked matronly on me. I just discovered your blog and really love it – keep up the great work!
I’ll go you one better. I’ve got terrible cellulite too along with the tummy and hips. HA! Bathing suit shopping is depressing for sure. You found some really great options.
Yep, got that too. 🙂 Aging… ain’t it grand?
I love that green and orange floral suit pictured in your post. I didn’t find a link for that one. Is it still available, and what brand is it?
I’m sorry, I tried to link all the pictures to the correct item where they can be purchased, but I must not have updated that link. I fixed it, and here it is: https://rstyle.me/+pfhwpjAL3zHT-JReBTPBnw