Most conversations around swimwear shopping revolve around poorly lit changerooms and how daunting the experience can be.
The fact is, changeroom lighting is always bad, no matter what you’re trying on, and for some, shopping is always daunting. But instead of discussing how dreadful the process can be, I’m here to celebrate the joy of finding a garment that allows you to unlock memories of diving into the ocean, splashing about in the pool with family, or experiencing new adventures on the water.
Shopping for a swimsuit is so much more pleasant when you try to ditch the negative self-talk and flip your internal narrative from focusing on what you want to hide to thinking about what you want to highlight. Love your legs? Try a bottom with high-cut sides and a high-rise waist. Want to highlight your shoulders and clavicle? Go for a strapless top!
Confidence comes with comfort, and accepting who you are, no matter what you’re wearing. When looking for a swimsuit, start by thinking about exactly what functionality you need. What activities will you be doing? What support will you need? What aspects of your wardrobe do you love, and how can your swimwear reflect those same details?
For women with a larger bust who want support, I recommend looking at bathing suit tops and styles the same way you would your bra. Consider an underwire, wider straps, and bra sizing instead of S, M, L. For those with a smaller bust, you could look for padding and volume-adding details like ruffles or ruching, or embrace your shape and go for a triangle-style bikini.
Similar to shopping for a great pair of jeans, be prepared to try on a variety of silhouettes when shopping for swimwear. If you find one you dislike, that’s a good thing!
If you prefer to draw attention away from your stomach, opt for a wrap style swimsuit, have fun with patterns or color-blocking, and look for a focal-point neckline.
Similar to shopping for a great pair of jeans, be prepared to try on a variety of silhouettes when shopping for swimwear. If you find one you dislike, that’s a good thing! Take note of what didn’t work and avoid that in other styles; you’ll be one step closer to discovering what’s right for you.
There are so many swimwear shapes, brands and fabrics to choose from—you just have to be willing to try! If you want to experiment with different shapes but don’t want to spend hours at the mall, you can buy a few styles online and ship to your home so you can enjoy and control your try-on experience—just check the return policies first.
One thing to keep in mind: beware of a cheap price tag. Many women become discouraged by swimsuit shopping because they end up with low-quality fabrics with no support, overbuy because they don’t find the perfect style, and end up having to shop for a new suit every year. To avoid this, invest in a timeless style designed with quality and fit in mind. A specialty swim boutique can really help you out with this. One of my favorite places to shop for investment swimwear in Toronto is Melmira. They have a team of experts who talk through your swimsuit needs and bring you styles to try on so you don’t waste time browsing (they also do virtual consultations if you’re outside the city). Their advice has led me to discover so many new silhouettes for myself that I never would have thought to try.
Also, the right cover-ups and accessories also go a long way. This is the best place to experiment with trends and silhouettes that will allow your swimwear to transition with you through various summer situations. Think a vacation-inspired floaty dress for the pool, shorts for beach sports, or a matching set at the cottage. Crochet, 3D rosettes or boldly patterned pieces are on trend this year, as well as shell-inspired accessories (check out Jenny Bird’s latest drop), and embellished details like sequins and beads or chain belts. If you’re looking for something classic, a breezy linen button-up and straw bag should be your go-to.
Whether you’re searching for investment pieces, trendy styles or timeless classics, here are my top recommendations.
A v-neck, wrap-style one-piece highlights your neckline and minimizes the waistline. It can also double as a top when worn with flowy linen trousers or a skirt. Plus, a colour-blocked one-piece is an effortless way to add interest to your look.
At first glance, you may notice the vintage-inspired pattern or bow shoulder detail of this swimsuit, but what makes it so special is that it’s reversible! (With an equally beautiful pattern on the other side). Visual Mood is a women-founded, Canadian brand offering unique suits that are style statements on their own or can be paired with their matching skirts or accessories.
Canadian brand Knix has dropped some amazing swim styles this year. I love this supportive plunge style top and the leak-proof bottoms, which come in sizes up to 4X. You can purchase them in a full set which comes with a free matching sarong; add an adorable matching rosette for $18.
Designed in Vancouver, Left on Friday swimwear is perfect for the adventurer. The soft, smooth fabric is dreamy and mix and match is encouraged, allowing you to choose the best top and bottom for your body. Have fun with your swim and choose two different colours! Try two different shades of one colour or go bold with contrasting hues.
For those looking for a higher coverage swimsuit, this swim dress from Spanx is my favourite. Although appearing simple and classic, there are so many features that make this suit special, like the pique-textured fabric which offers a smoothing effect, hidden ties to keep the bottoms down in water, removable pads and a seamline to highlight the waist.
Textured fabric and details like the rings on this suit from Melmira are what take a swimsuit to the next level. If you’re tired of black, navy is an ideal alternative to add to your swim repertoire.
An inexpensive full-coverage option, this suit features elastic fabric that offers a smoothing effect, a wrap skirt built in and removable pads.
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