16 Best Swimsuits for Women Over 50
Swimsuits to help you feel your best on the beach this year.
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No matter what age you are, trying on swimsuits in harsh fitting room lighting or shipping dozens of styles to your home only to have to return them all can be daunting. When you're looking for a swimsuit that checks all the boxes — fits well, lasts for multiple swim seasons, feels comfy and looks great on — it might feel like it can't be done, but we can assure you that the swimsuit of your dreams does exist.
At Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab, we test swimsuits of all kinds, from bikinis to slimming styles to tankinis to one-piece suits to make the process of finding the right swimsuit less overwhelming for you. We analyze how well swimsuits keep their shape after being stretched, how they stand up to elements like seawater and UV rays and how well they hold up to repeated washing. We also send bathing suits to consumer testers who consider how the swimsuits fit, look and feel in their real lives.
The following picks are all swimsuits with a little added coverage that have been tested in the Lab, come from top-performing brands or have rave customer reviews online. Here are the best swimsuits for women in their 50s, 60s and beyond.
Miraclesuit Oceanus One-Piece Swimsuit
Miraclesuit is known for its slimming designs made with smoothing fabrics and waist-accentuating details like wrapping and ruching. Our consumer testers rated this style as having more slimming power than others we've tested, emphasizing that it minimized their midsections. They loved that while the neckline is lower than some other styles, it still offers plenty of support and lift, thanks to the built-in underwire and adjustable straps.
Sizes: 8-18
Available in vibrant and playful patterns like this featured blue watercolor gingham, this swimsuit from L.L.Bean is the perfect style to help you stand out on the beach or at the pool. The scoopneck swimsuit offers fuller coverage. It features a soft-cup bra for modesty and has wider straps for chest support. The straps aren't adjustable, but the brand carries regular, plus and long options to help you achieve the proper fit.
Sizes: 4-18 with plus and long options
If you're looking for a two-piece swimsuit, this sporty option features a long tankini top and swim short bottoms. The blouson swim top features a scoop neckline with gathered details along the chest and back, which allows for maximum movement and comfort. You're unable to choose separate sizes for the top and bottom, so online reviewers suggest sizing up if you typically wear a larger bottom size because the shorts are fitted and can feel snug.
Sizes: XS-XXL with 18-22 plus
In previous Textiles Lab evaluations, this Lands’ End swimsuit snagged top marks for being the "most flattering" style, according to our consumer testers. The crisscross shirring detail is not only stylish, it also provides a torso-slimming effect, and the brand says it provides tummy control. We love the bold ombre style, but there are other neutral color options available if you prefer a more classic look, along with extended size options including plus and petite.
Sizes: 6-18 with extended cup sizes, petite, plus, long and long plus options
Swimsuits For All Sarong Front One Piece Swimsuit
With hundreds of swimsuits available from size 4 to size 34, Swimsuits For All offers an inclusive selection of styles in tons of colorful prints and patterns. This Sarong Front Swimsuit features a longer panel of material in the front for added coverage, and the stomach is lined with Power Mesh fabric to smooth and shape. For a bit of extra chest support and coverage, there's an elastic underband and built-in cups.
Sizes: 8-34
This Instagram-famous brand has been making waves over the last few years with its popular Amalfi swimsuit. The minimalist one-piece is like the little black dress of bathing suits. It's made of a slightly compressive material and features a traditional maillot neckline. Plus, you have the option to choose the coverage for the bottoms based on your preference — from cheeky to full. We love that there are removable cups and adjustable straps for chest support too.
Sizes: XS-XXXL
If you like a traditional brief bottom but want some more coverage up top, try a tankini-style swimsuit. This pick starts at around $35 for a two-piece swim set, and you can choose from more than 25 different colors and patterns, including solids and floral prints like this one. The blouson-style top features ruching at the neckline and a fitted waistband with looser fabric throughout the bodice for a more concealing fit. Because you can't choose different sizing for each piece, online reviewers recommend sizing up if you wear different sizes in tops and bottoms.
Sizes: XS-XXL and 18-26 plus
Swimsuits For All Princess-Seam Swim Dress
Swim dresses are great full-coverage swimwear, thanks to the extra panel of fabric for modesty. This swim dress features princess seams, which are two vertical seams that run down the torso to emphasize an hourglass shape. This particular style has built-in briefs underneath, similar to typical swim bottoms, so you're free to move and swim without worry. We love that there are wider straps and built-in foam cups to help shape and provide support. Plus, it comes in plenty of pretty patterns including butterflies and florals.
Sizes: 8-34
Most bikinis are barely there, but this one is designed with high-waisted bottoms and a longer flowy top for a fuller-coverage look. While there's no compressive lining, the bottoms feature ruched fabric, which provides a slimming effect when combined with the high-waisted cut. You can choose from 18 different patterns and colors, and the suit is available in sizes XS to 3XL. Unfortunately, you can't choose separate sizes for the top and bottom, so it's best to size up if your sizes are inconsistent.
Sizes: S-3XL
Summersalt's swimsuits are a favorite among our editors and GH Institute experts, and the Sidestroke bathing suit is a top pick from the swimwear brand. The one-shoulder suit is made of compressive fabric with diagonal seams and looks great on women of all ages and sizes. The bottoms are full-coverage, but for even more coverage, Summersalt offers matching swim skirts and coverups that you can wear from the beach to brunch.
Sizes: 0-24
Anyone can wear a bikini, but not everyone wants a barely-there, super strappy style. If you're looking for one with a little more coverage, consider this pick from Andie Swim. It has wide straps to prevent slippage that can be adjusted for a more secure fit and removable soft cups for a smooth look. Online reviewers say the top stays in place while they're running and jumping in the water, too.
Sizes: XS-XXXL
High-waisted bikini bottoms are a summer staple that smooth and emphasize your waistline. This pair from Spanx is made with a slightly compressive material to shape all the way around, and it stays in place all day long, whether you're taking a swim, paddle boarding or lying on the beach. The textured material conceals any unwanted bumps and bulges, and the brand claims the leg openings are designed to be "no-dig," so they won't cut in along your bikini line.
Sizes: XS-3X
Speedo has been around for decades and is a go-to for athletes. Whether you're powering through swim laps or taking a leisurely dip, if you want a swimsuit that stays in place, this bathing suit won't budge. It has wide straps that cross in the back so they won’t fall off your shoulders as you swim. Keep in mind it's designed for competitive swimmers, so it runs small, and it's best to check out the size guide before buying.
Sizes: 20-40
This high-neck one-piece swimsuit from Tempt Me has over 25,000 five-star reviews on Amazon, so we decided to put it to the test by having 10 women of different sizes and ages wear and rate it. Don't let the low price tag fool you — our testers said it was comfortable and loved the smoothing mesh material and ruched details. It held up well in our Textiles Lab wash tests, too, with no major signs of wear or shrinkage. There are 40 patterns and colors to choose from, so you're bound to find a style you love.
Sizes: XXS-XL and 16 to 26 plus
We and our consumer testers love Panache's bras, which are specifically designed for those with larger cup sizes, and the brand's swimsuits are available in standard bra sizing, as well. This style starts at size 30D and extends through 40K. It also features built-in double-layered cups, an underwire and a sturdy hook closure in the back for extra chest support. Thoughtful design details like gold hardware, ruching at the chest and princess seams elevate the look.
Sizes: Band sizes 30-40 and cup sizes D-K
Hill House Home has taken its fan-favorite nap dress and transformed the iconic style into a swimsuit with ruffled shoulders that the brand says keep their shape swim after swim. Online reviewers appreciate the thick material, sharing that it offers light compression for a smoothing effect that they describe as "flattering." We love the stylish square neckline but there are no built-in bands or cups for chest support.
Sizes: XS-XXL
How we choose the best swimsuits for women over 50
At the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab, we test swimsuits of all kinds — from styles designed for large busts to period swimwear. In recent years, we have analyzed dozens of swimsuits in the Lab and have collected and analyzed over 1,400 data points.
In the Textiles Lab, we evaluate swimsuits for durability properties. We put them through wash tests to understand how well they hold up to repeated washing and whether or not they shrink in the dryer. We also measure stretch recovery and abrasion resistance, which helps us to understand how well a swimsuit would be able to withstand rubbing against a rough material like concrete steps at the pool. We consider colorfastness to different elements like seawater, chlorine, sweat and UV rays.
Along with testing in the Textiles Lab, we share swimsuits with consumer testers who try on the styles and wear them on trips to the beach or pool. They share their thoughts on everything from how comfortable the swimsuits are to how well they fit to the overall appearance and style.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Amanda Constantine is a Good Housekeeping Institute home & apparel reviews analyst. She has tested and covered all kinds of fashion items, including swimsuits like the best overall swimsuits, the best bikinis, the best swimsuits on Amazon and more. She used her relative expertise when choosing the best swimsuits for women over 50 and also sought out recommendations from Good Housekeeping Institute experts and editors.
Amanda (she/her) researches and reports on products in the Good Housekeeping Institute's Textiles, Paper & Apparel Lab, ranging from clothing and accessories to home furnishings. She holds undergraduate degrees in apparel merchandising and product development and advertising and marketing communications, as well as a master of science degree in consumer sciences from The Ohio State University. Prior to joining Good Housekeeping in 2022, Amanda was a lecturer for the fashion and retail studies program at Ohio State, where she taught fashion and textiles courses.
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