covered & cute // a girl’s guide to swimwear

Summer brings the long awaited revival of sun tans (or burns!), backyard barbecues, and swim suits-- which means swimsuit shopping. Looking for swimsuits can end up being a girl’s worst nightmare rather quickly, as looking in the dressing room mirror can lead to questions like: “Does this fit right?”, “Am I showing too much?”, “Do I even like how I look in this?”, or even the classic “My mom is so going to kill me”.

I’ve done my fair share of swimsuit shopping, some cases resulting in frustrated tears and utter confusion. So, to avoid meltdowns in the middle of the mall, I’ve crafted a repertoire of a few tips and tricks I’d like to share. Thus, here’s how to stay both covered and cute-- a girl’s guide to the treacherous universe of swimwear:

First, ask the question: “What kinds of suites am I comfortable wearing… and which ones am I not?”

In this question, comfortable means a variety of different things: physical comfort, emotional and mental comfort, and spiritual comfort. The easiest box for a suit to check is physical comfort. It’s pretty easy to know if a suit feels good on your body. Is it too tight in some places? Is it too loose in others? Are there any wires or seams that irritate your skin? Will any part become dislodged if you were to dive into the water? If a suit is physically uncomfortable, it’s pretty easy to throw it out of the mix.

But emotional, mental and spiritual comfort? Those are a lot harder to tackle. However, all three can be untangled by truthfully answering the following questions: “Do I have any specific motivations when wearing this particular suit?”, “Am I okay with strangers looking at me in this suit?”, and “In what situations would I be alright in this suit… and which ones would I not?”. Truth to be told, a particular swimming suit can be appropriate and comfortable in one setting and completely inappropriate and uncomfortable in another. Be sure to distinguish what each means for you. Having a certain situation, setting or event in mind when looking for swimwear can assist in answering the questions from above.

When it comes to swimsuits, quality is always, always, always more important than quantity.

For the best result when answering the questions above, look for quality swimsuits. It’s pretty darn easy to see and feel the difference when it comes to cheap versus quality swimwear. It might take a while, but finding one or two good, quality swimsuits that check all the boxes listed above is so much better than buying a half dozen swimsuits that just don’t do the job. Additionally, cheap swimwear tends to wear out sooner, thus investing in quality suits now insures a lasting, durable piece for future summer months.

Stumped on what might cover all this criteria? Here are some of my personal examples. Remember, girls check the boxes above in different ways, and this is just how I have checked mine.

Oh, bikinis, bikinis, bikinis. The debate could last all day. Here’s what I’m here to say: I chose to pair this high necked black and white striped top with bottoms designed to cover more from both the front and the back. My favorite part about high necked bikinis are their security around the chest-- I’m free to splash around with no worries!

Maybe you aren’t quite ready to show the midriff, or the event you plan to attend calls for something a little more covering. A lacy tankini is a spectacular option! Though a little hard to find, the lacy tankini is definitely a must-have when it comes to your swimwear collection. I pared the top with matched bottoms that are, again, designed to cover more than most bottoms do.

Ah, cruel cleavage. Swimsuit shopping spirals into complete chaos when nothing seems to fit right. If this sounds like you, never fear-- I’ve been there too! Sports bras are a great option when other tops don’t provide enough security because, well, that’s a sports bra’s job! Be sure to look for one that has material similar to that of a swimsuit and has thinner padding inserts-- trust me, they aren’t hard to find! I usually pair mine with a pair of colorful spandex to give full coverage. This look is a great way to dip your toe into the waters of bikinis while still feeling totally secure (plus, it looks super sporty, too!).

Swim skirts… those are a thing? YES! I have worn swim skirts as long as I can remember because that are both super cute and wonderfully covering. I paired this one with a tankini top-- the result is absolutely adorable in and out of the water. While this is a matching set, both pieces could be mixed and matched with other suits.

High waisted… what? That’s right, high waists not only pertain to jeans, but swim bottoms as well! Again, when looking for more coverage, high waisted bottoms could definitely be an option. While not only covering on top, these orange bottoms cover on bottom too. I paired mine with a navy top with little white dots to highlight the vintage vibe I felt from the figure forming bottoms.

Lastly, the one piece finally arrives on stage. Personally, one pieces don’t check physical comfort in my books, so I don’t tend to wear them often (plus, I don’t like stripping naked to use the bathroom). However, I do have a one piece or two in my collection due to their ability to to check all the boxes after physical comfort. When I wear my one piece, I usually layer swim shorts on top, as I think it not only seals the covering deal, but also adds a pop of color to an otherwise monochrome look.

There are so many ways to swing out of the swimsuit slums, but just remember that cool and covered can be one in the same. Happy shopping!