Soon it will be your least favorite time of the year, swimsuit season. Already when you go shopping, you see skinny mannequins in the hottest swimwear trends. You tend to shy away from most swim styles that show too much skin, especially bikinis. Can plus-size women wear bikinis or are you better off in a one-piece?
Plus-size women can absolutely wear bikinis if they want to. Whether you like a tankini with coverage or something that shows more skin, the key is to choose cuts and colors that complement your body and that you feel comfortable in.
We’re here to help you find the perfect plus-size bikini in this article. First, we’ll discuss some very empowering reasons women of any size should wear bikinis. Then we’ll share some of our favorite plus-size bikini looks and even offer up some tips on looking awesome in swimwear.
Let’s get into it!
6 Reasons Why Plus-Size Women Should Wear Bikinis
To you, wearing a bikini is one of the scariest things you can do at your size. You think you’d rather ride a roller coaster than be seen in so little clothing.
Although it’s not easy to put on a bikini when you feel insecure, once you get out there and do it, you’ll often realize it’s not such a big deal. Even more so, you might actually like it! Here are 6 great reasons to inspire you to wear a bikini as a plus-size woman.
You Deserve to Go to the Beach or Pool Too
How many pool party invitations have you turned down because you don’t want your friends or family to see you in a swimsuit? How many summers have you spent indoors in the air conditioning rather than beating the heat at the pool or beach?
You deserve to have summertime fun just like anybody does. If you go on vacation, you shouldn’t sit cooped up in your hotel room. You should be out there enjoying the sun, sand, and water. Stop holding yourself back!
The Sun Feels Great on Your Skin
Here’s something you don’t get to experience if you only step out in oversized t-shirts when sitting by the pool: how good the sun feels! The sensation of the sun kissing your skin is one that you have to experience for yourself. Although we’d always caution you to wear sunblock, you can still reap the mood-boosting benefits of vitamin D.
Wearing Clothes in the Summer Is Too Hot
Some plus-size women will only put their toes in the water if they can wear clothes rather than swimwear. This may sound familiar to you too. Wearing clothes when at the beach is too hot, especially if you’re donning dark colors to hide your body. Dark hues like black and navy blue may be flattering, but they also absorb heat at a higher rate than lighter colors.
Plus, clothing isn’t meant to get wet and be worn. Your t-shirt will stick to you, creating the very tight silhouette you wanted to avoid. If you’re wearing denim in the water, it will be heavy and uncomfortable.
Swimwear is designed to get wet, so it’s what you should wear to the beach or the pool.
There’s Flattering Swimwear for You No Matter Your Size
One thing you’re worried about is that you’ll never be able to find any complimentary swimwear at your size. It’ll all be grandma-like one-pieces rather than the cute styles that are often reserved for straight-size women. Also, what if you can’t find anything in your size at all?
These are viable concerns to have, but trust us, if you know where to shop, you can definitely find cute, chic swimwear styles that flatter your frame. Keep reading to see some of our swimwear selections in the next section.
People Won’t Care Nearly as Much as You Think
Even if you did find the perfect bikini, how can you possibly ever show yourself to the world wearing it? Our advice? Start off small. If you have a friend or family member with a pool, wear a bikini around those you trust. Then maybe you swim at a community pool and eventually work your way up to a crowded beach.
Although you’ll likely always be surrounded by people when swimming and splashing around, know this: everyone is probably so concerned with how they look in their own swimwear that they’re not paying that much attention to you in yours.
It’ll Help You Build Your Confidence
There are few better ways of becoming more confident as a plus-size woman than by wearing swimwear. It’s sort of a trial-by-fire situation. If you can bravely flaunt your stuff in a bikini, then wearing clothing suddenly seems a lot easier.
Our Favorite Plus-Size Bikinis
Bikinis don’t necessarily mean triangle bikinis but can refer to bandeaus, retro-style bikinis, skirted bikinis, and more. We chose some plus-size bikinis in all sorts of styles that you’re sure to love.
Sovoyontee Women’s Plus-Size High-Waisted Bikini with Tummy Control
This Amazon swimwear is made of a mix of spandex and nylon with polyester blend lining. The triangle bikini top is quite encompassing, fitting more like a bralette. The elastic strap under your breasts is wide to provide better support. The padded cup lining is even detachable if it feels or looks too bulky.
The bottoms are high-waisted and include tummy control. With the sash at the side, you can better obscure your stomach. The available sizes are 14 (XL), 16 (2XL), 18 (3XL), and 20 (4XL). Your color options are orange, white, dark green, yellow, and black.
Shein Graphic Crisscross Wrap Bikini
If you like retro-style swimwear, you need this Shein wrap bikini like yesterday. Made of spandex (18 percent) and polyester (82 percent), the top is a wireless bra with a front wrapping V-neck. The cute color block style is such that one half of the top is black and the other is leopard print. The high-waisted bikini bottoms come in solid black.
You can choose from traditional leopard print color, dusty pink leopard print, or red leopard print. The sizes start at 0XL through 4XL.
Target Xhiliration Ribbed Bikini
Target has a huge selection of plus-size bikinis that you can mix and match. Their Xhiliration ribbed bikini top is spandex so it moves and stretches with you. This top fits like a traditional triangle bikini top with a hook and loop fastener and a necktie closure. The available colors for the bikini are orange, blue, pink, yellow, white, and black. Sizing starts at size XS through 26W.
The Xhiliration high-leg high-waisted bikini bottoms are a good match for the triangle bikini top. The leg openings feature elastic, again for movement’s sake, and the fabric is intentionally opaque even when wet. The bottoms are only available in black starting in sizes XS through XL.
Swimsuits for All Gabifresh Bikini Set with Mesh Crop Top
If you want a bit more coverage with your swimwear, try the Gabifresh bikini set from Swimsuits for All. This three-piece set is made of spandex (18 percent) and nylon (82 percent). The bottoms boast a high waist, full coverage, and a high leg cut.
The top has halter straps you tie as well as a tummy control panel that features Power Mesh. This triangle top comes with foam cups that you can slide right out if you don’t want them. The mesh crop top, although optional, can safely get wet. It also makes a fantastic cover-up.
The Gabifresh swimsuit is available only in white from sizes 10 to 24 for both the top and bottoms.
Torrid Multi Medallion Print Bikini Top + Bottoms
This cute two-piece multi-medallion print set from Torrid is colorful and flattering swimwear. The bikini top is a spandex and nylon mix with built-in UPF 40+ sun protection. The straps are adjustable and the cups wireless. Inside is a mesh liner. Sizes start from 00 to 6X.
The matching bottoms are also spandex and nylon with a mesh liner and tummy control. You get ruching on top of that and a high waist so you can hit the beach with confidence! The available sizes are 00 through 6X.
Prettylittlething Triangle Bikini Set
If you’re searching for a traditional triangle bikini, you’ve found it at Prettylittlething. Their bikini top is elastane (16 percent) and nylon (84 percent) and comes in red, white, or black. The available sizes are 12 (large) through 26 (5X), so you should be able to buy something that fits you.
The bikini bottoms are high-waisted and definitely cheeky, as they show quite a bit of hip and rear. Shop sizes 12 through 26.
Tips for Styling Your Bikini as a Plus-Size Woman
As promised, here are our best tips for rocking a plus-size bikini. With this advice, you’ll be readier than ever to go to the pool or the beach!
Start with Something with More Coverage
Bikinis used to mean a triangle bikini and that’s about it. If you wanted more coverage, you could wear a tankini or a one-piece, but those were your only options. These days, swimwear has become more across-the-board, taking on styles that cover a lot more of your skin. No, we don’t mean rash guards, either.
Just take a look at this bikini top from Swimsuits for All. It’s long-sleeved! Or check out this one, also from Swimsuits for All. It’s a cute short-sleeved number with a front knotted tie. This Dia & Co. bikini top also looks more like a shirt than swimwear.
You don’t have to bear it all in swimwear if you’re not comfortable doing so. With so many bikini styles, you’re free to wear what makes you feel good.
Limit Back Straps If You’re Stressed about Back Fat
You don’t want your back fat to create a bumpy shape in your swimsuit. A triangle bikini top with halter ties around your neck and midway at your back won’t do that. Just don’t tie that back string too tightly. If you want a bikini with crisscrossing straps, make sure the straps are adjustable so you can loosen the ones around the back.
Embrace Patterns
Remember how earlier we mentioned that black absorbs heat so wearing dark colors in the summer makes you feel hotter? Swimsuits are not exempt from that rule. If you want to try lighter colors but you’re afraid of looking unflattering, wear a patterned plus-size bikini instead. The pattern will guide the eye towards the swimwear rather than your exposed body.
Sarongs Are Totally In, So Wear One
If you want to hide cellulite but still wear a bikini bottom, try a sheer, patterned sarong. The sheerness gives your skin room to breathe but the pattern blocks others from seeing your cellulite. A colorful sheer sarong can create a similar effect.
Be Confident
Even if you wear the hottest bikini on the beach, if you’re slumping or hiding because you don’t want people staring at you, you won’t look your best. Try on your bikini at home and move around in it. Get comfortable in it. Maybe snap a few selfies for Instagram wearing it. When your beach day comes, you’ll know how the bikini feels and fits on you, which will instantly make you feel more confident.
Conclusion
Although wearing a bikini as a plus-size woman can seem like the hardest thing in the world sometimes, it doesn’t have to be. Women of all sizes should wear what they want to the beach or pool, and with the advice in this article, we hope you’re ready to start doing so yourself. Have fun out there!
