By Franki Hanke

It happens every summer, I wait until there’s an invitation: “Join us on the river this weekend!” and then pull down the box of summertime clothes from last year to find that my reliable suit doesn’t fit, has a see-through butt, or simply vanished in the winter. Then, to make it worse, all the suits at the closest brick-and-mortar store have cheeky bikini bottoms! I like to keep my butt contained when swimming! If that’s you, scrambling to find a bathing suit ahead of a sudden, summertime activity, deep breath. We’ve got 8 picks of the best swimsuits in 2023 with three different goals, so whatever you’re doing near the water, there’s an option for you, including curvy/plus-size picks for all body types! 

The amount of coverage can vary with different swimsuit retailers, and those who (like me) have a big butt, you may find high-coverage suits may offer less overall coverage on your body type than others, but the suits on this list are all among the higher coverage on the market so you can stay comfy and not self-conscious in your suit! 

For Tanning & Lounging

When your swimsuit’s main goal is a flattering fit and fun style that looks cute in your vacation photos, you can sacrifice some functionality. These swimsuits might provide less lift or control for busts but are super cute. 

If you are laying out to tan, please remember your SPF. It doesn’t block your tan, but it does protect against skin aging. It’s the #1 Way to Look Younger! 

Anne Cole V-Wire Two-Piece 

SIZED BY CUP UP TO 40D

Most underwire swimsuits have such a busty look you’re at risk of being bosom-bumped, but this Anne Cole suit incorporates the supportive underwire into a subtle ruched effect so it’s seamless and seductive without being over the top. 

Unlike your old string bikini, this bikini will hold your chest safely. Plus, the swim bottoms offer full coverage for the bum. 

The solid color bottoms are convertible between high and mid-rise with shirred seam detail. If you like a colorful, fun swimsuit, opt for their limited Palm Party colorway which pairs with a retro-style belted bottom. 

Reviewers Say: 

“Cute new style for me. The purple color is beautiful! It lays nicely on your flesh. The top fits like a bra and stays on nicely.”

Anne Cole does sell some plus-size swimsuits, but unfortunately not a comparable style to this one. 

Shop on Anne Cole: Top – Solids | Top – Pattern | Bottom – Solid | Bottom – Pattern

Lands’ End Swim Dress

INCLUDES PLUS SIZES (UP TO SIZE 26)

If you want a cute lounging option that transitions easily into an outfit for that beachside restaurant, this Lands’ End swim dress is perfect. It’s a one-piece swimsuit layered underneath a short, wrap-style dress for a stylish, transitional piece. 

It features a high-cut cut-out on the side, a mid-thigh/high-leg length, and a minimalist shape. It’s available in 15 variants from traditional gingham to funky florals. 

Reviewers Say:

“I was worried I’d feel matronly in this but it’s super cute and I got tons of compliments.”

Shop on Amazon.

Aerie Wrap One-Piece

SIZES UP TO XXL (INCLUDING LONG-TORSO SIZING)

Re-released every year, Aerie’s wrap-style one-piece swimsuit is Old Reliable in my swimwear box. While they release new colors and variations every summer season, I’ve owned three of these and matched with friends and family when we showed up at the pool. It’s that popular. 

The suit itself has a high-waisted bikini bottom, but it’s connected to the wrap top, so there’s a sliver of skin on show, but it’s always tasteful and tummy-covering. The butt offers ample coverage too. 

While this suit offers limited support up top, I have worn it for lap swimming and river tubing before, so it does survive the jump between water activities if you’d prefer to own one suit that does it all. 

Reviewers Say: 

“I love how flattering this suit is! It fits better than I imagined too. The top part is adjustable like a wrap dress which means you can decide how much cleavage to show, [and] full coverage on the booty!”

Shop on Aerie.

Anne Cole Shirred One-Piece

SIZES UP TO 16

If you want to tan without any distracting lines across your shoulders, Anne Cole has the bandeau top for you. With a twisted bust detail and shirred stomaching, this swimsuit is timeless and flattering. The butt is full-coverage and there are included balconette cups molded in the chest. 

It’s available in a wide range of colors from lifeguard red to bright yellow. Convert from strapless to a halter top with an included strap. Anne Cole has sold this suit for years, so you know it’s high-quality and timeless. It’s amassed over 2,000 reviews on Amazon alone, so if you’re unsure, this is a suit that will survive the trends. Pick out your favorite color and fall in love. 

Reviewers Say:

“[I] love this bathing suit! I have a large bust and felt pretty safe moving around without the straps.” 

Shop on Amazon.

For Swimming

When you want to swim laps or jump off the boat without worrying about a nip slip, you need a swimsuit you trust. These swimsuits hold you in and stay put while moving in the water. 

Summersalt “The Perfect Wrap” One Piece

INCLUDES PLUS SIZES (UP TO SIZE 22)

If you need an all-around swimsuit that’s not too utilitarian for the poolside but stays put when you cannonball, this is it. As Summersalt’s most-reviewed suit, it has over 1,000 fans with a wide size range, a variety of color options, and a universal style. Colors range from solids to color blocking to pattern-mixing, so choose your level! 

This suit has a v-neckline and a slight scoop in the back for medium coverage to full coverage depending on bust size. It’s a little cheeky in the back, more like a medium coverage than full. There are built-in soft cups and compression in the fabric for extra support. 

Reviewers Say: 

“This swimsuit is so flattering. The wrap design helps define the waist area, and the neckline isn’t too low.” 

If you’re looking for a more adventurous suit, Summersalt has other designs featuring one-shoulder or ruffle details too. 

Shop on Summersalt. 

Calvin Klein Ruched One-Piece

SIZES UP TO SIZE 18

For a revised version of the classic, plain one-piece, Calvin Klein’s pleated-front suit offers some subtle detail that obscures the stomach for less time thinking about your insecurities and more time focused on your sidestroke!

With a nylon-spandex blend, the suit is compressive, yet comfortable with a sleek square neck and tapered shoulder straps. The fabric’s compression does offer some tummy control, if that’s important to you. It’s a simple, timeless suit available in eight colorways with full-coverage bottoms. 

Reviewers Say: 

“This suit is very simple but extremely flattering. The butt coverage is excellent. Nothing to write home about for my boobs but it’s classy.”

Shop now on Amazon. If Amazon has limited sizing, Macy’s sells this style too. 

For Sports & Activities

When you want to be near water, but not always in the water, you can mix the functionality of a swimsuit with the UPF protection of cover-ups. These swimsuits are between a suit and sportswear for kayaking or tubing.

Lands’ End Tank & Bikini Bottoms (With Sun Guard)

INCLUDES PLUS SIZES

This trio combination is ideal for kayaking, canoeing, or tubing where you want to be water-ready, but spend a lot of time outside of the water. The nylon-blend fabrics include UPF 50 sun protection to limit your sunburns for long days. Coming from Lands’ End, there’s a lot of experience behind their brand in designing swimwear for outdoor sports. 

The bottoms come in three classic colors (black, navy, and turquoise) but both the tankini bikini top and the long-sleeved rash/sun guard top come in a variety of colorways so you can mix and match. The high-rise bottoms have a modest coverage on the butt so you avoid a constant wedgie. The tankini is a high-neck, so there’s no worry about coverage when you’re padding. Inside there’s a subtle, soft cup bra for light support. 

Reviewers Say: 

“These fit perfectly and I don’t have to tug on them.”

“The suit is flattering and allows for real swimming without worrying about a wardrobe malfunction.” 

Shop now on Amazon: Bottoms | Tankini | Rash/Sun Guard Top

Summersalt Stylish Sun Guard

INCLUDES PLUS SIZES

If you want a colorful, stylish variation on the classic rash/sun guard, Summersalt has an option that sacrifices some of the sun-protecting coverage for a more feminine, cute silhouette with a wrap-style swim top. 

“The Perfect Wrap” cover-up has UPF 50+ protection with no built-in support so you can layer it over any style of swimsuit you’d like from an existing bikini set or one of Summersalt’s other styles. 

For maximum coverage and sports-ready support, layer their Surge Zip-Front One-Piece which comes in a matching two-tone colorway, Spritz (a rich fuschia color) or plain black. 

For a mid-point on the way to maximum coverage, opt for their Seascape Sweetheart which has the same stable, full-coverage on the butt and shelf bra, but a sweetheart neckline (a less-plunging version of a v-neck) and adjustable straps on front instead. It comes in two coordinating colorways with the cover-up top: Spritz and Seaweed (a deep turquoise). 

Whichever swimsuit you layer beneath, finish your top layer with the Sea to Shore Swim Shorts which have a loose, flowy shape, but provide extra coverage while moving in and out of the water. Colors coordinate with the tops above (and additional colorways if you’d rather mix it up). 

The best part of these pieces is that you can purchase these together matching and then mix in your existing swimwear for a variety of different final styles while staying a bit protected from the sun. 

Reviewers Say: 

“I love these shorts, they are so cute, comfortable, and I’ve never seen another style like this. I was a little apprehensive at first because I thought it was pricey, but I loved it so much that I ended up buying two more in different colors.”

Shop now on Summersalt: Cover-Up | High-Neck Suit | Sweetheart Suit| Shorts

Now that you’ve seen all the plentiful options for cute suits that don’t have thong-adjacent swimsuit bottoms, I hope you’ve found just the right one for your summertime plans. 

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