The 64 best bikinis, swimsuits and men’s trunks for summer 2026

June 7, 2026
6:00 pm

The trick with swimwear shopping is to stick to well-established criteria. Your priorities, of course, are comfort, support, coverage and price. But while your demure black one-piece might cover those bases, you shouldn’t settle for a costume that does the bare minimum.

Take tummy control swimwear. If you want support in that area, you don’t have to avoid bikinis. Try a high waist pair with a built-in control panel, or a tank top. Ruching is fairly standard these days (as is a tie at the side) and does the trick by tucking everything away. If in doubt, wear something printed to distract.

Having a large cup size – and I’d count anything from DD plus – can feel like a minefield. There are specific brands for bigger sizes (I’ve listed some of the best I’ve found here), but it’s good to focus on support rather than simply more fabric. That means an underwire and proper straps – there’s no point messing about with bits of string.

You could also try underwire if you feel you need a bit of help at the other end of the spectrum. It may sound outdated, but it’s terrific at adding a bit of shape where you don’t have much, and if you spend half your day bent over sandcastles with your kids.

If you struggle to find your size, there are plenty of “one size fits all” brands – often with crinkly fabrics that do exactly that. But otherwise, it’s about looking for a brand that runs bigger sizes in its standard line. Marks & Spencer, for example, goes up to a 24.

And finally, if you want a swimsuit for swimming, go for a specialist brand. And do try it on so you get a sense of coverage – you don’t want anything popping out in the family pool.