I need a swimsuit from the ONLINE please.

May 5, 2018 11:25 AM

I need a one-piece swimsuit that I can swim in. I don't need competitive sportswear, but I do want it to stay put if I swim vigorously. My problem: One-piece swimsuits usually aren't sized for me. Can you help me find the right shop or suit? More inside.

The problem is that I have larger breasts than average and I need some support to be comfortable. But I don't want underwire - what I want is a suit that's designed so that there is a band underneath the breasts to provide some support, and has enough fabric in the breast area that you can squish down a little and your breasts don't flop out.

Things that categorically don't work:

* Suits that are ridiculously high cut
* Suits with bunchy or loose fabric
* Bra sized suits that actually look like you're wearing a bra
* Expensive shipping and returns

I know bra-sized swimwear is a thing, but most bra-sized suits I'm finding have underwire and/or are bikinis. I also don't think I need to go that far. My breasts are not huge, just big enough that they need a little extra containment and support. I am somewhere between a 30E/32DDD.

(Plus, I already have a bra-sized bikini top with underwire, and people ask me if I'm wearing a bra. It's really obvious on a lot of them that they are underwire garments and that reads as "she's swimming in a bra" even if it's swimsuit fabric. Annoying.)

posted by Kutsuwamushi to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (22 answers total)

My friend is built like you and favors Land's End suits. Good luck!
posted by KleenexMakesaVeryGoodHat at 11:28 AM on May 5, 2018 [2 favorites]

Yeah, Land's End's soft cups are available through a DDD, and it seems like that's almost certainly what you really want, unless you've actually tried them before and dislike them for some reason? I can't really picture swimming in something that doesn't have at least that much support even with a DD.
posted by Sequence at 11:42 AM on May 5, 2018

I swim laps frequently and I’m a 36DD(D). I just pretend the side boob and figure that it all floats when I’m in the water anyway. (I wear classic speedos)

That being said, Land’s end is what you’re looking for.
posted by raccoon409 at 12:15 PM on May 5, 2018

Landsend suits will be marked with how high cut they are, and they have petites, which is a requirement for me.

Hello, other retailers, perhaps you'd like to learn that women's bodies come in different shapes and sizes and a retailer who accommodates that will be very busy?
posted by theora55 at 12:30 PM on May 5, 2018

Also, if you happen to find a suit you like but has underwires, you can always remove them by making a small slit in the channel and pulling it out.
posted by tipsyBumblebee at 12:33 PM on May 5, 2018

If you're plus sized, the Lane Bryant zip-front active lap suit works well.
posted by Ms Vegetable at 12:42 PM on May 5, 2018

Response by poster: Sadly, Land's End does not have the larger cup sizes with the smaller suits. They are either out of my size or never offered it. I remember looking at their suits last year and having the same problem.

I could try a suit that doesn't have adjustable cup sizes, which leaves this one, but I'm worried that the cup size would be too small. They don't have any shelf bra suits in my size.

So if anyone has suggestions for different companies that would be great.
posted by Kutsuwamushi at 12:44 PM on May 5, 2018

Response by poster: I am so frustrated right now y'all. This is a problem every year. I just want to go swimming and be comfortable while doing it. I don't know why this is so emotionally charged but I literally want to write some companies some hate mail right now.

I guess if a one-piece is impossible a two-piece would be okay. Skimpy suits tend to not to stay put, but a longer-line top (NOT a tankini) with some broader coverage bottoms might work, if you can think of anything like that.
posted by Kutsuwamushi at 12:52 PM on May 5, 2018

Best answer: I'd try athletic-wear companies.

For example, Title 9 has this, which seems like what you're looking for? Hard to tell from the picture how high cut it is.

And if your objection to underwire is that it looks like a bra, Athelta has a longline-ish thing that could work. It doesn't look supportive because the've put the model in a size too small for her, but fitted correctly it could be supportive.

Finally, Miraclesuit is expensive and has a lot of exactly the kinds of things you dont want, where the support is really obvious, but they have a few underwire one pieces that dont look underwire at all.
posted by mrmurbles at 1:17 PM on May 5, 2018

Customized swimsuits are a thing and can be ordered online. I don't have any personal recommendations.unfortunately :(.
posted by tipsyBumblebee at 1:17 PM on May 5, 2018

Best answer: I am a big fan of Dolfin's suits. I'm a 32 DD and their conservative styled one-piece with a shelf bra is my default lap swim suit.
posted by hydropsyche at 1:21 PM on May 5, 2018 [2 favorites]

(I found a Dolfin size chart on Swim Outlet that may help you figure out the right size)
posted by hydropsyche at 1:22 PM on May 5, 2018 [1 favorite]

(and then I finally found the Dolfin training suits on Swim Outlet)
posted by hydropsyche at 1:24 PM on May 5, 2018 [1 favorite]

Best answer: There are a couple of suits from Athleta that might be promising. I've found their "best for cup size X" ratings to be on the conservative side if you're on the smaller end of the spectrum of band sizes.
posted by asphericalcow at 1:24 PM on May 5, 2018

Bravissimo has two Zoggs non wired sports swimsuits on sale although the reviews are mixed. I can't speak for either suit but Bravissimo is my first stop for clothes and lingerie that actually fits my bust. I always buy my bikinis from them. They do mail order.
posted by Heloise9 at 1:29 PM on May 5, 2018 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Have you tried something like this? I think the “tummy control” thing would come up to right underneath your boobs and support them. Maybe. And it’s super cute!
posted by Weeping_angel at 2:08 PM on May 5, 2018

If you are interested in a two-piece bottom that stays fit, note athletic training bikinis have drawstrings in the bottoms, like mens suits, so combining that with a top like the athleta might give you the best of all worlds.

(I swim competitively, I have big boobs, I agree the squish is not what I want recreationally but I find it fine for the pool.)
posted by dame at 3:39 PM on May 5, 2018

Best answer: So what you want is called a "shelf bra" and many normal, non-bra style one pieces have them. I would usually suggest athleta or victoria's secret but there are no real good options this year - I have similar suit concerns as you.

For "vigorous" swimming I'd go with a regular speedo - you can get them cheap on amazon and while my current suit has the world's lowest bra band I have owned a dozen without that issue, plus it is tight and thick enough to provide "medium" support for larger bosoms anyways. OR grab yourself a bikini style top and bottom and get a rash guard.
posted by love2potato at 4:14 PM on May 5, 2018

I, too, like Dolfin a lot.
posted by jgirl at 5:10 PM on May 5, 2018

Try Swim and Sweat. They have a ton of relatively modest bathing suits and many of them come in larger cup sizes but don't look like underwire bras -- they just look like plain tanks. I don't know that they will definitely work -- DD, rather than DDD is what they sell, but swimsuits are somewhat forgiving on sizing and they have high necks. Plus, most of what they sell is chlorine resistant.
posted by jacquilynne at 6:06 PM on May 5, 2018 [1 favorite]

Best answer: I have one of these Penbrooke Krinkle suits from SwimOutlet, which is supportive all over and stays put. I really love it and I feel GOOD and comfortable in it! The combination of the textured fabric and the support panels make it a little heavier than a typical suit, but I like the feeling of being "held." Every time I wear it, someone likes it/asks me where I got it.
posted by hiker U. at 6:10 PM on May 5, 2018 [2 favorites]

Best answer: I'm busty and what works for me is, oddly, Longitude swimsuits (which are ostensibly for ladies with long torsos.) I'm not tall, but I do need plenty of coverage and structure, and these work (I especially find the surplice ones keep everything right where it should be.) Amazon always has a few, so usually free returns.
posted by fingersandtoes at 7:18 AM on May 6, 2018 [1 favorite]