Your Guide to Swim 2023
Your Guide to
Swim 2023
The pursuit of the perfect swimsuit continues! I'm excited to share a freshly updated guide to shopping for swimsuits this season. Whether you're into one or two pieces, looking for supportive underwire options, or cover-ups, I've got you covered. I've already begun sharing my finds this year on my Swim '23 highlight over on Instagram, which has a ton of great information there, but today, we're getting a little more in-depth on all of the incredible options. If you haven't found a swimsuit in which you feel like an absolute sun goddess, trust me when I say your perfect suit is out there! You may have to dig a little deeper than your average store, which is okay. Remember, you are worth it! Feel free to reach out via email or in the comments below if you need some additional assistance. Let's dive in! See what I did there?
but before we get into it...
HERE ARE A FEW QUICK TIPS THAT HELP ME FEEL GREAT DURING SWIMSUIT SEASON
I'd rather have 1-2 quality, supportive, well-made swimsuits that I feel AMAZING in rather than 5-10 mediocre suits I'm constantly adjusting and not feeling my best in it.
I've realized that no one cares how you look in a swimsuit. It's mostly an inside job. I like to get comfortable and build my confidence by wearing new styles in comfortable situations, like at home or on a trip where I'll likely never see those people again. Confidence is like a muscle- the more you use it, the stronger it gets! If you're interested, I talked more about my confidence journey in this post.
If you can't tone it, tan it! Sometimes I need some help feeling confident, and a little bronzey glow does the trick for me. I've previously shared my self-tanning process here and here!
As far as bikini lines go, I previously shared my journey with laser hair removal here, but if you're not ready to take the plunge yet, I previously shared some options here.
SHOP THE LOOK (16)
let’s shop
One-PIECE SWIMSUITS
In case you haven't already noticed, one-pieces are my favorite! I like that it's one thing to put on, and I can determine the level of support I'd like to have. Not all one-pieces are treated equally. If you're looking for maximum support, you'll want to consider underwire swimsuits (keep scrolling for more information on that). Still, often you can find one-piece swimsuits with either a shelf bra (what I'd consider low to moderate support) or something with a flex wire (not a full underwire but has a little bit underneath the cup for help which I’d consider moderate to high support.) Here are a few brands/stores at all price points that I love to shop when I’m looking for one-piece suits:
AMAZON (link to my curated list) | BRAVISSIMO (OFFERS VIRTUAL FITTINGS) | HILOR | J.CREW (LONG TORSO OPTIONS)| LA BLANCA | LANDS’ END | LILLY PULITZER | MAURICES | MIRACLESUIT | SPANX (USE CARALYN10) | SUMMERSALT (LONG TORSO OPTIONS - USE CARALYN10) | SWIMSUITS FOR ALL | TA3 | TEMPTME
SIMILAR SWIMSUIT (XL - LONG TORSO) | SUNGLASSES
SIMILAR SWIMSUIT (XL - USE CARALYN10) | HAT |
let’s shop
TWO-PIECE SWIMSUITS
To be transparent, I don't wear a ton of bikinis and tankinis! However, I think they are fantastic options for people who love them and/or have a hard time finding one-pieces they feel amazing in. If you're looking for underwire bikinis or tankinis, please scroll down to the next section. The nice thing about two pieces is that you can mix and match, so if you're different sizes on the top and bottom, these could be an excellent option! Here are some great places to shop for bikinis and tankinis:
AMAZON | BARE NECESSITIES | BRAVISSIMO | HERROOM | LANDS’ END | MAURICES | MACY’S | SWIMSUITS FOR ALL
SHOP SIMILAR STYLES (sized up to 18 for bump)
SHOP SPANX SWIM - USE CARALYN10
Let’s talk
UNDERWIRE SWIMSUITS
If you're looking for the maximum support, lift, and separation in a swimsuit, you'll want to consider underwire swimsuits. Whether it's a one-piece, tankini, or bikini, know you have many options! But if you haven't been properly fitted for a bra in the last 6-12 months at a local specialty shop or Nordstrom, I strongly encourage you to. One of my newest favorite brands, Bravissimo, offers virtual fittings for bras and swimwear! I recently shared my experience with it here, and I can't recommend it enough! Once you know your proper size, it's easier to shop underwire bikinis, tankinis, and one piece suits. As a general rule of thumb, I like to size up to my sister size (one larger band size, one cup size down) for extra roominess in the band. So if I’m wearing a 34GG in bras right now, I’ll wear a 36G in swimsuits. I shared more about sister sizing on my Bra highlight on IG. A few places I recommend to shop are:
(just be sure to double-check the style you’re looking at has underwire because some items from the brand come without)
BRAVISSIMO | BARE NECESSITIES | CHANTELLE | ELOMI | FREYA | FANTASIE | HERROOM | MIRACLESUIT | SHAN | PANACHE | PRIMA DONNA
MATERNITY SWIMSUIT PICKS
I am excited to have some first-hand experience on this subject finally! I could size up in regular suits until well into my second trimester/beginning of the third. Another pro tip is to purchase your pre-pregnancy size in a long torso option (shown below) which accommodates for the additional need for space. Depending on how much you’ll wear, you may want to save or splurge, but I can tell you from experience that having at least one good suit made me feel beyond comfortable and confident with the ebbs and flows of this ever-changing body. Some may prefer a bikini, just sized up in what would work now. I couldn’t find one that hit the right spots, so I opted for one-pieces and felt terrific, Gap maternity was one of my unexpected favorites. Here are a few of my suggested retailers to shop for maternity-specific swim:
AMAZON | ASOS | GAP | J.CREW (buy long torso) | KINDRED BRAVERLY | SUMMERSALT
let’s shop
COVER-UPS
I love shopping for cover-ups; they complete the look and make me feel even more confident in my swimsuit! Depending on how much color you like to wear for your swimsuit, you can go as neutral or as bright and colorful as you like! Here are a few of my favorite places to shop for cover-ups:
AMAZON | MY CURATED AMAZON LIST | COOLIBAR ( UPF 50 - USE CARALYN20) | J.CREW | SUMMERSALT (USE CARALYN10)
Thanks for reading!
I have done several brand and style-specific reviews over the years throughout the swim tab of my blog and on my social media. I recognize it may be a lot to comb through, so feel free to leave any brand, style, or sizing-specific questions in this post's comments, and I will get back to them ASAP! I encourage you to leave any comments below with as much detail as you’re comfortable with so that others can potentially benefit from it too!
xx CMK