Swimsuits for Older Women: How to Find a Flattering Bathing Suit

Why is finding attractive bathing suits for older women so difficult? After all, women over 60 are a huge market. You’d think that bathing suit producers would be lining up around the corner to sell to us. Unfortunately, this isn’t yet the case.

The good news is that there are still places to find bathing suits for women our age. We just need to look a little harder.

Here is our list of top picks for swimsuits for women over 60:

1. SARONG FRONT ONE-PIECE SWIMSUIT – Best-selling one-piece swimsuit from Swimsuits for All offered in a variety of colors and prints. 
2. V-NECK FLOWY TANKINI TOP – Flattering loose-fitting tank top and shorts from Swimsuits for All.
3. The Perfect Wrap One-Piece – This swimsuit from Summersalt features a flattering faux-wrap design with a waist tie and soft V-neckline. Made with compressive, recycled fabric and built-in bust support, it offers a sleek, sculpted fit with UPF 50+ protection. 
4. HALTER TANKINI TOP – Halter tops are flattering and timeless.
5. Island Cays Cabana Ruffle Tankini Top – The ruffle neckline elevates this Island Cays tankini, with a soft-to-touch, UPF-rated piqué fabric, this beautiful swimsuit is ready for a day of lounging by the water.

Keep reading to discover more swimsuits for mature women.

Where Are All the Bathing Suits for Older Women?

Women in their 60s might remember a song by Brian Hyland that expressed a challenge that we still face today. “Itsy, bitsy, teenie, weenie yellow polka dot bikini,” captured the terror that many women feel when they think about wearing a bathing suit in public.

It was funny at the time, but, as we get a little older, many of us become especially sensitive to our body image. We still love going to the spa and enjoy visiting the beach with our friends and family, but many of us feel nervous about showing our bodies in public.

Of course, much of the problem is in our own heads. We are much harder on ourselves than the rest of the world is. At the same time, women our age face a practical problem as well – finding flattering swimwear for older women is much harder than it should be.

So, how does a woman over 60 find a comfortable and fashionable bathing suit that will cover up a little unwanted weight? Where can she find a style that creates a flattering look? Fortunately, in recent years, designers have started to think about how to create swimwear that meets our needs. They still haven’t taken the step of showing older women in their advertising, but that’s another story.

So, if you’re looking to hit the beach or the pool, here are a few places to look for flattering bathing suits for older women. If you have any other suggestions, please add them in the comments.

Read 6 HEALTHY SKIN CARE TIPS FOR OLDER WOMEN.

Find the Perfect Bathing Suit for Your Unique Shape and Size

There are several great places to go for inspiration. Swimsuits for All is a great online site offering a “Fit and Flatter Guide.” You enter your measurements and choose from bathing suits that can enhance a small bust or support a large one. It also offers designs that hide hips or slim your tummy. With one-piece, skirt bottoms and swim shorts, this site offers a lot of choices.

Check out their helpful measuring video.

Take a look at a few of their best sellers.

SARONG FRONT ONE-PIECE SWIMSUIT

V-NECK FLOWY TANKINI TOP

Don’t Be Afraid to Embrace the Quirky and the Unconventional

There are opportunities for women over 60 to be a little non-traditional with their choice of flattering bathing suits. You can wear running shorts or tank tops with built-in bras, or swimming shorts with a halter top or t-shirt. There are no rules that say that you have to wear matching tops and bottoms. For example, you might try a solid bottom and floral top.

You can also find many wonderful cover-ups and sarongs to leave on if you are not planning to swim. You can remove cover-ups when you are settled on your towel and have made your entrance comfortably.

Zappos carry a wide selection of cover-ups.

Santorini Textured Tie Front Tunic

EVERLY POM POM COVER UP TUNIC

Shop for a Size that Flatters Your Body

Whichever style of bathing suit you select, it’s a good rule of thumb to go for a bottom that’s one size bigger than you wear with your regular clothing. Having a little extra material will reduce curves and divert the eye from your own perceived problem areas. If your chest is a lot smaller than your bottom half, it’s best to select a top with a bit of substance.

Look Beyond the Bikini – Skirtinis, Shortinis, Tankinis and Swimdresses

You are not stuck with the choice of a bikini or one-piece anymore. There are some fabulous choices for older women. The tankini is a bathing suit that combines a tank top and a bikini bottom. It’s like a one-piece but with the convenience of a two-piece. If you want a little larger bottom, there is the Shortini which is a Tankini top and shorts on the bottom.

HALTER TANKINI TOP

We, here at Sixty & Me, love swim dresses. They’re like a traditional one-piece bathing suit combined with a short mini skirt. It’s great for hiding tummies, thighs and hips.

Macrame High Neck Swimdress

Focus on the Parts of Your Body that You Love. Don’t Over Analyze Perceived Flaws!

The most important advice that we can give you when choosing a bathing suit is not to focus on your perceived flaws. As mentioned at the beginning of this article, you are way harder on yourself than the rest of the world. Like any other aspect of beauty for women over 60, choosing a bathing suit should be fun. It should be about looking and feeling your best, for your own sake, not anybody else’s.

Almost everyone is anxious about their body, no matter how young they are. So, have a bit of fun with it. Embrace your curves, accept your beautiful older body and enjoy your friends and the sun (remembering your sunscreen of course!).

Read more: What’s the Best Sunscreen for Women Over 50? Top Picks for Every Skin Type.

Places to Shop for Swimsuits 

Here is a list of places where you can find swimwear for older women.

Swimsuits for All – As the name suggests, Swimsuits for All has a vast selection of swimwear and accessories for all ages and body types.

COLORBLOCK FIT-AND-FLARE SWIM DRESS

Catherine’s – Catherine’s swimwear section specializes in plus-size items.

Flared Tankini Set with Side Slit Skirt

Lands’ End – Lands’ End swim section is packed with options for older women at very affordable prices. 

Chlorine Resistant X-Back High Leg Soft Cup Tugless Sporty One Piece Swimsuit

Miracle Suit – Miracle Suit creates trendy swimwear with a unique and innovative fabric, Miratex®. The fabric delivers three times the control of ordinary swimwear fabrics. 

Must Haves Oceanus One Piece Swimsuit

Speedo – Reputable brand for athletic swimwear.

HyperBoom Muscleback Swimsuit Black/Pink

Tommy Bahama – A staple brand for everything tropical.

Island Cays Cabana Ruffle Tankini Top

Summersault – Trendy swimwear for women of all shapes and ages.

The Perfect Wrap One-Piece

What Are the Best Styles for Different Body Concerns?

When it comes to finding a bathing suit that flatters your shape, it helps to focus on what you want to highlight, and what you prefer to downplay. Here are a few swimsuit style tips based on common body concerns:

To Minimize a Tummy

Look for one-piece suits with ruching, wrap-style designs, or strategically placed patterns that create a slimming effect. Swimdresses and peplum tankinis are also great options, they gently skim the midsection without clinging.

To Support a Larger Bust

Choose suits with built-in underwire, wide adjustable straps, or high necklines. Look for styles labeled as DD+ or full bust support. A surplice neckline or crossover design can offer lift while still looking elegant.

To Enhance a Smaller Bust

Consider suits with ruffles, shirring, or padded cups to add volume and shape. Halter tops and sweetheart necklines create flattering curves and can make a smaller chest appear fuller.

To Balance Wider Hips or a Pear Shape

Go for a bold, detailed top with a darker, solid-colored bottom. Off-the-shoulder, ruffled, or print tops can help draw the eye upward and create visual balance. A-line skirtinis also help smooth out the hip area without adding bulk.

To Elongate Short Legs

Try higher-cut leg openings or vertical design lines. Monochrome suits or those with vertical color-blocking can create the illusion of length.

To Add Shape to a Straight Figure

Look for swimsuits with color contrast, belts, or detailing at the waist to define curves. Wrap styles and peplum silhouettes can give the appearance of more hourglass-like proportions.

To Cover the Upper Arms or Shoulders

Consider cap-sleeve or flutter-sleeve swim tops, swim shirts, or even a lightweight rash guard. They provide coverage while still feeling summery and stylish.

Remember, comfort comes first. Choose a suit that makes you feel good when you wear it. The most flattering style is the one that lets you relax and enjoy the water, just as you are.

A Rant on Fashion Models

Many of you have commented about not being represented by the models in the photos. We hear you! There is, unfortunately, ageism that exists in the fashion industry. We have seen the industry slowly shift to more realistic and less photoshopped bodies in the past years.

But we are still hugely misrepresented – they use young models even when they are trying to sell to women our age. For example, see what turns up when we search “Swimsuits for women over 60” on Amazon. Not a single woman over 60 in the photos. 

In the meantime, I suggest you write to your favorite designers and retailers and express your need to see older models with real bodies. Hopefully, the retailers and advertisers will take into account that we are a huge demographic for their products and that they will begin to use models that represent us and our bodies. 

Read SWIMWEAR OPTIONS FOR WOMEN OVER 60.

Also read HOW SWIMMING CAN BE A GREAT ACTIVITY FOR WOMEN OVER 60.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

Do you feel nervous wearing a bathing suit in public? Or are you completely comfortable in your skin? Where do you think are the best places to shop for flattering bathing suits for older women? Please leave your comments below.