Covered swimwear has one job that ordinary swimwear doesn't: it has to stay where you put it once you're wet, bending and chasing children. That's what I look at first, before color or print. The outfits below are built on thoughtfully designed swim tops, from high-neck tankinis and rash guards to swim tunics and longline styles, each paired with bottoms, shoes and a bag that suit the day. Quick-drying fabric, secure straps and flat seams matter in every one, whatever your taste in style.
The Fitting Room Squat and Reach Test
Swimwear that looks modest standing still can be a different story once you sit on a towel or lift a child out of the pool. I ask everyone to move in a swim top before deciding on it. It takes a minute and saves a lot of tugging later.
- Reach both arms overhead. The hem of a tankini or swim shirt should still cover the waistband of the bottoms.
- Bend forward as if picking something up. Watch the neckline. If it falls away from your chest, the top is too big or the neckline is too wide for you.
- Squat down. Skirts and shorts should stay in place, and a waistband shouldn't roll or dig.
- Sit for a moment. Longline tops can bunch at the hip when you sit, which is the main reason people pull at them all day.
Checking for sheerness when wet
Pale swimwear, especially white, pastel and light prints, can become see-through when wet if it isn't lined. Hold the fabric up to a light and look for a lining in the front of the top and the bottoms. If a light color is unlined, I'd choose a darker version or one with a full lining instead.
1. High Neck Tankini Top With High Waisted Bottoms
A high-neck tankini is the simplest covered swim outfit, and the one I suggest most for first-timers. Look for a fitted top in navy, black or deep green with wide straps and built-in bust support, plus matching high-waisted bottoms so the pair reads as one piece. A little side ruching adds shape and stops the top looking boxy. Slides, a wide-brim hat and a waterproof tote finish it. Before you buy, sit down and reach up in it: the tankini hem should still overlap the waistband.
2. Long Sleeve Rash Guard With Board Shorts
For days that involve a board, a paddle or waves, a long-sleeve rash guard and board shorts are the practical choice. I'd pick a fitted rash guard, not a loose one, because loose fabric fills with water and drags. A crew neckline, flat seams and a hem that reaches the hip keep it secure when you're kneeling or paddling. Knee-length board shorts with a drawstring and a built-in brief go underneath. Water shoes or sport sandals help on rocks, and a cap with polarized sunglasses cuts the glare off the water.
3. Short Sleeve Swim Shirt With Swim Skirt
A short-sleeve swim shirt covers the shoulders but feels lighter than long sleeves. Choose a smooth, fitted shirt with a high neck and a hem that falls below your natural waist. An above-the-knee swim skirt with built-in shorts goes underneath; without the shorts, a skirt can lift in the water. A plain top with a small floral skirt is enough pattern. Slip-on water sandals and a packable visor make it easy to walk the boardwalk after a swim. Pick a skirt with a wide, flat waistband, since narrow elastic rolls once wet.
4. Peplum Tankini Top With High Rise Briefs
A peplum tankini gives soft coverage over the stomach and hips. Look for a secure scoop neck, wide adjustable straps and a peplum that starts at the natural waist, with high-rise briefs underneath. The one thing I'd avoid is a very loose, full peplum: in the water it floats up around your chest. A lightly fitted flare behaves much better. A jewel-tone solid set looks smart, and a small print feels more relaxed. Slides, a sun hat and a tote with a waterproof lining are all you need.
5. Swim Tunic Top With Full Length Swim Leggings
For coverage from shoulder to ankle, a swim tunic over full-length swim leggings is the answer. The tunic should have a high neck, long sleeves and a hem at the upper or mid-thigh. Short side slits help you move without opening up too far. Choose leggings made from swim fabric, which resists chlorine and dries quickly; ordinary gym leggings get heavy and can turn see-through in the water. Matching colors make one clean shape. Water shoes and a small waterproof backpack finish it for lap swimming or a full beach day.
6. Zip Front Swim Top With Boy Short Bottoms
A zip-front swim top is easy to get on and off when it's wet, which anyone who has peeled off a damp rash guard will appreciate. Look for a locking zipper that won't creep down as you move, and a fabric guard behind the pull so it doesn't rub your neck. Fully zipped, it gives a high neckline. Mid-rise boy shorts cover the hips and upper thigh, and black ones calm down a bright printed top. Sporty slides and a water-resistant crossbody make it good for a water park or boat trip.
7. Scoop Neck Tankini Top With Skirted Bottoms
A scoop-neck tankini can still be modest if the scoop sits high, the straps are wide and the bust is well supported. Pair it with a skirted bottom that has briefs or shorts attached. The skirt should hang rather than cling to keep the hips covered. A black top with a botanical skirt is a good start, or reverse it. Slides, cat-eye sunglasses and a light tote are enough. My test in the fitting room: lean forward and lift your arms. If the neckline or armholes move away from your body, try the next size or style.
8. Halter Tankini Top With Long Swim Shorts
A halter tankini works for modest swimwear when it has a wide neckband instead of thin ties. Thin ties put all the weight on the back of your neck, and a fuller bust feels that within an hour. A longline top with a high V or a gathered neckline keeps cleavage covered. Fitted swim shorts that reach several inches down the thigh balance it, and dark bottoms anchor a tropical print. Supportive waterproof sandals and a big sun hat finish a vacation outfit. Look for an underbust band; it carries weight the neckband shouldn't.
9. Ruched Tankini Top With High Waisted Swim Shorts
Side ruching on a tankini is more useful than it looks: on adjustable styles you can lengthen or shorten the top by pulling the cord. Choose a hip-length top with a high square or scoop neck and supportive straps, plus high-waisted swim shorts so the waist stays covered if the top rides up. One color top to bottom makes a long line; contrast trim feels sportier. Run your hand over the gathered seams. If they're bulky or rough on the inside, they'll rub once you start swimming. A mesh tote lets wet things dry.
10. One Shoulder Swim Top With High Rise Bottoms
A one-shoulder swim top can be modest when the shoulder panel is wide and the top is longline. It should sit high across the chest and have a shelf bra or hidden support. Pair it with high-rise, full-coverage bottoms in the same color so the two pieces read like one suit. Deep blue, brown or burgundy is a nice change from black. Raise both arms in it before buying. Asymmetric tops can slip on the bare side, so this is a lounging outfit, not one for diving or water sports.
11. Color Block Swim Top With Biker Shorts
Color blocking makes athletic swimwear look intentional rather than plain. Start with a crew-neck swim top, short or long sleeved, with contrast panels on the shoulders or sides. Knee-length swim biker shorts in a coordinating solid give thigh coverage and stop chafing when you walk on sand. A wide waistband that stays flat matters more than the color. Water sneakers, a visor and a waterproof belt bag keep your hands free. Repeat one accent color in the shoes or visor and the whole outfit looks planned.
12. Floral Blouson Tankini Top With Swim Skirt
A blouson tankini drapes over the middle and gathers at the hip, so it covers the stomach without looking oversized. I'd choose a small floral print with a high scoop neck and wide straps, over a solid swim skirt in one of the darker shades from the print. Shorts under the skirt keep it in place in the water and in wind. The key fit point is the band at the hip: it should hug you closely, or the whole top balloons as soon as you're in the pool.
13. Square Neck Tankini Top With Wide Waistband Bottoms
A square-neck tankini frames the collarbone without showing much. Look for wide straps, a fairly high front and cups with the amount of structure you're used to in a bra. Full-coverage bottoms with a wide waistband at or above the natural waist complete it. Black, navy or espresso keeps it minimal; contrast piping outlines the neckline. White slides and a striped beach bag are a crisp finish, and an open linen shirt slips over it easily. Square necklines gape if they're too big, so lean forward in the mirror before buying.
14. Striped Swim Tee With Knee Length Shorts
A striped swim tee has a relaxed nautical feel. Choose a high neck with short or elbow sleeves, in navy and white or soft blue. Wide horizontal stripes can stretch out over the bust and look distorted, so I'd pick narrow stripes on a slightly shaped tee. Solid knee-length swim shorts keep the outfit balanced. Water sandals, a navy cap and a drawstring backpack suit a beach walk or a boat outing. Swim shorts with a zip pocket and an internal drawcord are handy; heavy metal hardware isn't.
15. Puff Sleeve Swim Top With Skirted Shorts
Puff sleeves give swimwear a softer, more playful shape. Keep them small and in swim fabric; big sleeves hold water and feel heavy as soon as you get out. A secure high neckline keeps it modest. Skirted swim shorts, a skirt over fitted shorts, add hip and thigh coverage. A plain top with a small-print bottom is a pleasant balance for a resort or family pool. Simple slides and round sunglasses finish it. If you wear jewelry, make it water-safe, since chlorine and salt dull many metals.
16. Wrap Front Tankini Top With Swim Shorts
A wrap-front tankini shapes the waist and bust while covering more than a classic wrap swimsuit. Choose a fixed, stitched crossover rather than a tie-front; a tie can loosen when you swim and the front shifts. Mid-thigh swim shorts with a flat waistband and full lining go underneath. Deep teal or plum with tonal shorts looks coordinated. The fabric should lie flat across the chest without pulling; if the crossover gapes, size up. Pool sandals and a soft waterproof tote finish it for a long afternoon poolside.
17. Three Piece Tankini Set With Cover Up Shirt
A three-piece swim set makes the move from the water to lunch easy. Start with a high-neck tankini and matching high-waisted bottoms or swim shorts, then add a light cover-up shirt in the same print or a coordinating solid. Wear it open on the walk and buttoned at the snack bar or in the lobby. I'd choose a quick-drying cover-up over heavy cotton, which stays damp for hours and clings. Waterproof slides and a sun hat complete it. Matching pieces mean almost no planning, and they pack small.
18. Maternity Tankini Top With Adjustable Swim Shorts
A maternity tankini needs room for a changing body without gaping at the neckline or bust. Choose a high neck or secure scoop with side ruching, adjustable straps and enough length to cover the belly. Maternity swim shorts come with under-bump or over-bump waistbands; try both, since comfort changes through pregnancy. Avoid stiff elastic and underwire that digs in. Flat slides are easier than fiddly straps. Size from your current measurements and the brand's maternity chart rather than simply buying a bigger regular size.
19. Supportive Plus Size Swim Top With Swim Skort
Plus-size swimwear works best when support comes first and style second, and the two aren't in conflict. Choose a longline tankini with wide adjustable straps, molded cups or a shelf bra and a high neckline that stays put. A high-rise swim skort with attached shorts and a waistband that doesn't roll goes underneath. A bright top with a dark bottom defines the waist; an allover print looks more unified. Buy the top and bottom in separate sizes when you can, because few bodies are the same size above and below the waist.
20. Hijab Friendly Swim Tunic With Leggings
A hijab-friendly swim outfit is full coverage made from proper swim fabric. Start with a long-sleeve swim tunic with a high neck, fitted cuffs and a hem at the thigh. Add full-length swim leggings and a swim hijab or cap that fastens without loose fabric. I always check for a way to anchor the tunic, such as internal ties or snaps to the leggings, because tunics float up in deep water. Water shoes and a waterproof backpack finish it. Avoid street clothes in the pool: cotton and loose fabric get heavy and slow you down.
Rinsing Out Chlorine After Every Swim
Covered swimwear is an investment, because you need more fabric and usually better construction. It wears out from chlorine, salt, sun and sunscreen, not from swimming itself. A few habits make it last for seasons instead of a summer.
- Rinse it in cool fresh water as soon as you can after swimming. Chlorine left in the fabric keeps breaking down the stretch fibers.
- Hand wash with a gentle detergent, and never wring it. Press the water out in a towel.
- Dry it flat in the shade. Hot sun and tumble dryers both weaken the elastic and fade color.
- Watch sunscreen on pale fabric. Some formulas leave yellow or orange marks, so let sunscreen sink in before you dress.
What UPF on a rash guard means
Many rash guards and swim shirts carry a UPF rating. UPF 50 means the fabric lets through only about one fiftieth of the sun's UV rays, which is excellent protection for the skin it covers. A tightly knit fabric in a darker color usually protects better, and an old swim top that has gone thin and stretched protects less than it did when new. Even in full coverage, your face, hands and feet still need sunscreen.
Coverage That Stays Put Once You're Wet
A good modest swim outfit is the one you stop thinking about after the first ten minutes. Start with the top that matches your coverage needs, whether a high-neck tankini, a swim shirt, a rash guard or a tunic, then choose bottoms for what you'll actually do that day: briefs or skirts for lounging, board shorts or leggings for activity. Secure construction and fabric that dries fast matter more than any trend. Shoes, a hat and a sensible bag do the rest.
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