What I’m Digging Wednesday, The Black Swimsuit One

This post contains affiliate links that provide me with a small commission for every sale made through them.

Well, hey, friends. Welcome to a very special What I’m Digging Wednesday the black swimsuit one.

Wait? What? The black swimsuit one?

Well, let me explain.

I am of the firm belief that all women of a “certain age” need a black swimsuit or two in their summer wardrobe. This argument isn’t exclusive to women of a certain age, as I believe all women would benefit from at least one black swimsuit in their closet, but really, when it comes to middle age and the bathing suit situation, I just think black makes sense.

NO. Not because we’re in mourning.

But because it’s classic, classy, and flattering. Because a flattering black swimsuit can double as a top when paired with a beautiful sarong and then suddenly you are not just somebody’s mom in a bathing suit, you’re that fashionable, classy lady at the neighborhood pool. Black is no-nonsense and doesn’t scream “look at me,” but it also says “if you do look at me, you’re going to see me at my best.”

Also, it’s flattering and when done well, it covers a multitude of sins.

So, for those reasons, I scoured the many, many pages of the Amazon “women’s swimsuit” category and ordered eight different top-rated black swimsuits, four one-pieces, and four two-pieces. I tried them on. I took notes (but not pictures). And I chose the winners.

But most of all, I tried my best to figure out which ones will work for which people and take a fully objective look at all of them with the hopes that no matter what size or shape, there is something on this list that will help you feel your absolute best at the pool and beach. For reference, I am 5’4″ (on a good day), 130 pounds, with a slightly inverted triangle shape and a 34c bust. I have a long waist, which sometimes makes bathing suit shopping hard, but very short legs that I like a high-cut bottom to lengthen.

What I’m Digging Wednesday The Black Swimsuit One – The WINNERS

1. High-Waisted Two-Piece Ruffle Bikini: To start, I will tell you upfront that this was my absolute favorite of all of the suits. But I’ll also tell you that this was a major surprise to me because I did not expect to like this one, at all. It has great reviews, but I couldn’t get past the notion that the top looks like a shirt and it just didn’t scream “swimsuit” to me. But oh man, y’all. I LOVE this suit. The top is lowcut, which is a consideration for girls with bigger girls (#iykyk) however it has great support and fits really well, if not a little snug around the band for extra support. The cut of the top with its “sleeves” is unique and stands out and it is flattering for women who might be self-conscious about some side-boob or chubby armpit action. It even covers the upper arm moderately well, which is a plus. The bottoms are high-waisted with flattering ruching across the stomach and they hit in the perfect, most flattering position. I always find with high-waisted suits that if they hit wrong or aren’t made well, you get this little side bulge over the top and it accentuates rather than hides any fat you might be trying to cover up. Not so with this suit. The ruching provides a thicker band that lays wonderfully, no bulges within miles of this top and the ruching is flattering and cute. I LOVE this suit and got multiple compliments the first time I wore it. I have seen multiple different body types in this one, too, so feel like it’s a great fit for many different shapes. Grab yours HERE.

2. Front Crossover One Piece: With over 20,000 reviews and a 4.5 star rating, this unique suit is an Amazon icon so I knew I had to try it. I’ve even had a few women in my Outfit Formulas group expound on its many attributes, and those women know a thing or two about flattering styles. So it was a must-try. And this suit does not disappoint. Its unique cut is flattering and besides creating some pretty crazy tanlines (y’all should be wearing sunscreen anyway) the crossover neckline is great for women who are broader on top with an inverted triangle shape because it draws the eyes inward. The mesh on the bodice is flatter and accentuates the waistline and the cut is high but not extra cheeky so you can get full coverage on the bum. Unfortunately, I did not end up keeping this one for one reason and one reason only–as someone who is pretty long-waisted it was just not quite long enough for me to feel comfortable with the fit across the bust. Yes, it was passable and fit perfectly everywhere, but I knew I would be continually pulling it up to fit correctly and that was a no-go for me. So word of caution for those longer-waisted ladies, this might not be for you. Everyone else, this is a winner! Check it out HERE.

3. Ruffle Wrap One-Piece: I will state for the record that I am not a ruffle kind of gal, especially on swimsuits. There is a beautiful suit in the honorable mentions below that I returned because it just felt too fussy and frilly for me, despite fitting like a dream. But somehow on this faux-wrap suit, the ruffle hits in all the right places and lays flat enough that I ended up falling in love. So let’s talk about fit first. Unlike the crossover suit above, this one fit my long-torso perfectly and was extremely comfortable. The cut is a bit low, but it doesn’t feel too revealing and fits snugly for security, with adjustable straps to accommodate all sizes. The faux wrap is ultra-flattering to the waistline, creating the illusion of one even if it doesn’t actually exist (ask me how I know). The ruffles provide an extra layer of camouflage though don’t necessarily hide the stomach as much as draw the eye away from it–if you’re self-conscious about this area you might do better with ruching like the ruffle one-shoulder below. The only downside is that it is pretty high cut so a bit cheeky, which for some women might not work. Now, my favorite part about this suit is the fabric. It’s textured lycra that is very heavy and forgiving. It doesn’t cling but rather seems to glide, almost like a bodysuit would, and I love that it’s a bit different. Definitely a keeper for me and for those longer-waisted gals, this might be a good option for a one-piece. Find it HERE.

4. High-Waisted Tie Knot Two-Piece: This fun little retro suit was a surprise hit as well. The top is ultra-flattering, with just enough coverage while still being moderately flirty. If you are very large busted, it might not be the best fit, but it is super cute if you can pull it off. The high-waisted bottom like the ruffle two-piece above hits in just the right spot without any spillage or extra pinching, though it might not be the most flattering if you’re self-conscious of your stomach as it has no ruching or camo whatsoever.  It is also very cheeky, so beware if you’re self-conscious of your rear. I kept this one because I know that sometimes I don’t want extra ruffles on my top, especially if I’m wearing it under a dress or a cover-up, so having a relatively “tamer” top made sense just to have in case. It will also look great with a pretty sarong, so there’s that. I will be honest, though, I ordered one of the patterned suits to replace the black just for variety and when it came I was really disappointed. It didn’t fit near as well and the material was different, shiny cheap lycra instead of a substantial one. So just be careful if you’re venturing out into different patterns or colors, they might not all be the same. A flirty fun suit that has slightly retro vibes, this is a great suit for those a little more daring with coverage without wanting a string bikini. Check it out HERE.

And, The HONORABLE MENTIONS

These four suits were the honorable mentions, ones I did not keep or consider keeping for various reasons but think they still would make an incredible option for others. I’ll do my best to explain why.

1. Vintage Retro Halter Two-Piece: This is another suit with incredible Amazon reviews, but it just did not quite work for me. The bottom is a full-coverage high waist with ruching so it’s great for women who want to cover up their booties but get a little extra camo on their tummies too. The biggest issue I had was it created way too much cleavage for me to feel comfortable. I would say if you are on the smaller busted side and need the extra boost, it is an incredible piece. But if you’re not small-busted, well, be prepared for a show. So, overall, probably a better fit for a triangle or pear-shaped fit. Check it out HERE.

2. One Shoulder Ruffle Suit: This is the suit I did not keep strictly for the ruffle situation, it was just too aggressive for me. However, it is truly a classy flattering suit and I can see how it would be for all shapes and sizes. With ruching across the bodice to cover a multitude of sins, and ample booty coverage, it is a great one-piece everyone can wear. Get it HERE.

3. Sporty Tank Two-Piece Suit: The descriptor of this suit is the main reason I didn’t end up keeping it–sporty. Because if there is any word that people don’t use when thinking of me, it’s sporty. And really, I don’t do sporty when it comes to my bathing suits. I do more, loungey, reading, and toe-dipping than pool volleyballing. So I don’t need sporty and don’t necessarily want to look like I do, either. But for ladies who are all about the sport-life and do dangerous subversive things like paddleboarding, waterparks, cannonballs, or professional synchronized swimming, then this is a suit for you. It holds you in tight and doesn’t give up. Perfect for you sporty spice gals out there. Find it HERE.

4. Cut-Out One Piece: This was the last suit I threw into the mix, mainly because I wanted to make sure I had four one-pieces and four two-pieces. It has great reviews but somehow I could not get past the weird cutout under the bust. Surely those with anything other than a B-cup will be falling out all over the place, right? Underboob is not attractive and I am not here for it. So I expected to hate it. Did I? Not really. I was pleasantly surprised at how well the bust fit, with no spillage, and great coverage even for my sort-of generously endowed self. The fabric on this is great, a slightly patterned thick lycra and the scalloped edges are a super cute detail. It was flattering but just a little bit too far out there for me to pull the trigger. However, if you’re a bit more adventurous and like to have that one suit that everyone talks about, this is the one for you. Find it HERE.

5. The Andie Swim Mykonos:(not pictured) OK. So this one is not an Amazon suit nor is it cost-effective, but I have had my eye on it for the longest time and I a going to snag it so I can let you know what I think. The cut lines on it look so flattering and it’s such a classy, simple suit I’m obsessed with.  Andie Swim is consistently among my top “want to try” companies and I adore how they use models of all shapes and sizes to highlight how their classic suits will fit every body. Have any of my people tried one? I’d love to hear your feedback so don’t be shy–share away!

One thing I know is that y’all love it when I share pics on my socials of me in the items I share and my favorite pieces, but I’m not a “hey, look at me in my swimsuit everybody!” type of gal. This leads me to the question: would you all ever want to join a private Facebook group where I share my daily looks and my favorite things and do lots of live content and video? I’ve been toying with the idea of creating a safe space for women to share what THEY are wearing and doing in their lives but haven’t pulled the trigger yet. As I’m getting closer to launching my secondary blog, meaghanldawson.com I might be inviting you all to join, so be on the lookout. It would be private, safe, and secure and a place we could all share and give advice and all the things!

In the meantime, thanks for hanging out with me for this extra-long version of What I’m Digging Wednesday The Black Swimsuit One. I can’t wait to hear your favorites from my list!

Peace, love, and Wednesdays,
Meg

Check out more Amazon Fashion Finds in THIS post!

Sharing is Caring

Facebook

Google

Twitter

Linkedin

Stumbleupon

Yummly