Cardigan Empire

Searched through hundreds, tried on over 50, now with all the hard work done, I turn over only the best to you. Swimsuits for the bodies we live in. Following are 10 modest swimsuits that can survive pool parties, sandcastle building, and sprinkler running. And in each category I found you an investment option and a budget option, so if you’re going to be wearing it all summer you can trust that it will last. Or if you just want a cute swimsuit for pool chairs, I’ve got you covered as well.

Tribal Halter One-Piece

So why do some swimsuits cost so much? The biggest feature you’re going to get in an investment swimsuit is the fabric. It will be soft, smooth, yet supportive. Inexpensive fabrics tend to be coarser and less supportive. They’re great if you only need to wear it to layout a couple of times. But if you want to spend a summer playing in the water with your kids, the investment swimsuit is less likely to fade, pill, and stretch out.

The execution of the pattern on the Trina Turk is more flattering and sophisticated. I love how the symmetrical arcs defined my waistline and brought the eye in visually. The feel of the fabric is also superior, particularly the neck tie. It was wide and soft which means it wouldn’t be digging into my neck after a few hours.

I actually appreciated that the Ekouaer option offered much more backseat coverage, but I was still won over by the overall look of the Trina Turk….until I got the lookalike from Zilin in the mail. It came too late to photograph, but I had to share it with you. This copy cat doesn’t have the beautiful watercolor pattern of the Trina Turk but the cut is virtually identical. It has straps across the back and slightly more fabric across the backside. The only fit difference I noticed was a little back gap.

Asymmetrical Wrap One-Piece

If you’re looking for a swimsuit that provides coverage for a shy stomach, look no further than this Asymmetrical Wrap One-Piece. Rouching or shirring over an area you’re less than confident about immediately minimizes and disguises superfluous bulges. Supportive fabric can also have a compressive effect without being uncomfortable.

The first option is from Miraclesuit. This swimsuit offers firm compression and looks modest without being matronly.

Its copycat is by Runtlly. While the overall look is very similar, it has more mesh areas than the original and does not smooth or contour.

Side by side, I picked the Miraclesuit over the Runtlly. I believe it’s worth the investment for the superior fit, fabric and visual results. The biggest downside to the Runtlly option in my opinion was the saggy fabric around the front brief.

Peplum Tankini

If you struggle with finding a swimsuit that can keep your bottom covered, there are a few areas you should consider. First, how much coverage does it offer in the back. I’m personally more conservative in this area. Especially since I have a swimsuit devouring bottom. Three steps and my seat can make a meal of any rear coverage I started with. Second, if it’s a tankini or bikini how high does the brief reach. You want it to corset in the widest part of your torso. Below it will give you muffin top, above it will give you kangaroo pouch. Finally, and often overlooked with the width of the crotch. Since I have wide thighs, I don’t like the crotch two wide. Otherwise I’m not going to be comfortable and the swimsuit is going to look awkward. These two peplum tankinis stood out to me because they eliminate long torso issues by breaking the swimsuit into two pieces. I also love how the ruffle offers some coverage for soft, delicious centers.

I actually purchased this peplum tankini from JCrew last season. I loved how the halter was adjustable as was the empire wrap tie. The bottoms offer a high rise brief with a slightly higher cut in the back which was flattering without being uncomfortable.

Verano Playa Peplum Tankini was also a winner in my opinion. It offered a few different details which are perfect for certain body types. The waist on this option is a true waist, so if you narrower at your waist than under your rib cage, it can highlight that. The brief is a lower rise but the back cut is more generous. I also really liked the mismatched patterns. I’d consider switching out the no-show bra pads, but other than that I was taken with this budget friendly look-a-like.

Since both the JCrew halter top/ high rise brief tankini and the Verano Playa Peplum Tankini tied in my opinion since both offered different options for different body types. The fabric on the JCrew option will definitely last longer, but the Verano Playa Peplum Tankini could be a fun extra if you already have a robust swimming wardrobe.

High Neck Criss-Cross One-Piece

My booty has always been my first focus when swimsuit shopping, but after I breastfed three kids, my chest also got prioritized. It had less volume and shape post child-bearing. This is when I became a fan of high necklines. What a high neckline offers is an uninterrupted line of your curves. Breaking a broad expanse into smaller pieces immediately makes it look smaller, which is great when you’re trying to minimize an area, but can lead to gaping overexposure when the area is dainty to begin with.

The criss-cross high neck and mesh waistband immediately drew me to the design of this Kenneth Cole One-Piece.

But the Mycoco look-a-like offered a virtually identical fit and look. The inexpensive option did have a small flaw in the mesh at the waistline, but the overall look was spot on.

Given the price difference, I’d still probably go for Mycoco over Kenneth Cole.

Colorblock One-Piece

Your dress size may not be your swimsuit size, particularly if you are wearing a one-piece swimsuit. You need to take into account the length of you torso in addition to the circumference of your curves. If you have a long torso, I recommend buying a tall or sizing up. Also if it’s European, Asian, or from a Junior Retailer, you’re going to want to size up at least one to two sizes.

Coastal Blue has a superior support if you’re nervous about any jiggling. It’s a smooth, comfortable fit with a fun, expected color palette that keeps the eye moving.

CupShe has hundreds of fun styles but their fabrics lack support. If you’re just looking for a swimsuit that can survive a day on a pool chair, it will definitely do the trick. One of the features I appreciate most was the adjustable straps.

The only area that left me disappointed is the Coastal Blue was that the bra pads were slightly visible. Based on the feel of the swimsuit I initially favored the Coastal Blue, however when I looked over the pictures I loved how the CupShe one-piece defined my waistline with the centered strip of color blocking.

If your heart is set on an investment swimsuit, but your pocket book isn’t sure, you need to download the Shoptagr app. I’m obsessed with this service. Shoptagr is a free smart shopping app where you can get alerts from hundreds of stores (including Amazon) when your item of choice goes on sale, is low in stock, or has been restocked! Everything with regards to stock inventory is updated in real time. This ensures that I can get exactly what I want at the best price possible.

Shoptagr sends an alert to your computer, tablet, or phone so you can act quickly and not be left empty handed.

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The best feature of a high waisted jean is the coverage. It’s better suited to give women support through their soft delicious center and to not gap when you bend over. Basically it keeps everything under wraps.

Who does a high rise jean work best for?

High rise jeans typically offer the most benefit for women with a defined waist. Someone whose waist is 75 percent or less than her hips (you can calculate this by measuring the circumference of your hips and dividing it by the circumference of your waist). But having a defined waist, doesn’t mean you have to have a six pack, it’s also great for containing what many refer to as “muffin top.”

What are the pitfalls of high rise jeans?

The first area you need to evaluate is the waist. A good pair of jeans should never squeeze your soft, delicious center over your waistband. This is usually a pitfall of low-rise jeans. But a high rise pair shouldn’t squeeze your body into a kangaroo pouch under your waistband either. You want to find a pair of jeans with flexible support through the front pockets, they’ll usually market this as hold you in magic or something similar.

The next area you need to evaluate is the vertical rise. If you are tall, have a long torso, or have more booty and/or thighs than hips, try a higher rise: 9.5 to 11 inches. The high rise will elongate your shorter leg-line and help you avoid back gap.

If you are petite, have a short torso, or have wider hips but a slighter booty and/or thigh, try a moderate or mid rise: 8 to 9.25 inches. You don’t want your rise to fall underneath your bust and you don’t want to exaggerate the breath of your hips in favor of narrowing your waist. If things don’t look quite right in a high rise, experiment with a slightly lower mid rise.

How do I know whether or not I have a long or short torso?

First, bend to the side and mark your natural waist. Next, straighten your torso and bend your elbow. If your elbow is above your waist – your torso is long, if your elbow is below your waist – your torso is short, if you elbow is at your waist you are balanced vertically.

How can I quickly tell how high a rise is in the store?

Use your hand width as a guide. If the rise is shorter than your hand width, it’s a mid rise; if it’s the same as your hand width it’s a mid rise; if it’s longer than your hand width, it’s a high rise.

Are high rise jeans uncomfortable?

Not if you buy them in the right size. You don’t want the waist to pinch or squeeze, it should offer comfortable support. If you happen to be a bigger size in your hips/thighs/seat than you are in your waist, buy the size that fits your broadest measurements, then have the waist taken in.

Where can I find the best deal?

First the best deal is going to be the pair that you wear them most and you feel the best in. Don’t evaluate your purchase on the initial price of purchase, take the price and divide it by the number of times you will wear it. You want a low cost per wear, not just a low cost. So if you spend $100 on a pair of jeans and wear them twice a week for a year, your cost per wear is 96 cents per wear. Alternatively if you bought a pair for $35 and only wore them once a week for 4 months, the cost per wear would be $2.19 per wear. The $100 pair would be a better value and you’d probably feel better each wear…which is why you wore them more in the first place. That being said, my favorite pair of jeans is Madewell, but if you are between sizes or just want to try our an extreme trend, I’d check out Old Navy. I have a whole post detailing each of my 5 favorite jeans and where to buy them.