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4 hours ago
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Whether you call them cozzies, togs or bathers, Australian summers require swimsuits that match how you like to spend time at the beach or pool.
If you’re a woman diving under waves, swimming laps or jumping off piers, it’s likely you’ll need more structure and support through the bust than if you’re lying on the sand. The right swimsuit can have a big impact on how free you are to move and how comfortable you look and feel.
The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows the average Australian woman is a size 18 (by waist measurement), meaning there is a significant local market for size-inclusive swimwear – whether it’s for tumble turns or lounging. Here size-inclusive stylists and models recommend their favourites.
‘Nothing feels out of place’
The only swimwear Erica Jade, a model, wears is by the Melbourne brand Raq Apparel. “It feels exactly like you’re wearing your favourite bra but to the beach,” she says.
Raq Apparel makes three different styles of bikini tops and four different briefs in a range of prints and colours, with some styles available up to a size 24. The tops all come with underwires and are sized like bras, with individual cup and back measurements. They also have three different sizes in the back clasp and adjustable straps.
“Their swim is designed by gals who have larger chests, so they know exactly what we are after in terms of sizing and support,” Jade says. “The fabric is double lined, so nothing feels out of place – if you know you know!”
‘You never have to worry about changing shape’
Annika Nielsen, a stylist, has two favourite swimsuits she alternates between. When feeling flirty she wears a bright orange two-piece by Raq Apparel. When she’s in the mood for comfort she wears a blue ribbed swimsuit from the British brand Youswim.
“The best thing about the one-piece is the material,” she says. Youswim uses a very stretchy, crinkle fabric made from Oeko-Tex certified nylon and elastane that is engineered to stretch around curves while still providing support. The fabric has so much stretch, the brand only offers two sizes: a smaller one which caters for sizes six to 16 and a larger one which caters for sizes 18 to 28.
“You never have to worry about them fitting if you are pregnant or changing shape,” Nielsen says. “Being in a swimsuit is already a more vulnerable piece of clothing, so if you don’t physically feel comfortable in it, then your mental comfort is affected.”
In addition to three one-pieces, Youswim has several simple bikinis in a range of pretty colours. “Not all plus-size women want to wear swim skirts and cover-ups,” Nielsen says. “The designers who understand that are the ones who will succeed.”
‘A lot of thought goes into each purchase’
Jess King, a model, has two priorities when shopping for swimwear: support across the bust and leg openings that don’t dig into her hips and thighs. “I hate feeling like I’m going to have a wardrobe malfunction in the waves!” she says.
Since King wears an E-cup, she also looks for adjustable straps. “They are non-negotiable. I have to be able to give the girls a lift,” she says. “Underwire isn’t always needed … as long as there is either a built-in shelf bra or some sort of power mesh, I’m happy.”
To ensure the bottoms are comfortable and don’t cut into her she pays attention to the construction and avoids thick, tight seams around the legs, and looks for seamless pieces, too.
Her favourite brands are Alulu Swimwear, Bokumaia, Saint Somebody and Andie Swim. Saint Somebody has an online questionnaire to help you figure out the right style and size for your body type (so does Raq Apparel), which helps eradicate the unpleasant experience of trying on swimwear in hot and brightly lit change rooms.
King says she also looks for videos and candid shots when shopping online to see how the pieces move on the body and how the styles sit on a range of body types. If a brand doesn’t have candid photos on their website, they might have shared them on social media, so it can be worth doing a bit of double-screening in the name of research.
“Shopping for swimwear can be a very vulnerable place for women so it’s important that it’s nurturing and uplifting,” King says. “It’s a whole new ballgame shopping when you’re mid- or plus-size, so a lot of thought goes into each purchase.”
