Best Swimsuits for Women Over 50: Flattering, Comfortable & Stylish

Finding a swimsuit after 50 doesn’t have to be frustrating! I’m sharing my favorite flattering one-piece swimsuits, tankinis, swim skirts, and cover-ups that are comfortable, supportive, and perfect for the beach, pool, lake, or your next vacation.

Finding a Flattering Swimsuit For Women Over 50

Let’s be honest…

Shopping for a swimsuit isn’t exactly at the top of my list of favorite things!

Every summer I look forward to swimming, paddle boarding, relaxing at the beach, and traveling to beautiful places like Italy and Mexico. The one thing I don’t look forward to? Trying on swimsuits.

Can anyone else relate?

The good news is that after a lot of trial and error, I’ve found styles that actually make me feel comfortable and confident. Today I’m sharing exactly what works for me as a woman over 50—and hopefully it helps you find one you love too.

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What Makes a Swimsuit Flattering For Women After 50?

Instead of trying to hide our bodies, I think it’s much more helpful to look for swimsuits that create balance and make us feel comfortable.

For my body type (short-waisted with broad shoulders), these details make all the difference.

✔ A V-Neck

A v-neck creates the illusion of a longer neck and draws the eye vertically, making your upper body appear longer and more balanced.

✔ Wider Shoulder Straps

Thin straps emphasize broad shoulders. Wider straps soften that look while providing much better support.

✔ Ruching or Ruffles

I love swimsuits with gentle ruching or feminine ruffles.

They camouflage the tummy area without looking like you’re trying to hide anything.

✔ Supportive Fabric

A swimsuit should hug your body—not squeeze the life out of you!

Look for quality fabric with built-in support and enough stretch to move comfortably.

My Favorite One-Piece Swimsuit

This has become one of my favorite swimsuits because it checks all my boxes:

• flattering V-neck
• supportive straps
• comfortable all day
• great for swimming
• perfect for paddle boarding
• modest coverage

I love that everything stays where it’s supposed to!

The Ruffle Swimsuit I Keep Reaching For

I honestly didn’t think I’d love ruffles this much, but they soften the neckline beautifully and add a feminine touch without feeling overly frilly.

I’ve since purchased two more in different colors because they fit so well.

Thicker straps also help to break up my broad shoulders. Here are a few other swimsuits that you will love for us gals over 50!

I have found the addition of ruffles to be especially pleasing. This particular bathing suit is so flattering and super comfortable to wear. A huge #win for me.

My Favorite Black One-Piece Swimsuit

I absolutely love this story because it reminds me that sometimes the best purchases happen unexpectedly.

Yes…

I bought this swimsuit in a tiny train station boutique in Italy!

It ended up being one of my favorites.

Black is always timeless, slimming, and easy to accessorize with colorful cover-ups.

The best thing about this one piece black bathing suit is that it is reversible! The other side has a fun sea themed print so I can wear it two different ways!

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I recently bought another black swimsuit for our trip to Mexico recently and I love the classic look of it with white shoulder straps. See more about this swimsuit here.

One-Piece vs. Tankini: Which Is Better?

People ask this all the time.

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Here’s my honest opinion.

Choose a One-Piece if you:

• swim laps
• paddle board
• play with grandchildren
• want everything secure

Choose a Tankini if you:

• hate wrestling with a wet swimsuit in the restroom (🙋‍♀️)

Seriously…

Taking off a wet one-piece in a tiny bathroom deserves an Olympic medal.

Tankinis solve that problem while still giving great coverage.

My Favorite Swim Cover-Ups For Women Over 50

No matter how cute my swimsuit is…

I still don’t enjoy walking through hotel lobbies in just my swimsuit.

A lightweight cover-up is one of the hardest-working pieces in my vacation suitcase.

My favorites are:

• SPF hooded cover-up
• lightweight floral dress
• oversized linen shirt
• gauze button-up
• kimono

The pocket in the front reminds me of wearing a large comfy sweatshirt. It never wrinkles even when I wad it up in my beach bag. It was the perfect thing to wear while boating around the spectacular island of Capri, Italy.

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A lightweight floral dress is also a great option.

The dress is tiered and kind of has that baby doll look. It too is long sleeved with a little collar and split neck. It looks cute enough to wear over my swim suit to go grab some lunch or shop in a little beach town.

Why I Love Swim Skirts

Swim skirts deserve more attention!

They’re perfect if you want a little extra coverage while still being active.

I wear mine for:

• paddle boarding
• boating
• walking on the beach
• playing with the grandkids
• sitting poolside

Frequently Asked Questions About Swimsuits for Women Over 50

What style of swimsuit is most flattering after 50?

That depends on your body shape, but V-neck one-piece swimsuits, supportive tankinis, and swimsuits with ruching are flattering on many women because they create balance and offer comfortable support.

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Are tankinis flattering for women over 50?

Absolutely.

I especially like longer tankini tops that cover the tummy while still giving you the convenience of a two-piece.

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Are one-piece swimsuits still stylish?

More than ever!

Many of today’s one-piece swimsuits are fashionable, supportive, and available in beautiful prints, colors, and flattering cuts.

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What color swimsuit is the most slimming?

Black is always a classic choice, but navy, deep teal, burgundy, and darker floral prints can be just as flattering while adding a little personality.

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My Advice

Years ago I wrote a post called Swimsuit Phobia, and honestly, I still believe every word.

Life is simply too short to spend the entire summer worrying about what we look like in a swimsuit.

Find one that makes you feel comfortable.

Jump in the pool.

Take the beach vacation.

Go paddle boarding.

Splash with your grandkids.

Those memories are worth so much more than stressing over a number on the tag.

As my husband always reminds me…

“No one is paying nearly as much attention to us as we think they are.”

So wear the swimsuit.

Enjoy the sunshine.

Make the memories.

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These are affiliate links and when you purchase an item I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps me to continue to keep the blog going. 🙂

Traveling

Make sure you check out these travel posts. It is funny for a girl who used to hate flying I have been able to overcome and now fly when I can!

Visiting the island of Capri! There is no place like Capri! Sparkling see through water, lovely restaurants, shopping and hiking.

Tremiti Islands in Italy. This is where the local Italians like to vacation on this little romantic island.

Our fun Cancun Mexico trip! We went to Xel-ha prounouced shell-ha is a commercial aquatic theme park and ecotourism development located on the Caribbean coast. We stayed at the Westin Resort and spa and it was magical

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