The Best Swimsuits for Women Over 50 | Tankinis, Cover-ups, and More!

Finding flattering swimsuits for women over 50 can be a daunting task. With warmer weather just around the corner, I’ve got everything swimwear on my mind and I’m here to help you find an amazing suit you’ll feel comfortable in.

I buy a new bathing suit every year, whether I “need” it or not. We have a pool, and we love to spend time at our beach condo on Sanibel Island, so having a fresh, new swimsuit every year is important to me! I’m a beach babe through and through, and, if I do say so myself, I know what I’m talking about when it comes to buying bathing suits!

Natalie and I have been scouring the web for the best bathing suits this year, and I have to say, I think the swimsuits for women over 50 are better than ever! This year I am seeing the cutest styles, colors, and prints! Everyone wants to feel confident and comfortable at the beach, and these swimsuit finds definitely don’t sacrifice cuteness for comfort!

As always, click any pink text link or image for more information about anything you see.

A Note Before You Buy

It can be challenging to find an excellent fit and superior fabric for less than $75-100. I’ve included some less expensive suits in this post, but I don’t necessarily recommend them! Oh, you can go the cheap route, but don’t count on quality and longevity. I’ve done it both ways, and I’m telling you the truth here, gals. My recommendation would be to find a high-quality, well-made swimsuit that you feel good in. If you really want to save some dough, find a high-quality bottom from a brand you trust, and pair it with a coordinating top.

A great example of this is the Spanx $98 convertible top I own. The quality is exactly what you would expect from Spanx! It’s sized like a bra, and it’s inspired by Spanx’s best-selling Bra-llelujah bra! It can be worn two ways—X back or traditional. It is an outstanding, high-quality top and I’ve paired it with several different bottoms.

Spanx also makes an amazing adjustable $88 high-rise swim bottom, which I also own. It has a double-layer fabric that lays on your body without squeezing, and adjustable side ruching for a custom fit. Follow their size guidelines for sizing.

Both pieces are high-quality, and completely worth the price, in my opinion. Shipping and returns are always free at Spanx. You can check out all of their swimwear HERE.

If you find a style you love, be sure to click through to see multiple color combinations and prints! I tend to choose colored suits and fun florals, but most of these are also available in black or another solid color.

The Best Swimsuits for Women Over 50

High-Waisted Swimsuits for Women Over 50

One of the most flattering swimsuit designs is the high-waist bottom, and good news…it’s still totally in style! This choice is popular with everyone, not just with women over 50. High-waisted suits are the perfect design if you want to hide your lower tummy area or if you love the idea of a bikini but aren’t quite comfortable in an itsy bitsy teeny weeny bikini anymore! 🙋‍♀️ I also love a good midrise bikini, though they can be harder to find.

One-Piece Swimsuits for Women Over 50

One-piece swimsuits are classics. I think even the younger generation is learning that more coverage is actually very appealing to the eye! One-pieces elongate the torso and look so sleek. And sporty one-pieces are great for activities like paddleboarding or kayaking.

Belted One-Piece Swimsuits for Women Over 50

Belted swimsuits can create the illusion of curviness by accentuating the waist. This can be so helpful for women over 50. Child-bearing and menopause change the shape of our bodies, and that’s normal and okay!

Ruched One-Piece Swimsuits for Women Over 50

For a little bit more coverage, ruched swimsuits can hide the tummy area. The gathering adds texture and layers to provide an optical illusion that disguises that area.

Cutout Swimsuits for Women Over 50

Sometimes small, tasteful cut-outs on the sides or front can be slimming too! They’re also a great way to show a bit more skin and spice up your swimsuit while still being modest.

Swimsuit Details – Necklines, Sleeves, Ruffles, & More!

Y’all know I LOVE details! Fluttery sleeves, neckline details, and bows are all such cute, girly details that can make such a difference. If they fall in just the right places, ruffles can show a little love to areas we may want to cover up or even boost. As someone with a smaller bust, I look for swimsuits with ruffles over my bustline to visually enhance it! I’m also loving swimsuits with sleeves this year. They’re so sporty and cute!

Tankinis

Tankinis are the classic swimsuit design for women over 50! I love them because they’re so much easier than one-pieces to take on and off (Removing a wet one-piece for a bathroom trip is tricky!), but they offer the same coverage. You can also wear a sarong over the bottoms and the looser top just looks like a tank!

Swimsuit Cover-Ups

We found so many swimsuit cover-ups and beach dresses that are adorable and affordable! I love throwing on a cover-up for a walk along the beach or lunch at the poolside cafe. They’re perfect when your swimsuit isn’t completely dry, and you don’t want to get your clothes wet. This year I’m loving nautical button-down cover-ups, like this one from J.Crew!

What’s your favorite swimsuit style? Where do you plan to get some sun this spring and summer? Let me know in the comment section below!