My Favorite Modest Swimsuits for Moms
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I didn’t get a Spring Break in warm weather like I was hoping that I would this year and I find myself often daydreaming about summer’s warm days and sunshine and laying on the beach. I know that’s still a few months away, but since we have already booked our summer trip to the beach, I wasn’t about to hesitate in finding some new swimwear for this mom-bod! Swimsuits are probably one of my least favorite pieces of apparel to shop for and/or wear. Always has been. When I was young and scrawny, I always felt like my bones were sticking out in weird places and now that I’ve had a baby, there are lots of other areas sticking out in weird places (hello mom-tummy!). While I don’t want to live in shame of how my body has changed after having a baby and I am working on being proud of what it has done - I still want to feel confident in my swim choices this summer - so I’m on the search for the perfect (modest) mom-style swimsuits!
Mom-Style Swim Criteria
Here are a few pieces of criteria that I’m looking for in swimwear:
COVERAGE - It doesn’t have to be a one-piece, but I want high-waisted coverage for my tummy and full coverage of “the girls” so that I don’t feel like I’m hanging out anywhere or have to worry about the swim suit moving or shifting a lot when I’m running after my extremely active toddler!
COMFORT - Similar to the coverage, is the comfort factor for me! This could include any number of things, but I want to know the fabric is going to be durable and that the swimsuit is going to “stay in place” if I’m moving around.
CONFIDENCE - I know this will be completely subjective, but I want to feel good in my swimsuits this summer! I don’t want to walk to the beach feeling like I look like a grandma (no hate to grandma’s, but I think I should limit my grandma-ness to my occasional bouts with knitting).
COST - This is actually going to vary a bit, as the top three are the most important aspects for me! If I’m going to spend a pretty penny on a swimsuit, it had better hit all of the above criteria AND last me a few summers!
I know that modesty will look different for everyone based on your body type and what makes you feel good and confident, but here are a few style tips that I have found to be true when I’ve been looking for a swimsuit and what I feel good in!
Modest Mom-Swim Style Tips
Ruching is your friend! If you are like me and looking for ways to feel slimmer or hide some of that extra post-baby fat around your tummy, look for bottoms that have some ruching details. I hesitated on this for a while because I like the look and feel of smooth fabric, but when I tried on a pair of bottoms with some ruching, it really did make a difference in what I felt like I “noticed” around that area - which in turn made me feel more confident!
Try a high-neck top. Again, this will be different for everyone, but I have a fairly large top half that needs a great deal of coverage and this year I have been on the lookout for more full-coverage tops and some of my favorites so far have been ones with a higher neckline.
Helloooo high waists! I hope that high-waisted swimwear (and pants, honestly) don’t go anywhere for a long time! This mom-bod is loving any higher waisted these days and I find that it helps to “hold everything in” and definitely makes me feel more confident in what I am wearing.
Mix and match! For a long time, I have made an intentional choice to buy swimwear that I can mostly mix and match. This means that I personally look for more colors and patterns along the black color scheme. It doesn’t mean that everything that I buy needs to be all black - but I like to try and consider what else I can pair it with! So if it is a colorful top, I like to think about pairing it with plain black bottoms or find a fun pair of patterned bottoms that I can pair with a solid black top. This is definitely not a requirement, but I really like having the options! This also works well for sizing! I am 5’8” and generally wear a medium or large shirt (moving back towards medium post-baby) and an 8 or 10 in pants. So for swimsuits, I usually like to lean towards a large top for full coverage and a medium bottom for more of that slimming control.
Now that we know what we are looking for, let’s jump into some of my favorite finds for some great modest, mom-style swimwear! (Note: I know that everyone’s body is going to look and feel completely different - so I’m going to also share a few notes on styles that can and should be flattering to almost every body type to help you know what to look for when you start browsing for swimsuits!)
My Favorite Modest Mom-Style Swimsuits
A review of modest swimsuits for moms
Albion Fit
Size Details
Top: Large
Bottom: Medium
As soon as I tried on this swimsuit, I knew it was a winner! I absolutely adored how I felt wearing this - and loved the full coverage on both the top and the bottom! The high neck of the top feels the most modest to me than I have felt in a swimsuit in a long time - even as a two-piece. I’m anticipating a lot of fun days at the beach this summer chasing after my active little boy or hours of fun at the pool splashing around in the water! Another major bonus for this swimsuit is the fact that I can buy the top and the bottom separately in different sizes - anytime I get the chance, I prefer to go larger for my top for better coverage and medium for the bottom. I was hesitant about these bottoms since I usually opt for boyshorts, but the ruching really pulled through and I loved how I felt in these bottoms. This swimsuit is on the higher side and one of the most expensive I have ever purchased, but the splurge was worth it!
Cost: $$$ - true, this suit is definitely on the higher side, but SO worth it!
Coverage: love the high-waist and high neckline!
Comfort: thick and durable fabric feels like it will stay in place
Confidence: highest it’s been in a swimsuit in a long time!
shop more from albion fit
Summersalt
Size Details
Size 10 (Large)
The Sidestroke
This is a swimsuit that I was definitely influenced to get from someone that I follow on Instagram - and boy was it worth it! Look, I’m fully aware that my mom-bod is not slender like I was in high school / college and I know I don’t have the best posture, but this swimsuit had me fully covered and even sucked me in a bit which I really like.
I love this suit so much that I’m purchasing another from this brand in a different style that should be a bit more nursing-friendly for the trips to the beach with our second baby this summer.
Cost: $$$ - true, this suit is definitely on the higher side, but SO worth it!
Coverage: once again a high neckline with a fun side-strap
Comfort: thick and durable fabric
Confidence: highest it’s been in a swimsuit in a long time!
The Surf
This swimsuit was new to me in 2023 and definitely gave full-coverage and confidence! The only downside is that it was a bit tough to zip up the back, but that’s what husbands are for.
Cost: $$$ - true, this suit is definitely on the higher side, but SO worth it!
Coverage: once again a high neckline and great booty coverage too
Comfort: thick and durable fabric, plus it has sewn-in padding
Confidence: one of the highest!
Note: They no longer carry the solid black/white colorway that I have, but they still have a patterned black and white option, as well as patterned blue option. I’m guessing their options will be different every year!
Jessica Rey Swimwear
When it comes to modest swimwear, the best in the category is hands-down Jessica Rey Swimwear! They are also super high-quality materials and last for a long time! I bought a few swimsuits from them years ago when I was still single (and a much smaller size) and they were my absolute favorite swimsuits - definitely high in the confidence factor! While I don’t currently have any of their swimsuits on hand, they are most certainly on my list for one of the next swimsuits that I will add to my collection.
I love the Jessica Rey swimsuits so much that I have a 10% off coupon for you!
CALIA by Carrie Underwood
Size Details
Top: Large
I bought this swimsuit a few summers ago when I was pregnant and wanted to be able to cover my baby bump, but still, feel cool and breezy. I remember turning to google to try and find “mom-friendly” swimsuits and this one had amazing reviews! I wanted something that I knew would last me many years and also be suitable for chasing after an active kid. This tankini top fits what I was looking for - only downside is that it feels “low cut” for a larger bust.
Cost: $$ - slightly lower than the Albion Fit, but mostly only because I only purchased the top and paired it with other bottoms that I already owned
Coverage: with a sports bra-like top and a drapey tank top attached, this one is *almost* perfect! the only thing I don’t love is the low scoop (which wouldn’t be an issue for anyone that is not a larger bust)
Comfort: another great thick and durable fabric and I love how it loosely covers over my entire stomach
Confidence: also super high - just wish the top was a bit higher for the neckline
Walmart
Size Details
Large
This is a new swimsuit for me this summer (2022) that I snagged for a GREAT price (it’s under $20!) from a Walmart sale and am so happy with it already! It’s a lower cut than I would normally go for, but is nursing-friendly, which is much needed for our trips to the beach/pool this summer with my second baby. Even with the low cut, it has nice full coverage for the chest, which I am thankful for!
Cost: $ - the lowest price point so far!
Coverage: lower neckline than I typically prefer, but is nursing-friendly and still has adequate chest coverage
Comfort: surprisingly more durable of a fabric than I had expected!
Confidence: still super high - really love the ruching around the stomach to hide some of the extra baby fat, and the ruffles are a nice touch!
Amazon
Size Details
Large
This one was new for me this year (2024) and I am so in love! I was ready for a bright pop of color and this hot pink was perfect. The mesh details are so cute, and the high neck provides lots of coverage when my kids are always grabbing at my swimsuit. This style of swimsuit also comes in some black options with the same mesh detail, or with some lace details.
Cost: $ - one of the cheapest prices for an entire suit
Coverage: 10/10 for the high neckline! and the booty is covered nicely as well!
Comfort: very high-quality fabric and has padding
Confidence: at the top! while the claimed tummy control did not make my stomach disappear completely (that’s a ‘me’ problem 🫠😂) I still felt incredible in this swimsuit!
Other Swimsuits from Amazon
Popvil
Size Details
XL
This was another new swimsuit for me this year (2024) and I was so surprised by this one! I took a risk and bought this one off Tiktok Shop, but they also have their own website, with so many amazing swimsuit options! This brand has tons of incredible swimsuits, all are mom-appropriate for chasing littles around the beach or pool and keeping everything where it needs to be. I was hesitant when I first opened this package and thought it might all be a bit too small, but the fit of the top and bottoms far exceeded my expectations!
Cost: $ - one of the cheapest prices for an entire suit (under $35!)
Coverage: 10/10 for the high waist! the booty is covered nicely and the top was also full coverage and was more of a sports bra fit
Comfort: very high-quality ribbed fabric and has padding
Confidence: listen, i know I don’t have a flat stomach and everything is a bit more “chubby” than I want it to be… but I felt so pretty in this fun swimsuit - with an added bonus that I was coordinating (unintentionally) with my kids at the pool the other day when I wore this suit for the first time!
Even More Mom-Style Swimwear
I’m sharing a few more pieces that have caught my eye or I have on my swimsuit wishlist that I think would also be potentially flattering mom-style swimsuit options!
Aerie / $$
CALIA by Carrie Underwood / $$
Athleta / $$
Old Navy / $
Target / $
Swim Cover-Ups
