The 5 Best Plus-Size Swim Brands, According To A Beach Lover Who’s Tried Them All

As a plus-size fashion expert who focuses on fit and style — and who absolutely loves being in the water — swimwear is a favorite of mine. But I know firsthand that it is also a category that inspires a lot of shopping anxiety, especially when the best plus-size swim options are online only, meaning you never know what you are going to get.

Over the years, I’ve tested out a variety of internet-favorite curve-friendly brands to see what’s worth the money and what’s just hype. After a lot of trial and — more often than not — error, I have rounded up the best of the best plus-size swim, all personally wear-tested in and out of the water.

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Best Plus-Size Swim Collaboration: Gabi Fresh x Eloquii

Fashion loves to call something a “game-changer,” but, as anyone who knows their plus fashion history can tell you, it rarely is. Blogger Gabi Gregg’s swim collabs are the exception. Her first partnership with Swimsuits For All in 2013 — which consisted of just a few suits, including a high-waisted galaxy print bikini that sold out immediately — sparked an entire movement, with plus-size women reclaiming a word so often used against us and proudly posting #fatkini pics on Instagram. In the decade since, she’s launched collection after collection of trend-setting swimwear, with styles and details that are often impossible to find in plus-size collections elsewhere.

With saturated colors and of-the-moment metallics like this liquid silver suit, Gregg’s most recent design partnership, with plus-fashion favorite Eloquii, is the most fashion-forward I’ve seen in plus this year. Added bonus: It is available in sizes up to 32. The pieces also reflect Eloquii’s fit expertise: I found all the suits I tried to be true to my usual size. My only note is that this deliciously dramatic gold coverup is something of a glitterbomb, leaving sparkles in your wake.

Best Plus-Size Designer Swimwear: Chromat

When talking about trailblazers for inclusive fashion, New York-based brand Chromat is also a must-mention name. From being one of the first designers to include plus models at New York Fashion Week to their ongoing commitment to making swimwear for #ChromatBabes of every shape and size, founder Becca McCharen-Tran has been a positive force for change for years. At Chromat, inclusion goes beyond size, with models of different ages, abilities, gender expressions, and more always represented in their campaigns and on their runways. Their latest collab with trans artist and activist Tourmaline included options “for girls who don’t tuck,” and their sun-drenched show on the boardwalk of Riis Beach was the highlight of the SS22 NYFW season. The suits are ethically made from reclaimed fishing nets and plastic ocean waste too, so they are absolutely a feel-good purchase.

All of that goodness doesn’t get in the way of aesthetics: From revealing strappy one-pieces to cheeky cutouts — like the deliberate underboob of their signature Strata Suit — their swim is HOT. Even their more substantial styles look sexy on, so if you are looking for a rashguard that combines form and function, they have you covered (literally and figuratively). And while the suits start at around $80, the quality matches: I regularly wear my first Chromat suit from 2018 and it still looks new.

If you are eyeing a Chromat suit but don’t see your size (they do tend to sell out), keep an eye on their socials for some upcoming announcements, including their first size 5x style and an exciting new collab.

Best Plus-Size String Bikinis: Curvy Beach

If you are looking for one of the trendiest styles of 2023 — a skimpy string bikini — Curvy Beach is my hands-down recommendation. After years of working as a plus-size fit model and trying on frumpy suits, Curvy Beach CEO Elizabeth Taylor (yes, that’s her real name!) used her fit expertise to perfect a sexy string bikini silhouette created specifically for fuller curves.

As a size L in cup bust, putting on my first Curvy Beach bikini in 2018 was a revelation. I grew up thinking swimwear for my body required coverage, camouflage, control lining, and, most of all, underwire. But once I realized how comfortable, secure, and cute I felt in a string bikini made for bodies like mine, I never looked back. Over the years, I’ve accumulated a large collection of Curvy Beach’s suits, both in their classic string silhouette and in newer styles like the cheeky (the best thong-style bottom I’ve tried) and sporty scoop-neck top. And I’m not alone: Curvy Beach’s customers are avid repeat shoppers, and new styles often sell out immediately. So if you see something you love, I recommend getting it while you can — restocks are rare.

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