As someone who was a teenager during the early ’00s, I am somewhat traumatized by bikinis—specifically the string variety that was prevalent during my adolescence. This was the time of Paris Hilton and Girls Gone Wild, and I’d prep for my family vacations at the Jersey shore by visiting a tanning bed, emerging slightly orange with a little Playboy bunny tanned onto my hip bone. The smaller the swimsuits, the better.
But as I got a little older and my body shape changed, I realized that I felt my best in a one-piece. It’s not that I disliked my body in a bikini—I just preferred it looking snatched in something with a little more coverage in the middle. This was confirmed when I saw brands start to roll out cheeky designs, high-cut legs, and plunging necklines. Instead of being conservative, the swimsuits I gravitated toward are the ones that wink at sexiness instead of serving it up on a silver platter.
I’m now a one-piece enthusiast, and have deep opinions on what makes a good one and which ones you should skip. Below, I’ve rounded up a handful of styles that are either in my closet or lingering in my cart. These one-pieces are sexy, sleek, and not held together by string. And for that, we can be thankful.
A peek-a-boo style that shows just a little skin
This lime green number that’s straight out of an ’80s movie
This keyhole one-piece that’s also got plenty of coverage
A lattice-cut suit that’s perfect for pretending you’re in Italy
This Baywatch-inspired look that literally will never go out of style
A leopard print suit that’s sexy and has sneaky compression
A white one-piece that *isn’t* see-through—I promise
This frilly little number that I’d probably wear with jeans, too
A plunging suit that also somehow nip-slip-safe
