I used to be so envious of those girls who could effortlessly jump off a cliff into the ocean or play a casual game of beach volleyball while looking completely flawless in a tiny string bikini. Every single time I tried to do anything remotely active at the beach I would end up spending the entire day tugging at my straps or making sure my bottom half hadn't completely ridden up. It is honestly so exhausting to be out in the beautiful ocean waves but you cannot even focus on having fun because you are completely terrified that a sudden wave is going to wash your top away. After one particularly embarrassing wipeout while trying to learn how to surf a few years ago where my top ended up around my neck I decided I was totally done with fashion over function. I started looking for swimsuits that were actually built for movement but didn't look like an old school competitive speedo. It took a lot of trial and error but I finally found a few specific styles that let you dive and swim and run around without checking yourself every five seconds.
The total game changer of a high neck design
If you are planning on doing anything that involves crashing into waves or jumping into a pool the very first thing you need to abandon is the plunge neckline. I switched to a high neck one piece for my active beach days and the difference is honestly night and day. When a swimsuit comes all the way up to your collarbone it creates this completely secure seal that stops water from scooping down into your suit. When you dive under a wave the water just glides right over you instead of pushing your outfit down. I found this really cute athletic one piece that has a high mesh neck and it gives you that secure coverage but still feels very summery and light. You can dive straight off a boat or go wakeboarding and you already know without a doubt that everything is going to stay exactly where it belongs.
Why you should always look for a cross back or tie back setup
Another huge trap that people fall into is buying swimsuits with regular vertical shoulder straps like a standard bra. Those straps are totally fine if you are just lying on a lounge chair sipping a drink but the second you start paddling a kayak or swimming laps they start slipping down your shoulders. Once a strap slips the whole structure of the top loose its tension and that is when accidents happen. You want to look for cross back straps or a lace up corset style back instead because that design locks the straps onto your shoulders. It connects the support across your entire upper back so no matter how much you rotate your arms while swimming the fabric never moves an inch. Plus you can usually pull those ties as tight as you personally need which gives you a completely customized fit.
Finding the right leg cut to avoid the constant tugging
There is nothing that ruins a fun beach day faster than a swimsuit bottom that keeps moving out of place every time you take a step. A lot of trendy suits right now have that super high cheeky cut which looks great in a static photo but is an absolute nightmare if you are actually trying to move around. For active days you want to look for a boy short cut or a classic surf style bottom with a slightly lower leg opening. It should have a thick and sturdy elastic band around the thigh holes that grips your skin gently without digging in. I bought a one piece that looks almost like a vintage romper with tiny built in shorts and it is the most liberating thing ever. You can run around in the sand playing frisbee with your kids or dog and you never have to do that awkward behind the back adjustment walk.
The hidden superpower of thick textured zip up fronts
If you still want the option to look a little bit dressed up but need ultimate security you should definitely check out the zip front long sleeve or short sleeve swimsuits. These are usually made from a slightly thicker neoprene or heavy nylon material that feels almost like a lightweight wetsuit. The zipper gives you total control over how secure you want to be because you can zip it all the way up to your throat when you are in the rough water and then slide it down a bit when you are just chilling on the sand later. Because the fabric is so much thicker than a normal swimsuit it holds everything tightly against your core like a built in sports bra. It smooths out your silhouette and gives you this incredibly cool professional athlete vibe that feels very confident and chic.
Testing your suit at home before you actually hit the sand
My absolute final tip for anyone hunting for a secure swimsuit is to do a rigorous movement test in your bedroom before you clip off the tags. Don't just stand there and look at yourself from the front because that tells you absolutely nothing about how the fabric behaves in motion. You need to do a few deep squats and bend over completely to touch your toes and swing your arms around in big circles like you are swimming. If you feel the fabric sliding around or if you have to adjust the chest area after doing a mock jump then that suit is going to fail you the second it gets heavy with water. A truly secure swimsuit should feel like an extension of your own skin where you completely forget you are even wearing it because it moves perfectly with your body.
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