Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a swimsuit, a bathing suit and swimwear?

Mostly the word, not the garment. SwimOutlet's guide, published in February 2026, says the terms refer to the same garments and that the difference is linguistic and cultural, not functional. It calls bathing suit the older term with a vintage feel, says it remains more popular in the Northeastern U.S. and with older Americans, and describes swimsuit as the broader, more modern word tied to swimming and retail. In retail and athletic contexts, the guide says swimsuit or swimwear is the standard term. On this page all three point to the same racks, so bathing suits, swimwear and swimsuits sit side by side.

How should a swimsuit fit?

Snug, flat and still in place after you move. Lissette Marquez, national women's swim sales director at Tommy Bahama, told the brand's style blog in July 2025 that you should be able to slip a thumb under the straps, that cups should lie flat against the skin, and that a gapping top means sizing down or trying another style. She also suggests marching in place or jumping to check that the bottom stays put, raising your arms to spot pinching or riding up, and trying several sizes, since silhouettes and fabrics fit differently at the same label. Use the size chart and the measuring guide on each product page when shopping online.

What makes tummy control swimsuits work?

Panels, ruching and a firm lining. Most of the work in a tummy control swimsuit comes from those three details. Woman and Home fashion editor Antonia Kraskowski, in a guide last updated in May 2026, points to discreet mesh tummy control panels that shape and support through gentle compression, and to gentle ruching at the sides and across the tummy area. Fashion editor Julie Player adds that she looks for a firm control lining for added support. Cherie Alleyne, co-owner of Blum's Swimwear and Intimate Apparel, told amNewYork back in 2015 that a higher-waist bottom can slim the middle. Among the tummy control swimsuits on this page, the cut-out one-pieces, the bustier sets and the black lace set list a tummy-control high-waist bottom in their descriptions.

What is the difference between Brazilian and cheeky swimsuits?

Coverage. Vix Paula Hermanny's blog, in a March 2019 post by Danielle Gumina, describes cheeky bottoms as minimal coverage built for tanning and leisure, and the Brazilian cut as a balance between showing skin and staying modest that gives the backside a fuller shape. The post credits founder Paula Hermanny with introducing the Brazilian cut to the U.S. On this page, brazilian swimsuits include the neon hip-tie sets in green, blue and orange with a cheeky Brazilian cut, and the high-cut Brazilian one-pieces in white, black and blue with a halter loop front and a cheeky cutout, all S to XL.

What is a monokini?

Originally, a topless swimsuit. Word Histories, in an August 2023 entry, defines monokini as a woman's topless swimsuit made of the bottom half of a two-piece, a name built from mono, meaning one, as a play on the older two-piece name. The term is generally credited to designer Rudi Gernreich in 1964, though the entry cites a 1972 notice saying French designer Louis Reard registered Monokini as a trademark on 20 June 1946. Several product descriptions on this page call their cut-out and corset one-pieces a monokini, so the name here means a one-piece with open sides or cut-outs, not a topless style.

What does UPF 50+ mean on a swimsuit?

It is a sun protection rating for fabric. The Skin Cancer Foundation, in a page reviewed by Elisabeth G. Richard, MD, and last updated in August 2025, says UPF stands for Ultraviolet Protection Factor and measures how much UVA and UVB radiation a fabric lets reach the skin, and that a UPF 50 fabric blocks 98 percent of the sun's rays. It also notes that wet or stretched fabric protects less, and that a fabric needs a UPF of 50 to qualify for its Seal of Recommendation. On this page, the recycled string sets, the Lia tie-dye cutout and the leopard high-waisted set list UPF 50+ in their descriptions.

Is recycled swimwear as good as regular swimwear?

The fabric holds up, according to Outdoor Swimmer. Jo Tinsley, writing for the magazine in April 2026, says recycled polyester made mainly from post-consumer plastic bottles matches or even exceeds the quality of virgin polyester, and that recycled nylon made from waste such as old fishing nets performs identically to virgin nylon. She also points out that synthetics are still plastic-based textiles and that not all recycling is equal, so sourcing matters. On this page, recycled swimwear lists 88% recycled polyester and 12% elastane, with double-layered fabric and removable padding, in sizes from 2XS to 6XL on the string sets.

How do I make a swimsuit last, and what does chlorine resistant mean?

Rinse fast, wash by hand and pick the right fiber. Reviewed, in a 2021 guide by Cheryl Fenton citing the American Cleaning Institute, advises rinsing in cold water as soon as possible, hand washing in cool water with a gentle detergent, skipping the dryer and drying the suit flat, since chlorine can affect elasticity and strip color. AquaMobile's material guide says spandex does not last with constant chlorine exposure, while polyester is durable and withstands chlorine. On this page, the copper brown, pink glitter, leather-print, dark green and Mama one-pieces are the chlorine resistant swimsuit picks, each listing 82% polyester and 18% spandex in a chlorine-resistant fabric.

Swimsuits

Sun's out, and so is the attitude. Think of this edit as swimwear with a social calendar: corset one-pieces, neon string sets, glitter, leopard and lace, all cut for the pool deck, the boat day and the beach club that never checks the dress code. Sizes run 2XS to 6XL across the full range, with most styles landing between S and 2XL.

Shopping swimsuits that look as good dry as they do wet? Start here. Every one of these bathing suits sits on a single page, so the women's swimsuits, two-pieces, one-pieces and bodysuit styles are a scroll apart, and the swimwear for women who want to be seen gets the same room as the styles that hold everything in place. Pick a cut, pick a color, pack the bag.

Cut outs, high cuts and the Brazilian line

Skin is the accessory. The cut-out high-waist one-pieces in black, yellow and red pair a wire-free top with a tummy-control high-waist bottom, per their descriptions, and the neon version adds green, black, wine red and orange to the cut out swimsuit lineup, all S to XL. Prefer a cutout swimsuit with more drama? The black bandage style brings a deep-V halter push-up top and a Brazilian cut, and the red ruched style adds a plaid-smocked texture, a front tie and a high waist.

High cut legs are next. With a halter loop front, a cheeky cutout and metal loop details, the high-cut Brazilian one-pieces come in white, black and blue to XL, so a high cut swimsuit and a cheeky swimsuit land in one suit. Neon Brazilian sets in green, blue and orange pair a triangle push-up top with cheeky hip-tie bottoms you can adjust, which is the brazilian swimwear brief in bright. Want the boldest line on the beach? The leopard micro set brings a wire-free push-up triangle top and a high-cut string bottom, S to L, and that is the thong swimsuit and thong bathing suit question answered.

Corsets, bandage and lace

Structure is having a moment, and it shows. The striped corset one-pieces in red and blue come with spaghetti straps, a wired padded push-up bra and a belt detail to 2XL, the orange leopard corset matches them, and the red-and-white striped bandage one-piece goes to 4XL. That covers the corset swimsuit, the bandage swimsuit and the underwire swimsuit in one rack, plus a push up swimsuit that does its job, and their descriptions call them monokinis, so the monokini swimsuit lives here too. Fans of a strapless swimsuit get the Beach Queen corset in black with white stripes, S to XL.

Lace and crochet bring the texture. Sized S to 2XL in black, wine red, green and blue, the open-sides lace one-piece has a high neckline and a cheeky back, which makes it the lace swimsuit of the edit. On the crochet side, the Amber set pairs a crochet overlay top with a high-waisted bottom, and anyone searching a crochet swimsuit can stop there. This section is where sexy swimsuits and sexy bathing suits live, along with the hot swimwear that earns the sunglasses.

High waists, tummy control and the hold

Coverage can still flirt. Most of the two-pieces on this page sit high: the Rachel ruffle sets in purple, red, white and black pair a wire-free padded ruffle top with a high-waisted bottom, the Alessandra in white adds ruffles and a gold buckle, and the floral bustier sets in red and pink bring a halter push-up top and a tummy-control high waist to 2XL. Shopping high waisted swimsuits, high waisted swimsuits for women or a two piece high waisted swimsuit? All three start in this section.

Tummy control is in the descriptions, not the hype. The cut-out one-pieces, the floral and red bustier sets, the black lace set to 2XL and the snake pattern open-front one-piece all list a tummy-control bottom, so tummy control swimsuits come in one-piece and two-piece shapes here. That spread covers tummy control swimsuits for women, women's swimsuits tummy control searches, tummy control bathing suits, high waisted swimsuits with tummy control and 2 piece swimsuits with tummy control. Call them slimming swimsuits or slimming bathing suits, they hold the middle and leave the rest of the look free.

The widest choice on the page goes to two piece swimsuits. Between the halter crop sets in blue floral, blue leaf and leopard to 4XL, the polka dot, floral and white leaf sets to 3XL and the striped and leaf ruffle sets in XXL, two piece bathing suits come in every mood, and a two piece swimsuit women can mix and match is never far. Padded cups show up on most of those tops too, so push up bathing suits are part of the deal.

Prints, colors and the shine

Color is the whole point. Going white? Pick a white swimsuit or white bathing suit from the Erin high-cut set with its structured bustier top and pinstripes, the Alessandra ruffle set, the white high-cut one-piece or the white Mama style. Need a black swimsuit? The black cut-out one-piece, the black lace set and the Beach Queen corset all qualify. The red corset, the red ruched cut-out and the red polka dot set make the red swimsuit, the hot pink recycled set and the pink glitter one-piece make the pink swimsuit, the yellow cut-out and the retro yellow stripes make the yellow swimsuit, and the forest green and neon green styles make the green swimsuit.

Prints pull double duty. Both the leopard high-waisted halter set and the blush pink and forest green Mama one-pieces bring the leopard swimsuit and leopard print swimsuit looks, the dark green one-piece is the snake print swimsuit, and the Lia cutout one-piece in pink, green, blue and orange plus the lace-up blue style are the tie dye swimsuit options to 3XL. Shine comes from the pink and yellow glitter sets, the go-to glitter swimsuit picks, while the neon cut-out styles turn up as the neon swimsuit. Floral fans get the floral swimsuit in the bustier sets and the tropical palm leaf one-piece, stripe fans get the striped swimsuit in the corset and ruffle styles, and the Rachel sets settle the polka dot swimsuit.

Old Hollywood counts too. The retro yellow striped strapless set with a padded bandeau and a high waist, the Terra yellow Aztec ruffle set and the polka dot ruffles all wear the retro swimsuit and retro bathing suit look, and a vintage swimsuit fan can build the whole trip around them. Halter fans get options too, and the halter swimsuit runs from the leopard set to the floral bustiers.

Bodysuits that swim

Some styles refuse to stay at the pool. In black, burgundy and pink, the V-cut styles have a high-cut leg and stretch fabric that the descriptions say wear as a bodysuit or a swimsuit, XS to XL, with a white V-cut alongside them. Add the leopard strappy-back style and the one-shoulder ruffled style in white, and the bodysuit swimsuit and the swimsuit bodysuit have a home before and after the beach.

Recycled fabric, UPF and chlorine resistance

Good fabric matters as much as a good cut. Made from 88% recycled polyester and 12% elastane, the TGC Boutique string sets in hot pink, pink glitter, yellow glitter and animal print carry double-layered UPF 50+ fabric, removable padding and straps that tie more than one way, 2XS to 6XL. The purple padded top, the purple high-waisted bottom and the forest green high-waisted set are recycled too, which makes this the shelf for recycled swimwear, sustainable swimwear, sustainable swimsuits and eco friendly swimwear. UPF 50+ is listed in the description of every upf swimsuit here, including the Lia tie-dye and the leopard high-waisted set.

Pool days get their own fabric. The TGC Boutique one-pieces in copper brown, pink glitter, blue leather print, purple leather print and dark green, plus the Mama styles, list 82% polyester and 18% spandex with a chlorine-resistant, four-way-stretch build, a scoop neck, a low scoop back and a double-layer front. That is the chlorine resistant swimsuit lineup, XS to 2XL and up to 3XL in two of the Mama colors, and the padded swimsuit crowd gets padding in most of the two-piece tops.

Mommy and me, curves and the trip

Matching is the mood. With embroidered lace angel wings on the back and a push-up padded top, the mommy and me swimsuits come in white, yellow, pink, blue and black, sized Mom S to XL and Kids ages 3 to 7. Call them mommy and me bathing suits or mother daughter matching swimsuits, they are the matching swimsuits that make the photo.

Shape gets the cut, not a compromise. With push-up tops and high waists up to 4XL on the halter sets, flattering swimsuits are the default setting here rather than a filter. Packing for a getaway? Pack vacation swimsuits by plan: the neon sets for the pool, the corset for dinner and the glitter for the after-party.

The boutique part

Want a swimsuit boutique with a point of view? You found it. TGC Boutique sells swimsuits online with the same nerve as every other page in the store, with trendy swimsuits and trendy bathing suits in neon, glitter and corset cuts, cute swimsuits and cute bathing suits for every day of the trip, and swimwear online that looks like a personality, not a uniform. Call it ladies swimsuits, ladies bathing suits, a women's bathing suit, women's swimwear, swimsuits for women, bathing suits for women or women's bathing suits, every name lands here, and every swimsuit or bathing suit on it comes with its own size options.

Shop by style in two-pieces and one-pieces, each with a page of its own, and extended sizes live in plus and curvy swimsuits.