Where to Buy Plus-Size Swimsuits
While plus-size clothing has been around since the 1920s, it was only recently that major brands began to cater to consumers of all shapes and sizes. Even brands like Abercrombie & Fitch, which was in hot water for its discriminatory marketing and hiring practices, has taken steps to be more inclusive. That said, it’s still not easy to find a stylish plus-size swimsuit online, which is why we’ve done the legwork for you. Whether you’re after a yellow polka-dot bikini or a sleek one-piece suit, we’ve compiled a list of the best places to buy plus-size swimwear.
Prices and availability are subject to change.
Photo credit: Swimsuits For All, LLC.Swimsuits For All
Prices: $6 to $132
Sizes: 4 to 34
Shipping: Shipping rates are based on how much you spend, ranging from $6.99 to 12% of your order total.
Returns: You can return unworn items within 60 days of the order’s ship date for a free exchange, gift card, or full refund, minus the prepaid return label.
User Experience: Good
Overall Rating: 5/5
Known for popularizing the “fatkini,” Swimsuits For All lives up to its name with a wide selection of plus-size swimwear. The website’s design won’t blow you away, but its option to shop by body type — from athletic to pear, and everything in between — makes it easy to sift through its large inventory. And with one-piece suits going for as low as $17, you can shop here on a tight budget.
Photo credit: Reitmans (Canada) LimitedPenningtons
Prices: $9 to $134
Sizes: 14 to 32
Shipping: Shipping is free for in-store pickup and orders over $59.
Returns: Shoppers can’t return swimwear bottoms or one-piece suits; otherwise, returns are free, though U.S. residents will have to pay for shipping.
User Experience: Good
Overall Rating: 4/5
Thanks to its frustration-free website, assortment of styles, and price-adjustment policy, this plus-size Canadian brand has earned a spot on our list. Many of Penningtons’ swimsuits are also made from sustainable fabrics like recycled polyester. Our only complaint is that the company doesn’t accept most swimsuit returns.
Photo credit: ModCloth.comModCloth
Prices: $24 to $119
Sizes: XS to 4X
Shipping: Shipping is free for orders over $150; otherwise, you’ll pay $12.95.
Returns: You have 28 days to return your items for a refund, though you’ll pay for return shipping.
User Experience: Good
Overall Rating: 4/5
ModCloth is a vintage-inspired clothing brand that features a fun and youthful plus-size swimwear collection full of floral prints and high-waisted bikini bottoms. Whether you’re looking for a ruched suit straight from the 1940s or a yellow-leopard one-piece reminiscent of the ‘90s, ModCloth’s easy-to-use website lets shoppers sort swimsuits by decade, color, size, price, and more.
Photo credit: Torrid LLCTorrid
Prices: $30 to $200
Sizes: M/L to 6X
Shipping: Torrid charges a flat $6 rate for standard shipping.
Returns: Consumers have 60 days to return their orders. While in-store returns are free, there’s a $6 shipping return fee.
User Experience: Good
Overall Rating: 3/5
Torrid is another brand dedicated to creating clothes that fit curvy bodies, so it’s no surprise they have a myriad of plus-size bathing suits. The user-friendly website and free in-store return policy also put Torrid ahead of the competition when it comes to convenience. Even so, some of the brand’s designs — like this “Jurassic World”-themed tankini — had us shaking our heads.
Photo credit: Meet.CurveMeet.Curve
Prices: $20 to $43
Sizes: M to 4XL
Shipping: Shipping is free for orders over $69; otherwise, you’ll pay $12.99.
Returns: You have 15 days to contact customer service via email regarding a return, and shipping fees are at the customer’s expense.
User Experience: Poor
Overall Rating: 3/5
Meet.Curve is bound to have something for everyone with its impressive and wide-ranging inventory of affordable plus-size swimsuits. The only problem is that the website is well-nigh impossible to navigate because of its utter lack of filters and categories. Instead, you’re left with pages and pages of unorganized — but admittedly cute — swimsuits. And yet, Meet.Curve still made the cut because the designs slay and the price is right.
Photo credit: Alexiss SwimwearAlexiss Swimwear
Prices $10 to $175
Sizes: S to 5X
Shipping: Shipping is free for orders over $100; otherwise, you’ll have to pay $10.
Returns: You have 14 days to return garments with a free return label, though there is a $10 restocking fee.
User Experience: Fair
Overall Rating: 3/5
With the slogan “Beauty is not a size,” Alexiss Swimwear caters to plus-size women who want an attention-grabbing bathing suit. On Alexiss’ (outdated) website, you’ll find provocative red sequin tops next to mermaid-themed thong bottoms. But you’ll also pay a premium for that originality, with many pieces selling for over $100.
