I Tried On 38 Swimsuits at Target to Find the Best Ones

This swimsuit is simple but well-executed. It’s made of a ribbed fabric that was common across the Shade & Shore line, which I found both comfortable and flattering overall. It’s stretchy, so if you are between sizes, you may want to try the smaller. I tried this suit in medium and thought it fit well. The top isn’t overly revealing, but the scoop back adds some interest — you can show some skin without the worry of flashing anyone. But the detail I liked most were the adjustable drawstrings on either hip. The ties add a nice detail, plus they are functional; you can tighten them to create a higher leg and less coverage on the butt or loosen them for a more covered-up look. You can also get a more customized fit to your body.

I tried this suit in brown and this hot-pink color and really liked both. (If I didn’t already have so many swimsuits, I might have bought it.) It’s made of the same ribbed fabric as the suit above, and I tried it on in a size medium. The plunging neckline is more revealing and it’s a little cheeky due to the high-cut leg, but it’s not overly showy — I wouldn’t feel uncomfortable wearing it around family.

This ribbed suit from Target’s collaboration with swim brand Solid & Striped also landed on my shortlist of suits I’d actually buy. The fabric felt noticeably higher-quality than the Shade & Shore ribbed suits, which helps justify the higher price point. The scoop neck, low-cut back, and high-cut leg make this suit very flattering and keep it from feeling too boring or covered-up. The large fit me perfectly.

I also very nearly bought this swimsuit. In addition to an excellent fit, I wascharmedby the detail of a small dangly gold charm with a seahorse imprinted on it in the cutout of the neckline. Combined with the gorgeous light-blue color, this suit wouldn’t look out of place on a fancy vacation in the Greek Islands. Yet it costs only $45. And while the neckline is on the more revealing side, there is a good amount of butt coverage.

This Solid & Striped suit has a lot more going on than most of my other favorite one-pieces: a gingham pattern, a plunging neckline, high-cut legs, cheeky butt coverage, and a partially open back with a bow. I was happy with the cut of the suit, which I thought looked pretty good on me. My one concern was the top — I’m larger on the bottom than the top, so with a slightly more revealing design, I had some concerns about the cups gaping. The one detail that held me back from loving this suit was the fabric. It had an oddly plasticky feel, complete with a swishy sound that reminded me of a mattress protector. It didn’t feel unpleasant on my skin, but there was something off about the material for my taste. According to the tag, it’s a seersucker made from a blend of nylon, polyester, and spandex.

I tried this suit in medium, which was a little too small for me, so if you’re between sizes, err on the side of larger. Still, even with an ill fit, I would have considered buying it if I could have tried it in a size up. Like the ribbed Solid & Striped suit, the fabric felt higher quality on this one than on some of Target’s in-house suits. It was a bit weightier and smoother, like a high-end compressive legging. The cut is pretty basic but well executed. It was extremely cheeky on me, but I’ll chalk that up partially to the fact that I likely needed a bigger size. What’s especially fun about this suit is that it’s reversible. One side is striped, as you see in the photo; the other is solid pink. I always appreciate a two-for-one — perfect to pack for a trip!

The Shade & Shore ribbed fabric I loved in one-pieces was also common across the two-piece selection. All the tops and bottoms in this ribbed material can be mixed and matched, and you can choose between pink, black, brown, blue, and green colorways for nearly all the styles. This tab-front bralette-style top was one of my favorites. I like bikini tops that fit like a sports bra or bralette because I don’t want to worry about my top coming off while swimming. This top has a more feminine feel thanks to the front cinching, while still feeling extremely secure. I tried it in a medium, which fit me well.

This top was a winner for many of the same reasons. The front tie is purely decorative, but you can adjust the straps and scrunch the cups along the string for more or less coverage.

I tried this top, made from the same ribbed fabric, in a medium, but I would probably size up to a large if I purchased it. The halter neck ties like a string bikini, but the band in the back uses a hook closure, which I appreciated for an extra-secure fit. It has the look of a classic triangle string bikini but with a bit more coverage overall.

For a bottom to pair with any of the three tops above, I would go with this hipster bikini bottom. I tried these in a large, and while they certainly aren’t reinventing the bikini bottom, they are a nice basic that works for many situations. They are medium-rise (below the bellybutton, but notlow) and have a decent level of coverage in the back (a bit of cheek but notcheeky).

Of all the tops I tried on, this is the one I am most likely to buy. It’s similar to a classic triangle bikini but with fixed straps instead of string ties. The straps are thin, so it’s a bit more skin-baring but not overly revealing. The fabric is smooth, not ribbed, and it comes in six nice colors: orange, black, brown, green-gray, pink, and purple.

I tried this pair of bottoms with the top above and had I been in the market for a new bikini, I would have walked out of the store with both. These have a much higher cut in the leg than any other swimsuit I tried at Target and were notably cheekier, too. Combined with a high waist that covers the bellybutton, they were extremely flattering on a pear-shaped gal like myself; I think it’s a style that would look good on many other body types, too.

This high-waisted bikini bottom is almost like a French cut with a wide waistband. It’s a little less cheeky than the other high-waisted bottom above, but both are nice options if you like this style. I wasn’t able to try thematching top, which looks like a racerback sports bra, but the black-and-white floral would easily pair with a variety of solid-color bikini tops.

I’ve hadswim shortson my mind this summer, so I had to try these when I spotted them on the rack. The inseam is short but notsoshort that they don’t actually read as shorts.

This shirred bikini bottom provides a lot of coverage in the front and back, and would be good for anyone feeling insecure about their stomach. I wasn’t able to try on thehigh-waisted version, but it looks nice too.