I’m Obsessed With My Summersalt Sidestroke. So I Tried On All Its Other Swimsuits.
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For theStrategist’s Swimsuit Project, I have already documented my love forSummersalt’s Sidestroke. In my eyes, it is a perfect one-piece. I first added it to my swim wardrobe in 2021 and have since logged hundreds of hours of swimming and sunbathing in it. It’s the swimsuit I reach for over every other because it works for every occasion, whether I’m going to the banya with friends or to Fire Island with my family. It still looks just as good as the summer I first got it. The brand is also size inclusive with a range from 0 to 24 and offers suits in both classic and long-torso cuts. So I decided to see what else Summersalt has to offer and called in over a dozen of its other styles, including plenty of one-pieces and a few two-pieces, too. I am five feet, six inches tall with a regular torso and I wear a size 14/16.
My top picks
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Summersalt One-Pieces
My all-time favorite
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Summersalt The Sidestroke Suit
In addition to being my favorite, the Sidestroke is also the brand’s best seller. The fabric is a blend of polyamide and elastane with a nylon and spandex lining, so it’s both compressiveandstretchy. I appreciate the little bit of shaping it offers while still being super comfortable. The diagonal seaming and one-shoulder silhouette also accentuate my curves and, while it lacks built-in cups, I find it to be very supportive thanks to the material. It’s also the rare swimsuit that is completely full coverage without being frumpy.
For a fuller bust and extra support
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However, if you have a fuller bust or just prefer some extra support, the Ruched Sidestroke does have built-in soft cups for added lift. While the silhouette is otherwise identical to the Sidestroke above, the other main difference is the seaming. Instead of the diagonal seams of the original, this one has a single waist seam for a more streamlined look.
If you prefer showing a little more butt
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The Perfect Wrap One-Piece is Summersalt’s other best seller. While I love the V-shaped neckline and wrap silhouette, the butt coverage is a bit more cheeky than the Sidestroke, so it doesn’t fit me as comfortably. I did find myself having to tug it down throughout the day. However, if you prefer showing a bit more butt, this is a great style to consider. In addition to the leapard-and-black colorway I tried on, it’s available in five other options.
If you prefer an open back
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While I wasn’t drawn to the Ruched Backflip on the site, once I tried it on, it became one of my absolute favorites. It has a more plunging V-shaped neckline with an open back that feels slightly sexy, but, as I’ve come to expect from Summersalt, I’m not overly exposed thanks to the full-coverage bottom and carefully placed seaming. I often find open-back swimsuits don’t always stay in place, but because of the wide straps and compressive fabric, I felt held in all the right places and didn’t have to worry about anything slipping.
If you like ruffles
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If you want to show a little skin
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This suit looks a lot like the Sea Breeze below, with the same stomach cutout, though it has a simple top with a square neckline. I loved them both, but between the two, I prefer the Sea Breeze because I find the top to be a bit more flattering on my fuller bust.
If you want to show a little skin (and you have a fuller bust)
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The Sea Breeze offers a fun little cutout on the belly with a wrap-style top. It’s a subtle way to show a little skin and reminds me of an old Mara Hoffman swimsuit I used to have.
If you want more modesty
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While I don’t often use the word “sophisticated” when thinking about swimwear, that is the best way to describe how I felt in the Surf suit, which features a slightly unusual high-neck silhouette. There was also something quite striking about the black-and-white colorway.
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Confession time: I love to tan. Yes, I know it’s bad for my skin, but we all have our vices. Because of my questionable lifestyle choices, I probably won’t ever opt for a long-sleeve swimsuit, but I still decided to try on the Long Sleeve Surf. You know, for science. The suit was definitely too tight in my arms; I couldn’t even lift them high enough to fully close the zipper. That being said, I did love the overall look of this suit, so if you are someone looking for more UV protection or added modesty, I would just suggest going up a size if you have a fuller arm like myself.
Summersalt Two-Pieces
The bikini version of my all-time favorite …
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Of all the two-pieces I tried on, I liked the Sidestroke bikini the best (shocker, I know). The slightly long-line top fit nicely, but I preferred to pair it with the Wrap bottoms below over the mid-rise ones. For context, I only wear high-waisted bikini bottoms, so the mid-rise ones never really stood a chance.
… and a better-fitting high-rise bikini bottom
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It’s a pretty much perfect bikini bottom in my eyes: comfortable, full coverage, and stays in place.
A more simple set
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This set was a miss for me. The scoop-neck top was too small for my 36DD bust, and I once again could not stand the way the mid-rise bottoms fit. But I do think this set would look great on someone with a less curvy build.
And an option to get in on the tankini trend
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I know we declared itTankini Time, but I’m still getting flashbacks to middle school when I try to wear one. For me, the fit of this set was also slightly off — the top was too loose and the bottoms too low-rise.
More swimsuits I love
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