It's finally summer and with that comes family barbecues, school holidays and, inevitably, trips to the beach. Cue the frantic department store run to find a good swimsuit that will ensure we look and feel our best.
If you're not feeling all that confident at the moment, no stress. You no longer have to do the dreaded in-person shopping experience for swimwear, because online brands have you covered with the best tummy control swimwear that'll cinch in your waist, and accentuate your body shape in all its beauty.
So, how does tummy control swimwear work exactly? And what makes them different to normal swimsuits? Well, tummy control swimwear is a type of shapewear that comfortably compresses the stomach and waist to create a seamless smooth figure.
Like shapewear swimsuits, these tummy control pieces usually have a mesh panel across the belly that creates a streamlined silhouette. And, there's enough tummy control swimwear on the market to make anyone feel like a brand new person. After trying on our top picks, you'll be ready to rock your summer body on beaches and beyond.
Closer's best tummy control swimwear at a glance:
Best highly tummy control swimwear: Cupshe Women's One Piece Tummy Control Swimsuit, £29.99 on Amazon
Best bestselling tummy control swimwear: Tummy Control Ruched Plunge Swimsuit, £32.50 on Marks and Spencer
Best waist defining tummy control swimwear: Pour Moi High Line Striped V-Neck Swimsuit, £39 on Marks and Spencer
Best budget tummy control swimwear: Black Tummy Control Wrap Front Swimsuit, £16.80 on Matalan
So, get ready to sunbathe or have a cheeky swim on your upcoming vacation in style, with these nine tummy control swimsuits that actually look good. Yes - no boring swimsuits with one colour or leg cuts that even your grandma would call prude. Our fashion experts at Closer have got you covered.
How we chose the best tummy control swimwear:
At Closer, we selected the best tummy control swimwear taking budget, design, customer reviews and serious compression power into consideration. We considered a variety of price points, reviewer recommendations, and stylish, figure-flattering designs that tick all of the boxes when you're looking for a tummy control piece - more namely, ruching, control panels, and cleverly placed contouring seams.
SHOP: 9 best tummy control swimwear UK
Best highly rated tummy control swimwear
CupsheAs one of the highest rated swimwear on Amazon, we just had to include this Cupshe One Piece Tummy Control Swimsuit. Thousands of reviewers had their confidence restored with its flattering design and level of support with light tummy control and ruching around the midriff. With a deep plunge neckline and ruffled details, we love that there are also endless colours to choose from.
Pros
- We love the fact there are 29 designs to choose from
- Reviewers loved how figure flattering it was
- Has a supportive bust despite being plunge neckline
Cons
- Plunging neckline may be too low for everyone's tastes
| Sizes: | XS - XXL |
| Material: | 80% Chinlon, 20% Spandex |
| Colours: | 29 colours and designs |
Best bestselling tummy control swimwear
Marks & Spencerwww.marksandspencer.com
Did you know Marks & Spencer sells a tummy control swimsuit every two minutes? This Tummy Control Ruched Plunge Swimsuit is the site bestseller, coming in black, navy and lime green. We love the inclusive range of sizes and the Magic 360 Tummy Control technology that really pulls you in. One reviewer described it as having 'the right amount of control', allowing you to feel comfortable but never resricted.
Pros
- Has built-in Magic 360 Tummy Control technology to sculpt your figure
- Comes with Sun Smart UPF50+ to protect against UV rays
- We love its inclusive range of sizes
Cons
- Has a high leg cut which some may not prefer
| Sizes: | UK8 - UK24, regular and long |
| Material: | Body: 83% polyester, 17% elastane (exclusive of trimmings). Gusset: 100% polyester. Mesh: 87% polyamide, 13% elastane. Padding:100% polyurethane |
| Colours: | Black, navy, lime |
Best waist defining tummy control swimwear
Marks & Spencerwww.marksandspencer.com
Cleverly positioned stripes and block colours draw your eye in to the waist, making the Pour Moi High Line Striped V-Neck Swimsuit fabulous shape enhancing tummy control swimwear. This swimsuit really helps to add some definition to your waist. One reviewer revealed, 'Looks really stylish and helps to shape and sculpt - especially around the stomach area,' which is everything we could ever want from tummy control swimwear. Result.
Pros
- We love the flattering stripe pattern and solid block colour around the waist
- Reviewers loved its sculpting abilities around the tummy
- Has a built-in control panel around the midriff
Cons
- May need to go up a size according to reviews
| Sizes: | UK8 - UK16 |
| Material: | 80% nylon, 15% elastane and 5% polyester |
| Colours: | Black and white stripe, navy and white stripe |
Best budget tummy control swimwear
matalanwww.matalan.co.uk
The most affordable option on our list - sometimes you can't get better than a black swimsuit. It's simple, sultry and stunning. The Black Tummy Control Wrap Front Swimsuit from Matalan is designed with clever shapewear technology, and ruched tummy control panelling streamlining your figure. Reviewers praised its flattering tummy control and ruching detail, as well as the shape and support around the bust.
Pros
- A fantastic budget option, the cheapest on our list
- We love the supportive wrap-over bust detail
- Comes in a range of inclusive sizes
Cons
- May come up short on taller women
| Sizes: | UK10 - UK22 |
| Material: | Shell: 87% Polyamide 13% Elastane. Lining Soft Cups: 100% Polyester. Mesh Lining: 90% Polyamide 10% Elastane |
| Colours: | Black |
Editor's choice
JD Williamswww.jdwilliams.co.uk
We absolutely love the Magisculpt Illusion Swimsuit, which is why we've awarded it as our editor's choice. We're predicting that animal print is going to be big this summer, so this zebra print design is very on trend, and therefore, very popular at JD Williams. Not only does it offer an inclusive range of sizes, but its firm level of control is exactly what we're looking for in a tummy control swimsuit. We have high hopes for this piece of stylish swimwear.
Pros
- We love its on-trend zebra print design
- Has an inclusive range of sizes up to a UK32
- Offers a firm level of control
Cons
- The high cut leg may not be to everyone's tastes
| Sizes: | UK10 - UK32 |
| Materials: | Body: 82% Polyamide 18% Elastane. Lining: 100% Polyester Powernet, 85%. Polyamide 15% Elastane |
| Colours: | Zebra print |
Best wrap tummy control swimwear
John Lewiswww.johnlewis.com
Another bestselling option? Reader, you're in for a treat. The Popcorn Apex Wrap Swimsuit from John Lewis is a simple, understated, practical design that looks chic too. Its clever wrap design around the tummy gives it such a flattering shape, providing medium control. One reviewer went as far to say it's 'the most perfect design ever'. So, no wonder everyone's snapping this up at the minute.
Pros
- We love its flattering ruching around the tummy
- Reviewers loved the design, comfort, fit and adjustability - it ticks all the boxes
- Offers a medium level of control
Cons
- May minimise the bust rather than accentuate it
| Sizes: | UK8 - UK18 |
| Material: | 86% polyamide, 14% elastane |
| Colours: | Navy |
Best plus size tummy control
AmazonIf you're looking for the best plus size swimwear, look no further. Aqua Eve's bathing suits on Amazon are ridiculously stylish, stocking sizes to a UK26. We're in love with this leopard print design that looks much more expensive than it is. A reviewer commented that this bathing suit made them feel confident and comfortable with its flattering design, and we love to see it. It comes with asymmetric neckline with gorgeous ruffle detail that adds a touch of style.
Pros
- We love the fact there are 22 designs to choose from
- Reviewers loved how comfortable it was to wear
- Has a light level of compression around the midsection according to a reviewer
Cons
- Little level of bust support according to reviews
| Sizes: | UKM - UK26 |
| Material: | 82% Nylon, 18% Elastane |
| Colours: | 22 designs and colours |
Best bandeau tummy control swimwear
JD Williamswww.jdwilliams.co.uk
Go for a bandeau style with Magisculpt's Bandeau Tummy Control Swimsuit. Featuring a twist front detail and padded cups, you'll look like a total bombshell in this swimsuit. We love how supportive the cups are around the bust, and that you can wear the detachable straps if you choose to as well. Bandeau for lounging and straps for swimming? Totally. It features a stunning black and white print that'll get you ready for your holiday, as well as powermesh lining around the tummy for support.
Pros
- Has smoothing tummy control with a powermesh lining
- Features inner moulded and padded cups for bust support
- Comes with detachable straps for versatile wear
Cons
- Cut out back may not be to everyone's liking
| Sizes: | 34C - 44DD |
| Material: | 85% Polyamide 15% Elastane Lining: 100% Polyester Powernet: 85% Polyamide 15% Elastane |
| Colours: | Black and white leaf print |
Best shaping tummy control swimwear
H&Mwww2.hm.com
Finally, there's H&M's Shaping Swimsuit with hundreds of glowing reviews. According to one reviewer, it won't disappoint. This sculpting swimsuit has a shaping effect around the waist due to its compression fit, with a customer claiming 'it holds you in, in all the right places'. It also comes in a sultry, classic black which will have your confidence practically skyrocketing this summer.
Pros
- Has an extra-tight fit that has a shaping effect on the waist
- Reviewers loved its flattering fit and how confident it made them feel
- Comes in a range of inclusive sizes
Cons
- May need to go up a size according to reviews
| Sizes: | UK6 - UK22 |
| Material: | Shell: Polyamide 82%, Elastane 18%. Lining: Polyester 88%, Elastane 12% |
| Colours: | Green and white striped, black |
FAQs
What does tummy control swimsuit do?
Just as you'd expect, the beauty of tummy control is that it gives your midsection extra support and shaping to help you feel your most comfortable, as well as being seriously flattering. The built-in shapewear panels typically feature a firm fabric like spandex or Lycra to really help smooth out your tummy. You can also find some swimsuits with ruching and strategic seams that help accentuate your waist for a contoured shape.
What is a shapewear swimsuit, and how does it work?
A shapewear swimsuit is a specialised type of swimwear designed to provide extra support and shaping to the body while you're at the beach or by the pool. It typically features compression fabrics and strategically placed panels to target specific areas like the tummy, just like tummy control shapewear.
These swimsuits work by gently compressing and smoothing out certain areas, creating a slimmer and more contoured appearance. Some also have built-in underwire or padding for additional support and shaping of the bust. Strapless shapewear is (as you can imagine) shapewear without the straps - which is an alternate option that you might prefer.
What features should I look for in tummy control swimwear?
When looking for tummy control swimwear, you want it to actually get the job done. But what are the features that tick all of the boxes? Tummy control panels are, obviously, an excellent place to start. These are often made from spandex, Lycra or layered powermesh that give the swimwear its shaping abilities.
Other features include cleverly positioned ruching or contouring seams to flatter areas around the stomach, with some seams also offering a level of support. A good indicator of whether the tummy control swimwear you're looking at works or not is taking to reviews to see what customers had to say.
Where else can I buy shapewear swimwear?
As well as the options on our list, there are a wide array of SKIMS dupes and Spanx dupes out there, because who doesn't love a cheaper alternative?
But, celebs have also jumped on the trend to bring their expertise to the subject with the real deal. For example, Kim K has released a SKIMS swimwear collection - and we may or may not be slightly obsessed. The sought-after collection includes swimsuits, bikinis and coverups, with some of the swimwear pieces featuring the famous SKIMS contouring that we all know and love.
Ruby Barry is a Product Writer for Closer, specialising in fashion and beauty. The team has nicknamed her “dupe queen”, as there’s not a product in the world she can’t find a cheaper alternative for.