The Swimwear Edit
The Best Cut-Out One-Piece Swimsuits
By The Swim Edit · June 2026
There is an art to the cut-out swimsuit — a single, knowing slash of bare skin that does the work of an entire bikini while keeping the poise of a one-piece. Done badly, it is a gimmick; done well, by the right house, it becomes the most quietly seductive thing you can wear to a pool. Below, the edit: the labels that understand precisely where to cut, where to hold, and how to make a swimsuit look like a couture decision rather than an afterthought.
Hunza G: The Crinkle That Started It All
No edit of the cut-out one-piece could begin anywhere but Hunza G. That signature seersucker crinkle is the cleverest fabric in swimwear — it stretches to flatter rather than constrain, which means a single side cut-out or a sculptural square neckline reads as deliberate, never strained. The one-size philosophy sounds like hubris until you wear it; few suits make a waist look this knowingly carved. Go for the classic Domino or Nadine in a saturated chocolate or buttercream for a piece that will outlast every trend cycle.
Eres: French Restraint, Architectural Cuts
If Hunza G is the fun of the cut-out, Eres is its intellect. The Parisian house treats a swimsuit like tailoring, and its cut-outs have an austere precision — a sliver at the rib, an asymmetric strap, a back that opens just so. The bonded, lining-free construction means nothing puckers and nothing gapes, which is exactly what you want when the design relies on bare skin lying flat. This is the suit you buy once, in black, and wear for a decade on better beaches.
Vitamin A: Californian Ease, Eco Credentials
For a cut-out that feels sun-warmed rather than studied, Vitamin A is the answer. The Laguna Beach label cuts its silhouettes long and lean, with side and underbust openings that flatter without ever tipping into impractical, and it does the whole thing in recycled, body-sculpting EcoLux fabric. The result is a suit that holds you in, lengthens the torso, and looks as good walking from sea to beach bar as it does in the water — which, frankly, is the entire point.
L*Space: The Twist-Front, Done Right
L*Space has quietly perfected the most wearable cut-out of all: the twisted or knotted front, which carves a flattering keyhole at the midriff while drawing the eye exactly where you want it. Its suits balance a low scoop back and high-cut leg — leg-lengthening, bottom-flattering — with enough structure through the bust to feel secure. Reach for the Wild Tanlines or Phoebe styles in a sorbet shade; they photograph beautifully, which is no small thing for the Pinterest-bound.
Zimmermann: The Cut-Out, Elevated
When the occasion calls for something with a little drama, Zimmermann obliges. The Australian house brings a touch of the romantic to swimwear — sculptural ring-linked cut-outs, gathered detailing, prints that belong on a yacht off Capri. These are statement suits, designed to be seen poolside in oversized sunglasses with a kaftan thrown over one shoulder. Worth it for the holiday where you genuinely intend to be photographed.
Melissa Odabash: Glamour for the Curvier Frame
For those who want a cut-out with genuine support behind it, Melissa Odabash is the grown-up choice. The British designer builds in underwiring, ruching and clever panelling, so a plunging or side-cut silhouette stays both secure and supremely flattering on a fuller bust. The signature gold hardware gives even a black suit a jewellery-like polish — this is St Tropez glamour, engineered to actually stay put. A reliable hero of the edit for good reason.
How to Choose & Style Your Cut-Out
The cardinal rule: let the cut-out be the only thing happening. A bold side or midriff opening wants a clean, solid colour and minimal hardware so the silhouette does the talking. If you're fuller-busted, prioritise houses that combine openings with real internal structure — underwiring or a thick supportive band — and keep the cut-outs to the waist and back rather than the bust line. To lengthen the torso, choose a single asymmetric cut-out over several scattered ones, and pair a high-cut leg with the opening to draw one long, uninterrupted line.
Off the sand, a cut-out one-piece is a genuine bodysuit in disguise. Slip it under a pair of wide-leg linen trousers or a sheer sarong skirt, add flat gold sandals and a basket bag, and you have an entire evening look from a single swimsuit — which is exactly the sort of quiet efficiency the best pieces in our edit are made for.