The Best High-Leg Swimsuits

There is a particular sort of magic to the high-leg swimsuit. Cut high at the hip and clean across the thigh, it does the optical work of a pair of heels without anyone being any the wiser — legs appear longer, waists narrower, the whole silhouette quietly elongated. It is the cut the off-duty models reach for, the one that has been on every Riviera deck and Tulum rooftop for the better part of a decade now, and it shows no sign of stepping aside. If the maillot is the little black dress of swimwear, the high-leg is its most flattering tailoring.

The trouble, of course, is that "high-leg" covers a great deal of ground — from the barely-there French cut to the sculptural, almost architectural designs that wouldn't look out of place on a Helmut Newton set. Below, the pieces we keep coming back to: the brands that understand fit, fabric and the fine art of looking effortless while doing absolutely nothing. Consider it your shortcut to the only swimsuit you'll actually want to be photographed in.

Hunza G — The Cult Crinkle That Fits Everyone

No edit of high-leg swimsuits begins anywhere but here. Hunza G's seersucker crinkle fabric is the great equaliser of swimwear — it stretches to flatter sizes 6 through 14 in a single, one-size piece, which means it skims rather than grips and forgives a multitude of holiday lunches. The high-leg styles, in particular, are quietly genius: that signature textured fabric holds its shape, while the elevated cut at the hip lengthens the leg without veering into anything brazen. The retro-tinged colour palette — butter yellow, faded rose, a very good chocolate brown — only adds to the appeal. Buy one and you'll understand why there's a waitlist. Shop Hunza G

Frankies Bikinis — High-Leg With a Little Drama

For those who like a touch of theatre with their tan lines, Frankies Bikinis is the obvious port of call. The California label has built its name on swimwear that feels a little bit rock-and-roll — think lace-up backs, daring scoops and the sort of high-cut leg that turns a simple one-piece into a statement. The fits run cheeky and confident, so this is the one to pack for the trip where you intend to be seen. Their ribbed and textured one-pieces in particular ride that line between playful and polished beautifully. Shop Frankies Bikinis

Vitamin A — Sustainable Sculpting in Earthy Tones

Vitamin A is what you wear when you want to look expensive and feel virtuous about it. The label works almost exclusively in EcoLux, a recycled compression fabric that genuinely holds you in — meaning their high-leg maillots offer a subtle sculpting effect rather than relying on cut alone. The aesthetic leans Californian-bohemian, all warm neutrals, terracotta and sun-bleached olive, which photographs beautifully against any shade of sea. These are the swimsuits that look quietly luxurious without trying, and they wear for seasons. Shop Vitamin A

Melissa Odabash — The Grown-Up Glamour Choice

If your holiday wardrobe tends towards the Capri-by-way-of-Cannes school of dressing, Melissa Odabash is your woman. The British designer is the reigning queen of resort glamour, and her high-leg one-pieces come with the structure and support that the more minimalist labels sometimes forgo — proper cups, considered tailoring, a finish that takes you straight from the lounger to a chilled glass of something at the beach club. Plunging necklines and gold hardware feel grown-up rather than gaudy. This is high-leg for those who like a little polish. Shop Melissa Odabash

Monday Swimwear — The Founder-Tested Flatterer

Founded by the women behind some of the most-screenshotted swimwear imagery on the internet, Monday Swimwear designs with one obsessive aim: to be the most flattering swim a body can wear. Every piece is fit-tested across a range of shapes before it ever reaches you, and it shows. The high-leg one-pieces are clean, confident and beautifully constructed, in a palette of timeless solids — ivory, black, a perfect tan — that will outlast any trend cycle. If you want a high-leg you'll still be reaching for in five summers, start here. Shop Monday Swimwear

L*Space & Tori Praver — The Effortless Californians

Rounding out the edit, two labels for the woman who wants high-leg swimwear that feels as easy as it looks. L*Space is the master of the ribbed, sun-faded one-piece — relaxed, a little surf-girl, endlessly wearable, and reliably good on the high-cut leg. Tori Praver, meanwhile, brings a softer, more romantic hand: vintage-inspired silhouettes, dreamy prints and a Hawaiian ease that suits anyone who'd rather look like they fell into something gorgeous than agonised over it. Between them, they cover every kind of laid-back glamour. Shop Shop L*Space for the everyday, or Shop Tori Praver for something with a little more romance.

How to Wear It: Fit & Styling Notes

A few words on getting it right. The most flattering high-leg sits a couple of inches above the natural hip bone — high enough to lengthen the leg, but not so severe that it becomes the only thing anyone can see. If you're petite, lean into it: the higher cut adds the most visual length to a shorter frame. Curvier figures will want a little more support through the bust and a fabric with genuine give, which is where Vitamin A's compression and Hunza G's stretch crinkle earn their keep. As for styling, the high-leg swimsuit moonlights beautifully as a bodysuit — slung under a pair of wide-leg linen trousers or a sheer kaftan, with gold hoops and a slick of sun cream, it carries you from the water to lunch without a change of clothes. For more of where this came from, browse the edit, and if it's the crinkle you're after, our full guide to Hunza G is the natural next stop. The right one-piece, after all, is the only holiday packing decision worth labouring over.