The Edit
The Best One-Piece Swimsuits for 2026
By The Swim Edit · June 2026
There is a particular kind of confidence that arrives the moment you find the right one-piece — that quiet, unbothered ease of a woman who knows her swimsuit is doing exactly what it should. The maillot has shed its sensible reputation entirely; in 2026 it is the most considered thing you can pack, equally at home on a sun lounger in Comporta as it is half-tucked into linen trousers for lunch. Below, the styles our editors are wearing on repeat, and the brands worth the investment.
The Cult Crinkle: Hunza G
If one swimsuit defines the modern one-piece, it is the Hunza G original — that signature crinkle-stretch fabric engineered to flatter, quite genuinely, every body it meets. The beauty lies in the one-size architecture and the restraint of the design: a clean square neck, a high-cut leg, nothing shouting. It is the piece you will reach for in five summers' time and still feel new.
The Sculpting Maillot: Eres
For those who consider swimwear a wardrobe investment rather than a holiday afterthought, Eres remains the gold standard. The French house cuts its one-pieces from a dense, doubled fabric that smooths and supports without a single seam out of place — the swimwear equivalent of a beautifully tailored coat. Understated, architectural, and worth every pound.
The Riviera Classic: Melissa Odabash
Few names are as synonymous with poolside glamour as Melissa Odabash, and her one-pieces are a masterclass in old-world Riviera polish. Think plunging necklines, gold hardware and clever ruching that does discreet, flattering work — the sort of swimsuit that looks instantly at home against a backdrop of Capri whitewash. Pair it with oversized sunglasses and absolutely nothing else.
The Sun-Bleached Cool: Vitamin A
For a more Californian register — sustainable, sun-faded, effortless — Vitamin A makes the one-piece feel like second nature. Cut from the brand's recycled EcoLux fabric in shades of sand, olive and terracotta, these are the maillots for long, slow days where the only agenda is the tideline. The high-leg silhouettes are particularly good if you want length without fuss.
The Off-Duty Model Favourite: Monday Swimwear
Founded by two women who have spent their working lives in swimwear, Monday Swimwear understands fit in a way few brands do. Their one-pieces are built for actual swimming and genuine confidence — supportive through the bust, beautifully cut at the leg, and offered across an honest range of sizes. The classic black maillot here is the one you will live in from June to September.
The Statement Piece: Zimmermann
And for the holiday that deserves a little theatre, Zimmermann delivers print and romance in equal measure. Whether it is a ruffled one-shoulder maillot or a painterly floral with a sculpted bodice, these are the swimsuits that photograph beautifully and double, quite happily, as a bodysuit beneath a flowing skirt come sundown. More on our favourite statement labels over in the edit.
A Note on Fit and Styling
A one-piece earns its keep when the fit is right, so a few editor's notes: for a longer torso, look to high-cut legs and a deeper neckline, which lengthen the body; if you want bust support, prioritise adjustable or thicker straps over decorative spaghetti ties. Black remains the most versatile investment, but a tonal earth shade — clay, olive, bronze — flatters a tan beautifully and feels quietly current for 2026. Off the sand, the real luxury is in how little you have to add: a linen shirt left open, gold hoops, a raffia tote, and you have a look that carries you from the water straight to lunch. For more, browse our edit of investment swim — the pieces, like the best holidays, that only get better with time.