The Swim Edit \u2014 Fit Guide
The Best Underwire & Supportive Swimsuits
By The Swim Edit · June 2026
There is a particular kind of liberation that arrives the moment you stop holding your breath at the water's edge. A swimsuit that genuinely supports you — underwired, structured, considered — is not a compromise; it is the difference between watching the afternoon and living in it. We have spent years testing the houses that engineer for a fuller bust without ever sacrificing the glamour, and these are the names worth your money.
Panache — The Specialist's Specialist
If your priority is unshakeable support above DD, Panache is where the conversation begins and, often, ends. The British label builds its swimwear like fine lingerie — moulded cups, properly graded underwires, three-and-four-hook backs — yet finishes them with prints that look thoroughly resort, not remedial. The Anya and Marina silhouettes have a devoted following for good reason: they hold without flattening, and they go up to a J cup.
Bravissimo — Bra-Sized Swimwear, Done Properly
The genius of Bravissimo is that it sells swimwear the way a good lingerie boutique sells bras: by cup and band, not by a vague S-M-L. That means a true fit through the bust and a torso that doesn't gape — the two failures that send most of us back to the changing room in despair. Expect tankinis that flatter, balconette one-pieces with serious lift, and an inclusive size range that runs deep.
Pour Moi — Structured Glamour, Sensibly Priced
Pour Moi has quietly become the go-to for women who want underwired support and a bit of drama at a price that doesn't require negotiation. The cups are firmly constructed, the prints are confident, and the brand's plunge and balcony shapes deliver cleavage and security in equal measure. It is, in short, the swimsuit equivalent of a beautifully cut blazer — does the work, looks the part.
Figleaves — The Edit, Curated
Think of Figleaves as the destination rather than the designer — a maison of fit-led labels gathered in one place, with a house line that punches well above its price. It is the smartest way to compare an underwired bandeau against a halter-neck one-piece in your exact cup size, and the place we send anyone who knows they need support but isn't yet sure which architecture suits them. Browse it alongside the edit for the full picture.
Seafolly — Antipodean Polish with a Backbone
For the woman who wants support without the structural look, Seafolly is the answer. The Australian house builds soft moulded cups, hidden underwires and adjustable, properly engineered straps into one-pieces that read as pure poolside elegance. Its DD-cup range is a thing of beauty — sculpted, lifted, and finished in the kind of saturated colour that looks devastating against a tan.
Melissa Odabash — The Luxury Sculpt
When the occasion calls for something more than support — when it calls for sculpture — Melissa Odabash delivers. The label is beloved by editors and a certain kind of well-travelled woman for its firm, figure-skimming jersey and beautifully placed boning that lifts and smooths in a single, seamless gesture. Pair one with a textured maillot from Hunza G on the days you want crinkle rather than structure, and you have a complete holiday wardrobe.
How to Get the Fit Right
Three rules will save you. First, fit the band, not the cup, to your ribcage — it should sit firm and level, never riding up at the back, because the band does the heavy lifting, not the straps. Second, scoop and settle: lean forward when you put it on so the bust sits fully into the cup, and check for any spillage or gaping before you commit. Finally, look for adjustable straps, a multi-hook back and moulded or boned cups if you're above a D — these are the small engineering details that separate a swimsuit you tolerate from one you forget you're wearing. Buy the support, then let the print do the talking.