The Best Swimwear for an Athletic Body

Let's be clear about one thing: an athletic body is not a problem to be solved. Strong shoulders, a defined waist, powerful legs — this is the figure half the internet pays a personal trainer to chase. If you've built it (or were lucky enough to be born with it), the goal of swimwear isn't to hide a single thing. It's to soften the straight lines, introduce a little curve, and let your physique read as sculpted rather than squared-off. The trick is knowing which details add roundness where you want it and which simply amplify the very angles you're trying to balance. Here's exactly how to do it.

Ruffles & Frills: Your Softness Toolkit

If there is one styling weapon made for the athletic frame, it is the ruffle. Where a muscular build creates clean, horizontal lines, a frill does the opposite — it flutters, it gathers, it suggests volume where there is none. A tiered ruffle across the bust adds gentle dimension to a flatter chest, while a frill along the hip creates the optical illusion of a fuller curve. Nobody does this better than Frankies Bikinis, whose entire signature is romantic, ruffled, unapologetically feminine swimwear that drapes softness over strength. Shop Frankies Bikinis for the off-shoulder, frilled styles that do the heavy lifting for you.

High-Cut Bottoms for an Endless Leg-Line

Athletic legs are an asset, so play to them. A high-cut bottom — the leg opening sitting up nearer the hip bone — lengthens the leg dramatically and nips the waist in at the same time, creating the curve an angular figure can lack. The effect is leggy, confident and faintly retro. L*Space and Vitamin A both cut a beautifully flattering high leg that flatters strong thighs rather than fighting them. For more on getting the waistline right, see our high-waisted bikini guide. Shop Vitamin A.

Halter vs. Balance: Dressing the Shoulders

Broad shoulders are the great debate of athletic dressing, and the answer is more nuanced than "avoid the halter." A halter neck draws the eye upward and inward, which can narrow the visual width of the shoulders beautifully — provided the straps converge at the centre rather than pulling wide. What you want to sidestep are bold, thick horizontal straps that run straight across and emphasise breadth. A scooped or plunge neckline opens the chest and softens the upper body, while a delicate, adjustable strap keeps proportions in your control. Acacia does the barely-there strap exceptionally well. Shop Acacia.

Prints & Embellishment: Borrowing Curves

Where the body reads as straight, print and texture can imply roundness. A diagonal print, a swirling floral or a curved colour-block all carry the eye along soft lines rather than rigid ones, gently undoing the angularity of a sporty frame. Embellishment works the same magic — a beaded trim, a shell detail or a knotted tie adds three-dimensional interest that distracts from a flat plane. Tori Praver is the queen of the dreamy, painterly print, and her pieces wrap an athletic figure in movement. Pair this thinking with our notes on the best bikinis for curves. Shop Tori Praver.

The Cut-Out One-Piece

If the bikini doesn't call to you, the cut-out one-piece is the athletic body's secret weapon. Strategic side or waist cut-outs carve a defined hourglass into a straighter torso, conjuring a curve that pure fabric never could. The maillot frames your strong midsection while the openings introduce the very softness and shape you're after. Hunza G and its famous crinkle fabric clings and sculpts, hugging every line you've worked for while its stretch flatters universally. Shop Hunza G for a one-and-done piece that earns its place in every kit bag.

Fit Advice: Getting It Right

A few non-negotiables. Buy for your broadest measurement and have the rest taken in if needed — a strap that digs into a strong shoulder will ruin even the prettiest top. Look for genuine stretch and a four-way fabric that moves with muscle rather than straining against it, and always size the band for support, not compression. If a style gapes at the bust, a balconette or moulded cup will sit closer than a triangle. And if you're still narrowing down your shape, our guide on how to choose a bikini for your body type is the place to begin. The bottom line? You have the figure. Choose the details that add the softness, and then go and own every inch of it.