Majority of us have had trouble when it comes to finding the perfect swimsuit with high-level support. But we’ve never thought of wearing a bra under the bathing suits.

On thinking about support when wearing a swimsuit, my mind drifts to bikinis that are well sculpted and shelf bras. Majority of us have never considered putting on the regular bra under the swimsuits. Nevertheless, a majority of us would understand if you ever felt you the need to wear one.

Currently, you can get several swimsuits in the market with a design that would offer maximum support for the breasts. Sometimes, you’ll come across an old relic from the past, and you can’t afford to lose it since it has a great fit, but could use some oomph around the breasts area.

Not only the plus size desire the oomph. Victoria’s Secret got a dismissal for getting their models to put on push up bras under the swimsuits for their photoshoots.

And they certainly are onto something. You can only get that Victoria’s Secret look without having to wear a bra only if your breasts are naturally self-supporting, or if your breasts are augmented. Otherwise, it’s almost impossible to achieve that look.  It begs the question: What does a woman with big breasts to do to attain that perkiness in a swimwear?

Let’s talk about the Swim Bra;

The Swim Bra come about in 2011, being Comfort Choice’s creation. The idea that led to the invention of the swim bra is to come up with a malfunction bra that women could wear under a swimsuit made in any design while offering support for cup sizes C to G and band sizes from 38 up to 54. The bras had removable straps in two sets. One of the straps was clear, and the other one was either nude or black to provide subtle support.

This bra was made using a quick-dry spandex or nylon blend. It also features an underwire and foam cups which were said to be invisible underneath any swimsuit.

Unfortunately, the majority of us got to discover the swim bra in 2018, which comes off a little late. You can get the evidence of the existence of the bra from some old blogs, PR communiques, and some links that broke in 2013. Sadly, it looks like its disappearance had no trace. People still try to search for it online, and the number is vast, meaning that a lot of us are looking for it.

So, what exactly made the swim bra disappear? I was reaching out to any Comfort Choice’s spokesperson concerning this question. They didn’t quite offer a satisfactory answer, but they said they would produce swim tops in the size of regular bras.

What to Do If You Want a Bra to Wear Under a Bathing Suit

If you search for swim bras, you’ll get several current results. The term is still finding its way around. However, the meaning might not be the same. Instead of literal bras, which you can wear under any swimsuits, swim bras are now any bikini-style top with inbuilt support as of a regular bra. The difference between a swim bra and a regular bra is the fabric, and that one has a design you can wear outdoors while the other is meant to be an innerwear.

Is Wearing a Regular Bra Under a Bathing Suit Recommendable?

Not really. The bras you wear on the regular are not to come in contact with chlorine and salty water. Some synthetic materials are likely to get old poorly when you use them as swimsuits and might ruin the bra in the long run.

Aesthetically, the sell is tough. The majority of these bras don’t appear seamless under the bathing suits; therefore, the bra will be visible. Unless you want people to see the bra, then this is not the perfect solution.

Also, it will appear too much hardware for a beach setting. The weather is already sunny and hot, and no one would want to add some extra layer of clothes to what they are wearing.

Other Plus Size Swimwear with Underwire Bra Support

The shelf bra has to be the most common form of support when it comes to bathing suits. The shelf-bra is an in-built component that helps keep the breasts in place with the help of an elastic which sits underneath the breast line.

Some time back, my dislike for shelf-bras got worse. For someone who wears a cup D+, you probably might have been avoiding these shelf bras, since they rarely provide any support.

But times change. Women with big busts should be wary of clothes that have shelf bras, and you might want to try it on first before purchasing. However, you will notice some improvements.

It will take you by surprise when you take the plunge and buy Freya Active Swimsuit. Even for F or G cups, it provides high-level support and keeps the breasts in place quite well, and this will boost your confidence as you walk around the pool or when you wear it on the beach. Freya is not an only exception. Currently, shelf bras are coming out better.

Below are some of the most common swimsuit styles and the support level they offer:

The Stylish One-Piece

One-piece swimsuits provide enough coverage and support. Additionally, it can give tummy control, but this would depend on the design of the swimwear. You can only achieve high-level support when you wear a swimsuit that has a bra-like structure and also has an underwire.

Miraclesuit’s Solid Madero Underwire One-Piece Swimsuit will thrill you. The material that crisscrosses on the torso makes slimmer lines and also has a beautiful sheer panel. The cups have a seamless underwire and do not have a lining. They went an extra mile to add slings on the inside which come in handy to give shape to the breasts while keeping them at the front. This swimsuit has a plus size alternative that goes to 24W.

Athletic One-Piece

Even today, any plus size woman will have trouble finding a swimsuit in athletic style. But you can trust Australian companies to come up with solid swimsuits! This piece will be to go bra when you want to put in a few laps at the pool. It may not aww a lot of people, but it will surely offer you high-level support as you swim.

Speedo’s Premiere Ultimate Sports Swimsuit is a rare one-piece athletic swimsuit in the market that has an underwire. The swimsuit does accommodate all breast sizes up to K, and is available in band sizes up to 38, and it can also fall under the category of long-torso swimsuits.

Standard Bikini Top

When it comes to coverage, this bikini offers the least. It falls under the swimwear style where you’ll get a broad range offering several cup sizes options that accommodate bigger chests. If you prefer staple neutral tops or patterns, you can easily match with neutral pants, and you can choose to match the bikini tops as it will go a long way when it comes to the style of either two or one-pieces.

The Elomi Indie Plunge is available in standard and also full figure version, offers band sizes from 34 up to 44, and cup sizes DD to H.

Bandeau Bathing Suit

Panache’s Anya Bandeau Bikini is available in several colors and comes in different styles. This cup size alternative comes with two detachable straps, in case you require an extra boost in terms of support.

Multiway Bikini Top

The list is not complete without mentioning Freya. Freya Deco Multi-Way Bandeau Bikini Top is available up to a 38FF and features a similar Deco Cup which their bras have. When you are spending a considerable sum of money on getting a swimsuit, flexibility and versatility are paramount. The bra has scarf ties that let you style the top in different ways.

Halter

Swimsuits with halter tops are available in a Tankini, bikini, and one-piece swimsuits. You can get those with underwires while some are underwire free. The middle pull of the straps provides extra lift, therefore making it an ideal choice when you want support especially if you prefer underwire free swimsuits. The best halter style alternative has to be Diva Twist Front Bikini, and it offers support using the foam cups, sturdy boning on the sides, and the power mesh.

The Tankini

The Tankini provides the versatility of bikinis with a one-piece coverage, giving you an alternative of matching tops and pants as you desire. Freya Sundance Tankini Top is available in festive colors, and it does showcase a part of this year’s trends – the crochet swimsuit. Its straps are semi-convertible. They are fastened at the front, but you can change them to the crisscross pattern at the back for more support.

Longline Bikini

The Longline bikini lies between a tankini and a bikini. And similar to longline bras, the bikini tops provide more support and coverage thanks to its broader band. Lepel’s Paradise Longline Halter Bikini Top brings in a splash of color owing to the floral pattern which would look appealing on any skin.

No Need of Wearing a Bra Under a Swimsuit

Even if you have large twins, you wouldn’t need to wear a bra under the swimsuit. Currently, you can get a swimsuit that will support your breasts perfectly well, and boost your confidence while at it.

You can’t exhaust all the above options, and you will still come across other options as well, depending on what exactly you want in a swimsuit. It was a little challenging since the possibilities are so many.

If you just began looking for a cup-size swimsuit, and the thought in itself is overwhelming, I would recommend the bra brands you love or already have in your collection. Panache, Freya, Elomi, Prima Donna, and Fantasie produce these swimwears.

Remember to check on the following when looking for support in a swimsuit:

1. Wide Straps
2. Wide Band
3. Adjustable Straps
4. Underwire
5. Side Support – It should be high on the breasts part and structure
6. Material – Factor it the bras ability to stretch