Swim season is the one time of year when modest shopping gets genuinely hard. A regular bathing suit is out, and so is anything that turns see-through the second it's wet, rides up when you actually swim, or has you fixing a skirt every two minutes at the pool. The good news is that there are far more real options now than there were even a few years ago, from full swim dresses to swim skirts you can move in, plus a few brands that quietly double as activewear. Here are ten stores that do it well, whatever your budget and whichever beach you're headed to.
One of the original names in the category, and they'll happily tell you so. Everything is made in the USA, and the line sticks to the classics that work: swim dresses, skirted capris, zip-front cover-ups, and hair coverings for the water, for women and girls. If you want something proven that you won't think twice about, start here.
Visit Aqua ModestaBuilt around separates, so you pair a top and a bottom instead of committing to one piece. The fabric is chlorine-proof and rated UV 50+, which matters if you're at the pool all summer or chasing kids at the beach. Plus sizes are part of the regular line, not an afterthought — and it's one of the more affordable options here.
Visit HydroChicA Brooklyn brand covering women, teens, and girls, with swim dresses, swim skirts, and full bathing suits, plus swim-friendly activewear for anyone who wants coverage past the water itself. You can outfit a whole family without it stinging.
Visit Undercover WaterwearMarsea leans sporty. Over forty styles, sizes up to 3X, and a catalog that runs past swimwear into rashguards, running skorts, and swim head coverings. If you actually swim laps or want to hike near the water, this is the one to look at.
Visit Marsea ModestCVRGE
CVRGE (say it “coverage”) is the fashion-forward pick, closer to resort wear than to a plain swim skirt. Wrap skirts, bodysuits, and coordinated sets in nicer fabrics — the sort of thing that earns its place on a vacation where you're not only in the pool.
Visit CVRGEA Miami label doing long-sleeve swim tops, swim dresses, skirts, and leggings, all cut for sun protection. One tip if you live in a frum neighborhood: keep an eye out before yom tov, because they run pop-up boutiques out of local shuls and you may get to see it in person before you buy.
Visit Mod SwimwearAn Israeli brand that handles both regular swimwear and maternity swim, which is a genuinely hard pairing to find in one place. Their site is under maintenance at the moment, so check back shortly to see the full collection.
Visit Sea SecretA Florida-based swimwear label at the higher end. One heads-up: the shop is password-protected at the moment, with a note that it's coming back in December, so bookmark it for later rather than this season.
Visit Esther RouimiThe budget and camp pick. Swim skirts, tops, and activewear for kids and adults both, at the lowest prices on this list. If you're packing kids off to sleepaway camp, this is where the whole thing earns its keep.
Visit Kamp KlozA Midwood storefront that works more like an in-person secret than an online shop. Most of the stock never makes it to the website, swimwear included. If you're local, it's worth checking in before you assume something's sold out.
Visit Basic Colors