As the temperatures start hotting up, you may be thinking about upgrading your summer swimwear. Less restrictive than a swimsuit but more covered up than a bikini, a tankini could be the one for you.
What is a tankini?
Tankinis were made popular in the 90s and have been a hit ever since. The top is described as a tank top (hence the name!), and it'll come with a matching bikini brief to go with. The trends have evolved now, and you have so many options; strapless styles, halternecks, shorts and even tummy control. There is also a large selection for fuller-busted ladies.
Keep scrolling for our top picks for summer 2023. Though we haven’t personally tried on all of these styles, we’ve trawled the web looking for the top-rated, most flattering styles using our shopping expertise.
Why are tankinis better than bikinis or swimsuits?
Tankinis have so many benefits! HELLO! Online’s Senior Lifestyle Editor Karen Silas says: “Tankinis are great because they combine the comfort and flattering coverage of a one-piece with the fun and versatility of a bikini. No awkward wriggling out of it when you have to change (or go to the loo!), and you can just throw on a sarong or linen trousers for a poolside or boardwalk-ready daytime look. You can also have fun with your tankinis, by mixing and matching tops and bottoms - just like you can with a bikini - for limitless styling choices.”
How we chose the best tankini sets
- Style And Fit: We searched high and low for the tankinis that were flattering, stylish and in a variety of different prints, colours and styles to suit all tastes
- Reviews: Though we haven’t personally tried on or tested all of these tankinis ourselves, we’re confident in our recommendations as we chose the ones with high volume of positive reviews, which gave the tankinis the thumbs up for quality, style, fit and other factors.
- Fabric: All the tankinis in our guide are made with good quality fabric - where possible, quick drying and chlorine resistant too.
- Price: We chose tankinis with a competitive price point without sacrificing on quality.
M&S Collection Tummy Control Padded Bandeau Tankini Top And High Waisted Bottoms
This tankini scores well for being comfortable and fitting well, plus the navy colour means you can pair it with a range of different colour bikini bottoms. You can also remove the straps to make it strapless. Shoppers have noted that it runs really small, however, so you may want to order a size up from your usual size.
Fatface Breton Tankini Top And Matching Bottoms
If Princess Kate needed a tankini, we’d point her towards Fatface’s offering - which features her beloved Breton stripes! It’s cute, flattering and offers good support. It stays up well without the adjustable shoulder straps too. This one runs true to size, and it’s made from quick-drying fabric.
Pour Moi Palermo Underwired Non-Padded Tankini Top and Matching Bottoms
Editors note: “The quality of this tankini is great. The material is sturdy, the fit is great and after a few months wear and washes it still looks brand new. The top is very flattering and I’m in love with the vibrant print. All the rest of my swimwear is monochrome so this feels like a welcome departure into the world of colour.”
Pour Moi’s new season tankini is non-padded but underwired with adjustable straps and a pretty bow detail at the centre front. The fabric is 80% Polyamide and 20% Elastane.
John Lewis St Tropez Seersucker Stripe Tie Front Tankini Top And Matching Bottoms
A John Lewis bestseller with glowing reviews, this striped tankini set scores big with shoppers for comfort and fit. It washes well and dries quickly, and looks lovely with a tan. It’s especially loved because it’s quite long in the body and doesn’t roll up like some tankinis do.
M&S Fantasie Ottawa Wired Padded Tankini Top And Matching Bottoms
Fuller-busted ladies may want to go for this wired padded tankini, which is available in black and navy. It has padded foam cups, underwiring and adjustable straps for the best fit and shaping. The twist front detailing and tummy control create a nice silhouette. The all-over texture creates and side finishings are nice final touches. Shoppers do say it tends to run big, so keep that in mind when ordering.
Mountain Warehouse Ocean Notion Tankini Top And Matching Bottoms
Editors note: “I’m absolutely in love with this tankini set - I always get compliments on it every time I wear it. The material is super soft and it’s really comfortable to wear, and the halter neck design is really flattering. The print is super chic too. All-in-all, a massive thumbs up.”
Removable cups and long lasting, stretchy chlorine resistant fabric are some of the plus points of Mountain Warehouse’s popular Ocean Notion tankini set. The matchini bikini bottoms feature a super wide waistband and are made of the same quick-drying fabric.
Very Yours Aruba Floral A-Line Tankini Top - Red
This curve tankini top is available in sizes 14 to 28 and has a beautiful Bardot neckline with removable, adjustable straps. It has built-in full bust support with stitched-in padding and the great thing is that it’s made from a chlorine-resistant quick-drying fabric. Note that is a top only, but you can pair with bottoms of your choice - red, blue or black would all go well with it.
John Lewis Tangier Ikat Tie Front Tankini Top And Matching Bottoms
A pretty halter neck tankini with a flattering front tie, adjustable, halterneck side tie straps which give great shape and support and removable padded bust cups. It is hand wash only though, so be warned that you can't throw this one in the washing machine.
Boden Levanzo Halter Tankini Top And Matching Bottoms
Halter neck is such a flattering style for all body types -and it doesn’t get much chicer than this black Boden tankini! (Though it’s available in a number of different colourways if you’re after something a bit brighter. The top is on the shorter side, though, so it might not be the one if you like a bit of overlap between the top and the bottoms.
Pour Moi Pacific Beach Lightly Padded Underwired Tankini Top And Matching Bottoms
Definite J-Lo vibes from this Pour Moi tankini (remember her iconic D&G Palm tree dress?) It’s a Pour Moi bestseller which shoppers hailed as vibrant but not garish, as well as loving the quality of the material as well as the colours. This is an underwired style with a flattering twist detail at the front and a clasp fastening at the back for added support.
