Claire's Picks

Bikinis Worth Packing Worth Having in Your Wardrobe

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A bad bikini can genuinely ruin a trip. Too loose on top, too tight at the back, the wrong fabric that goes see-through the moment it gets wet. We've been through enough of those to know exactly what we're looking for. The bikinis we've pulled together here are the ones that actually hold their shape in water, fit like they were made for a real body, and look as good on day five as they did when you first put them on. Some are classic and clean, the kind that never dates. Some have more personality, a print or a silhouette that makes getting dressed on the beach feel like an actual decision worth making. We've included options across coverage levels and support levels because those things matter and no single cut works for everyone. These are the bikinis that earn their place in a suitcase and earn their place in your wardrobe long after the trip is over.

Claire's Top Picks

Women's Contrast Color Piece Swimsuit Strap Cross Bra Top Bikini Set for Beach Vacation

Beach Bikinis Worth Packing for the Beach VOGHION GLOBAL Women's Contrast Color Piece Swimsuit Strap Cross Bra Top Bikini Set for Beach Vacation Jump to section ↓

£13.72 VOGHION GLOBAL

Bikinis Worth Packing for the Beach NATORI Bandeau Bikini Top Jump to section ↓

£150.00 NATORI

Full Coverage Bikinis You'll Be Glad You Packed HARVEY NICHOLS US Melissa Odabash Brussels Bikini Briefs - Navy - S Jump to section ↓

£154.56 HARVEY NICHOLS US

Gingham Bikinis You'll Be Glad You Packed THREADED PEAR Azaria pcs Gingham High Waist Bikini & Sarong Jump to section ↓

£39.99 THREADED PEAR

Green Bikinis Worth Packing for the Beach UNIQUE KULTURE AFFILIATE PROGRAM Sun Kissed Bikini Neon Green Jump to section ↓

£52.01 UNIQUE KULTURE AFFILIATE PROGRAM

Halter Neck Bikinis You'll Be Glad You Packed DRAPER JAMES Mid Rise Bikini Bottom Jump to section ↓

£29.00 DRAPER JAMES

High Leg Bikinis Worth the Tan Lines ZEAGOO Split High-waisted Lotus Leaf Edge Printing Bikini Swimsuit - Blue S Jump to section ↓

£36.69 ZEAGOO

Beach Bikinis Worth Packing for the Beach

Most bikinis look fine on a hanger and deeply disappointing the moment you actually get in the water. That is the problem we set out to solve here. A bikini worth packing needs to stay where you put it, hold its shape through salt and sun, and still look good in photos taken at two in the afternoon with zero flattering light. Those are the real criteria. We have been extremely selective because the market is genuinely saturated with options that fail on at least one of those counts. What we kept are the ones with proper support, fabrics that don't go see through when wet, and cuts that are interesting enough to feel intentional rather than default. Some are bold prints. Some are clean solids in colors that work against sun bronzed skin. All of them pass the actual beach test rather than just the browsing one. A great bikini is worth the effort of finding it.

VOGHION GLOBAL Women's Contrast Color Piece Swimsuit Strap Cross Bra Top Bikini Set for Beach Vacation £13.72 VOGHION GLOBAL

HELLO MOLLY (US) Floral Frequency Bikini Bottom Lemon Flower Pop £35.95 HELLO MOLLY (US)

VOGHION GLOBAL Women's Clothing Summer Beach Bikini Swimsuit Female £11.51 VOGHION GLOBAL

HUNKEMOLLER US Hunkemöller Thong Bikini Bottom Luxe Black £27.00 HUNKEMOLLER US

DRAPER JAMES Basic Hipster Bikini Bottom £39.00 DRAPER JAMES

FLORALKINI Monochrome Swirl Print Triangle Bead Detail Bikini Set & Mesh Maxi Beach Skirt £35.99 FLORALKINI

GLAM AND GLORIA, LLC Skull Print Bikini Top £25.90 GLAM AND GLORIA, LLC

HELLOMOLLY US Floral Frequency Bikini Top Papaya £35.95 HELLOMOLLY US

WHITE FOX BOUTIQUE US Elouera Bikini Top Red £54.99 WHITE FOX BOUTIQUE US

HUNKEMOLLER US Hunkemöller Kallua Bikini Bottoms Brown £28.00 HUNKEMOLLER US

L SPACE Taylor Bikini Top - Cream Pout Chambray Fresh Squeezed £88.00 L SPACE

W CONCEPT (US) KNIT HALTER BIKINI SET [sand brown] £160.00 W CONCEPT (US)

Bikinis Worth Packing for the Beach

NATORI Bandeau Bikini Top £150.00 NATORI

CHICSEW TRADING CO., LIMITED Beach Diamond Chain Chest Chain Sexy Rhinestone Neck Body Chain Bikini Chest Chain - picture color £12.99 CHICSEW TRADING CO., LIMITED

STEVE MADDEN Steve Madden Women's What A Stud Bikini Bottom Shorts - Black - Size £58.00 STEVE MADDEN

NATORI Cheeky Bikini Bottom £90.00 NATORI

RAMY BROOK Venice Bandeau Bikini Top in White £32.00 RAMY BROOK

BLUEBELLA US Bluebella Orta Tie-side Bikini Brief Island Paradise Blue £29.00 BLUEBELLA US

GOLDIA.COM L.L.C. Sterling Silver Amore La Vita Rhodium-Plated Polished -D Cz Enameled Tiger Bikini Pendant £63.99 GOLDIA.COM L.L.C.

STEVE MADDEN Steve Madden Women's Darling Dot Bikini Bottom - Black Multi - Size Small - PolyesterNylon £58.00 STEVE MADDEN

UNIQUE KULTURE AFFILIATE PROGRAM Sparkly Glitter Wrap Halter Tie Side Bikini Set Wired Two £55.31 UNIQUE KULTURE AFFILIATE PROGRAM

Women Summer Sexy Piece Bikini Set Faux Fur Rainbow Striped Halter Swimsuit Tie Side Bottom Bralette Plush Bathing Suit Party Clubwear

SELDOM SEEN STYLES Women Summer Sexy Piece Bikini Set Faux Fur Rainbow Striped Halter Swimsuit Tie Side Bottom Bralette Plush Bathing Suit Party Clubwear £27.14 SELDOM SEEN STYLES

PLANET BLUE CORP Mapale Crochet Floral Micro Triangle Top and Side-Tie Thong Bikini £25.90 PLANET BLUE CORP

EGO US CA Strappy Bardot Trim Detail Piece Bikini Set In Plum, Women's Size £25.00 EGO US CA

Full Coverage Bikinis You'll Be Glad You Packed

Not every beach day calls for a barely-there bikini, and honestly most of them don't. Sometimes you want to move, swim properly, chase kids into the water, or just feel genuinely comfortable without spending the whole day adjusting things. Full coverage bikinis solve that problem without asking you to sacrifice how good you look in them. The best ones sit higher on the hip, offer real support on top, and hold their shape in the water rather than going limp the second you get wet. We've been looking specifically for styles that cover more without reading as matronly, because that balance is harder to find than it should be. Good fabric matters here more than anywhere else in swimwear. Structure matters. A well cut full coverage bikini can look more intentional and put together than a skimpier option ever would. These are the ones we'd actually pack. The ones that earn their place in the bag.

HARVEY NICHOLS US Melissa Odabash Brussels Bikini Briefs - Navy - S £154.56 HARVEY NICHOLS US

L SPACE Alex Bikini Bottom - Cream £92.00 L SPACE

UNIQLO USA UNIQLO Women's Bikini Briefs Pointelle, Off White, Large £7.90 UNIQLO USA

SELDOM SEEN STYLES One-shoulder Seersucker Bikini Set £22.00 SELDOM SEEN STYLES

HARVEY NICHOLS US Melissa Odabash Brussels Bikini Briefs - Navy - L £154.56 HARVEY NICHOLS US

RAMY BROOK Printed Luna Ruffle Bikini Top in Seashell pink £38.00 RAMY BROOK

THREADED PEAR Michelle Leopard Knotted High Waist Bikini Set £39.99 THREADED PEAR

RAMY BROOK Ivo Ruched Bikini Bottom in Black £108.00 RAMY BROOK

UNIQLO USA UNIQLO Women's Mid-Rise Bikini Briefs Heart, Navy, Medium £7.90 UNIQLO USA

RAMY BROOK Ivo Ruched Bikini Bottom in Perfect pink £108.00 RAMY BROOK

HANKY PANKY Hanky Panky Women's Signature Lace Bikini - Bliss Pink £34.00 HANKY PANKY

WINSLET'S SEWING PATTERNS Sports Bikini Set Sewing Pattern 'Aruba' £7.99 WINSLET'S SEWING PATTERNS

Gingham Bikinis You'll Be Glad You Packed

Gingham has no business being this reliably good on the beach, and yet here we are. The check pattern does something that plain solids and busy prints both struggle with: it reads as put together without looking like you tried too hard. Classic without being boring. There is a reason it keeps coming back every summer. We have been pulling together our favorite gingham bikinis because the category genuinely rewards a good edit. The color combinations matter more than people realize. Navy and white is the obvious choice and it earns that status by being nearly impossible to get wrong. Red and white is bolder and photographs beautifully. Softer tones like sage or dusty pink bring a more relaxed energy to the same pattern. Fit matters too, and we have prioritized styles that actually stay in place when you swim. These are the gingham bikinis we would reach for ourselves, the ones that make the packing decision easy.

THREADED PEAR Azaria pcs Gingham High Waist Bikini & Sarong £39.99 THREADED PEAR

EGO US CA Lace Trim Triangle Bikini Set In Pink Floral Gingham, Women's Size £25.00 EGO US CA

WHITE FOX BOUTIQUE US Coral Reef Bikini Top Fuchsia Gingham £20.00 WHITE FOX BOUTIQUE US

WILD OAK BOUTIQUE Sunkissed & Sandy Bikini Set £52.00 WILD OAK BOUTIQUE

PRINTERVAL Gingham Women's Sling Bikini Swimsuits £10.99 PRINTERVAL

WHITE FOX BOUTIQUE US Boat Party Bikini Top Blue Gingham £32.99 WHITE FOX BOUTIQUE US

WHITE FOX BOUTIQUE US Noosa Bikini Top Red Gingham £49.99 WHITE FOX BOUTIQUE US

EGO US CA Contrast Strap Bow Detail Triangle Bikini Set In Pink Gingham, Women's Size £23.00 EGO US CA

EGO US CA Triangle Bikini Set In Pink Floral Gingham, Women's Size £25.00 EGO US CA

UNIQLO USA UNIQLO Women's Mid-Rise Bikini Briefs Gingham, Black £7.90 UNIQLO USA

WILD OAK BOUTIQUE Cute As Can Be Bikini Set £52.00 WILD OAK BOUTIQUE

UNIQLO USA UNIQLO Women's Mid-Rise Bikini Briefs Gingham, Black, Medium £7.90 UNIQLO USA

Green Bikinis Worth Packing for the Beach

Green is doing something genuinely interesting in swimwear right now. Not the washed out khaki that looked good in theory and terrible against most skin tones, but rich forest greens, warm olive, bright emerald, and deep bottle shades that photograph beautifully and hold their own against sand and sunlight. We've become slightly obsessed with this category because the range of greens available means there is a shade that works for almost everyone. Darker greens flatter warmer complexions in a way that classic black doesn't always manage. Brighter greens feel fresh and intentional rather than default. We pulled together the green bikinis we'd actually pack, the ones with good coverage where it counts, tops that stay put in the water, and cuts that work beyond the pool lounger. Some are investment pieces from brands we trust completely. Some are brilliant finds. All of them earn their place in a beach bag. Green is no longer the safe alternative to the red bikini. It's the first choice.

UNIQUE KULTURE AFFILIATE PROGRAM Sun Kissed Bikini Neon Green £52.01 UNIQUE KULTURE AFFILIATE PROGRAM

ROLLER RABBIT Classic Core Bikini Pack £78.00 ROLLER RABBIT

RAMY BROOK Lesia String Bikini Bottom in Surf green £29.00 RAMY BROOK

PLAYALUXE US Waikiki Side Tie Bikini Bottom Green Palm £88.00 PLAYALUXE US

DAILY SALE, INC. Women's Vintage Lace Bikini Bathing Suit - £29.00 DAILY SALE, INC.

DRESTIGE US KARL LAGERFELD Swimsuit BIKINI BOTTOMSWLOGO ELASTIC £169.10 DRESTIGE US

ACCESSORIZE UK Bead Strap Textured Bikini Bottoms Green, Size: £18.00 ACCESSORIZE UK

SUPERDRY US Superdry Women's Women's Tie Dye Recycled Bikini Briefs Green Tie Dye Green £17.46 SUPERDRY US

THE WEBSTER Gradient Printed Bikini Bottom Blue And Green £235.00 THE WEBSTER

STELLA MCCARTNEY US Stella McCartney - Bug Hotel Print Bikini, Woman, GreenMulticolor £99.00 STELLA MCCARTNEY US

PLANET BLUE CORP JTIN+SIMON J Bikini One - New Green Only Size £24.20 PLANET BLUE CORP

THE WEBSTER Mini Miami Flowers Bikini Top Green And Fuchsia £295.00 THE WEBSTER

Halter Neck Bikinis You'll Be Glad You Packed

The halter neck does something a regular bikini top simply cannot. It lifts, it defines, and it creates a neckline that looks intentional rather than just functional. For anyone who wants support without underwire, or shape without a strapless situation they'll be adjusting all afternoon, this is the style that actually solves the problem. We've been pulling together our favorite halter neck bikinis across prints, solids, and cuts because this category is genuinely worth a proper edit. The tie styles that give you adjustable coverage. The structured cups that hold their shape in the water. The minimal triangle versions that look effortless on a sun lounger. What unites all of them is that they earn their place in the suitcase rather than sitting at the bottom of your bag as an afterthought. A great halter neck bikini is the kind of thing you pack once and then reach for every single trip after that.

DRAPER JAMES Mid Rise Bikini Bottom £29.00 DRAPER JAMES

ACCESSORIZE UK Shimmer Halter Neck Bikini Top Gold, Size: £17.50 ACCESSORIZE UK

SPLENDID Splendid - Tiana Triangle Bikini Top £58.00 SPLENDID

SPLENDID Splendid - Tiana Triangle Bikini Top - FireworkWhite £58.00 SPLENDID

COTTON ON US Body - Scoop Neck Halter Bikini Top - Spicy red shimmer £29.99 COTTON ON US

HAMPDEN CLOTHING Lido Triangle Bikini Top £125.00 HAMPDEN CLOTHING

KARL LAGERFELD (US) Karl Lagerfeld - Ribbed Bandeau Bikini Top, Woman, Black, Size: £99.00 KARL LAGERFELD (US)

VOGHION GLOBAL Women's Clothing Halter Neck Solid Color Three Point Bikini Sexy Swimsuit Split Straps Adjustable Multi Color Swimsuit £9.60 VOGHION GLOBAL

ACCESSORIZE UK Gold Shimmer Halter Neck Bikini Top, Size: , Women's £17.50 ACCESSORIZE UK

W CONCEPT (US) Chain Mix Cup Halter Bikini Bra [Black] £111.00 W CONCEPT (US)

HELLO MOLLY (US) Citrus Kisses Bikini Top Malibu Flower Pop £29.95 HELLO MOLLY (US)

VOGHION GLOBAL Women's Clothing Bikini Swimsuit Sexy Swimsuit Gradient Print Halter Neck Split Swimsuit Female £18.95 VOGHION GLOBAL

High Leg Bikinis Worth the Tan Lines

The high leg cut does something that no other bikini bottom does quite as well: it makes your legs look longer before you've even stood up straight. That's not a small thing when you're standing on a beach. It also gives a more intentional, fashion-forward look than a standard brief, which reads as someone who thought about what they were wearing rather than just grabbed something. We've been pulling together our favorite high leg bikinis across a range of styles, from minimal and sleek to printed and bold, because this cut deserves a really focused edit. The best ones sit high enough to create that leg-lengthening line without feeling like they're fighting you every time you move. Fit matters enormously here. So does the quality of the fabric, particularly anything with stretch recovery so it actually holds its shape after a swim. These are the high leg bikinis we'd genuinely pack ourselves. The cut earns its reputation every single time.

ZEAGOO Split High-waisted Lotus Leaf Edge Printing Bikini Swimsuit - Blue S £36.69 ZEAGOO