Tested
SUCK-IN SUMMER
I’m a midsize mum in my 50s & tried 7 of the best high street suck-in swimsuits – winner is half price of designer rival
Scroll down to find out where you can get the best swimwear deals on the high street
One of these swimsuits has ‘magic tummy control technology’ – ‘a layer of power mesh to sculpt’ the figure.
But does it really work?
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Here, mid-size fashion influencer and mum-of-three Samantha Riley, 52, tries several sucky-in swimsuits to see which works best.
Clemmie Fieldsend and Emily Regan report.
BEST RUCHING DETAIL
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Lightly padded slimming swimsuit, £69, Calzedonia
I LOVE the colour – it really makes me feel ready for a holiday.
This costume offers a lot of support in the tummy area, and the pleating creates a nicely defined waist.
Ruching is a great way to disguise lumps and bumps and create a sleek silhouette.
The crossover design enhances the figure, too.
Although Calzedonia is a specialised underwear brand, unfortunately the lightly padded, underwired cups don’t fit my bust area.
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They’re a little too big and the padding in them becomes loose and misshapen when it’s on.
It’s a little too low at the back for me – I would prefer a little more coverage.
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RATING: 2/5
MOST CLEVER CUT
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Shape-enhancing seam-detail cross-front swimsuit, £25, Very.co.uk
ON the hanger, this bright red number looks like it’s not going to give you any control but it feels very supportive due to the “shape-enhancing seam detail”.
That small tweak really does make all the difference, creating a more defined waist.
It has a good cut on the leg.
Any higher and I wouldn’t have support around my hip area, but it works.
I also like the straps which give the illusion of a halter neck but the support of having two solid straps.
I love the criss-cross detail at the cleavage and the colour is perfect for summer.
I think I’ll be buying this.
RATING: 4/5
BEST BUST BOOSTER
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Shaping swimsuit, George, £18
I WAS very pleasantly surprised when I put this khaki one on – it has a lot of structure and support in it.
On Asda’s website the description says “tummy controlling” and the combination of nylon and elastane does seem to do the trick.
I really like how smoothing it is on the tummy area and it is flattering on the bust too, with the crossover detailing.
The little gold design at the bottom of the swimsuit is a nice touch, as are the gold brackets on the adjustable straps.
They make it feel and look more luxe.
I would never believe it was George, it feels more high-end and expensive.
RATING: 4/5
BEST TUMMY TRICK
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Tummy shaping control swimsuit, £29, Next
THIS swimsuit is described as being shape- enhancing, with support to flatten the tummy.
The ruching works wonders on my silhouette.
It gives me much more confidence and I am less conscious of my stomach.
And the cut on the leg isn’t too high so I don’t feel worried about exposing too much.
The quality is really good – it feels expensive.
Although it is not a colour I would usually go for, I like it on me.
It looks better on than it did on the hanger.
Plus it comes in ten colours and prints.
This cossie has been treated so it provides protection against solar ultraviolet radiation and has been given a UPF rating of 50+, which blocks more than 97.5 per cent of UV rays.
RATING: 5/5
MOST COVERAGE
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Cali ribbed-texture ring- underwired tummy-control swimsuit, £55, Pour Moi
WHAT a gorgeous colour. I was most drawn to this one when I saw it hanging on the rail. I like the textured fabric, too.
But when I put it on, it didn’t fit me properly.
The cup area felt strange and didn’t sit right around my bust.
As you can buy this costume according to your bust size, I would advise ordering a couple to try on to find your perfect fit.
Despite this, there is good support around the stomach area and ample coverage.
It covers the whole bust area and the top of the thighs but, sadly, it doesn’t really do it for me.
However, this swimsuit also has recycled material in it, which is a big bonus.
RATING: 3/5
BEST BUDGET
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Smoothing bandeau swimsuit, £12, Primark
I DON’T feel like there is much stomach shaping or support in this one, or for the bust.
However, it does have lightly moulded cups and elastic underneath to hold your bust in place, and for £12 I wouldn’t expect any more.
The style has a flattering shape with a modern square neckline and straps that undo should you want zero tan marks.
It’s also really good value for money.
I love the pale blue colour on me, but the label states that this may fade after time, which obviously is not ideal.
The higher cut on the leg makes my pins appear longer, but there is still enough fabric to comfortably cover your bottom.
RATING: 2/5
MOST USE OF TECH
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Tummy-control padded swimsuit, £29.50, Marks & Spencer
I LOVE the vertical panelling down the side as it creates a slimmer looking waist and I also like the more sporty style, with fuller coverage of the bust.
Online it says the cossie is made with their ‘Magic 360° Control’ with a discreet front panel made from power mesh to hold and sculpt your figure.
I didn’t feel it held much for me.
However, I don’t feel it has that much tummy support, especially as it is supposed to hold and sculpt your figure.
There’s also a lack of support on the bottom.
It’s too cut-away for my liking and I feel a bit exposed.
Sadly, I don’t think they’ve got this 100 per cent right but the colour is stunning.
It is also made from M&S’s Sun Smart material, UPF50+ technology which helps to protect against UV rays.
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RATING: 3/5
- You can follow Samantha on Instagram and TikTok @40fashionandlifestyle