Tummy Control Swimsuits: How to Choose the Right One for You After 50

As warmer weather approaches, many women find themselves refocusing on health and fitness goals—getting back into shape, increasing activity levels, and seeking ways to manage what’s often referred to as “menopause belly.” This pressure reflects a broader cultural trend, with health surveys consistently showing that midlife women report heightened concern about weight redistribution, core strength, and body image during the menopausal transition.

But looking great in a swimsuit shouldn’t be the ultimate goal for midlife women. It’s not just about fitness, it’s also about feeling comfortable, supported, and confident in swimwear that actually fits and flatters the body you have today. That’s where tummy control swimsuits come in.

The truth, however, is that there is no miracle cream or magic formula that can instantly make you look slimmer in a swimsuit. More often than not, the secret lies in choosing the right swimwear.

CrunchyTales has put together a list of useful tips to help you find flattering pieces that help hide your tummy—because you deserve to feel confident and comfortable.

5 Proven Tricks to Hide Your Tummy with the Right Swimsuit

Let’s face it: finding the perfect swimsuit can feel overwhelming, especially if you want extra confidence around your midsection. Bold, trendy designs may be tempting but they often don’t offer the support or flattering fit that we need. The good news is that the right design choices, colors, and styling tricks can instantly create a more flattering silhouette.

Whether you’re heading to the beach, pool party, or vacation getaway, these expert tips will help you feel comfortable, confident, and stylish all summer long. In this guide, you’ll discover five simple but effective ways to hide your tummy with the right swimsuit, without sacrificing comfort or style.

One-Piece Swimsuits: Are They Really the Real Deal?

Investing in timeless cuts, prints, and colour palettes is a foolproof way to ensure that the next time a situation calls for swimwear—whether it be a summer beach day or a tropical getaway during winter—you’ll have a mainstay to slip into with ease.

One-piece swimsuits, in particular, continue to be a staple that’s well worth having in your arsenal. Not only they are extremely flattering on practically every body type, but they can also be worn as a cute top when layered under your favourite skirts and pants.

Brittany Kozerski Freeney, owner and designer of JADE Swim, says she founded her brand on the principle that swimwear can and should be styled beyond the beach setting.

“Our collections are always designed with multifunctional versatility in mind,” she says. “We offer styles that can be worn as swim or ready-to-wear—as bodysuits and as layering pieces mixed and matched with shorts, jeans, and skirts.” 

Similarly, some brands, like Shea Marie’s SAME swim and Castamira are intentionally making pieces that inherently double as ready-to-wear, swimsuits that look like they should be a part of your regular outfit rotation thanks to small details like ruching.

Opt for high-quality material

Of course, everybody is a beach body, but there’s no shame in preferring the shaping effect of a tummy control swimsuit over a basic bathing suit. 

Investing in swimsuits made out of quality materials is often the best option and a surefire way to elongate the life of your swimsuit. 

Michaela Leitz, a plus-size fashion stylist and size-inclusive fashion expert based in Germany, recommends opting for spandex, a spandex blend or high-quality Lycra, “The latter dries faster and is a thicker material that provides more support“, she says. 

From Spanx’s Classic Swim One Piece to tankinis like Summersalt’s The Oasis Tankini Top and bottoms like Swimsuits For All Shirred High Waist Swim Brief, there are options for all body types and needs. 

For those with larger busts, Leitz says don’t skip the underwire tops. “They provide extra support, especially if you are swimming,” she notes. She also would invest in a high-waisted bottom swimsuit because “it holds everything in and cinch your waist for balance.”

Find the right swimsuit model

As a rule of thumb, a skirted one-piece swimsuit can help to hide the tummy area, but you can also feel more comfortable on the beach by simply wearing a pareo, sarong or kaftan to conceal parts of your body you don’t want to show. 

Swimsuits with ruching and plunging necklines are also very flattering on a range of body types.  The first ones which might have pleated, fluted, or gathered together fabric to create a ripple-like effect work very well to hide the tummy area. The latter might have a slimming effect because they tend to draw attention towards the centre of your body which creates the illusion of a slimmer figure.

But you can even look for pieces that have cut-outs which can add a hint of sexiness to your ensemble, drawing the eye up and away from less flattering areas or even opt for the modern and flattering tankini.

Enjoy bold colours and patterns

Don’t stick to black swimwear just because of its well-known slimming effect. Stripes or zig-zags and tropical motifs might be clever choices too as they create an illusion and can mask the problem areas that you don’t wish to highlight. Busy prints with smaller patterns, in particular, deflect attention away from any area you don’t want to be the focal point making you appear thinner effortlessly.

Confidence Starts with the Right Fit

Many women over 50 believe they need to cover up more to feel comfortable at the beach. According to Jamie Banks, founder and creative director of Change of Scenery, that mindset often gets in the way of finding a swimsuit that truly flatters.

“In reality -she said to CrunchyTales- confidence comes from wearing a swimsuit that fits properly and supports your body in the right places. For women concerned about their midsection, I recommend looking for swimsuits with strategic design details such as ruching, draping, or a built-in shaping liner. These features smooth and flatter without feeling restrictive. A one-piece can be incredibly chic, but I also love a high-waisted bikini because it allows women to customize fit between top and bottom sizes while still providing excellent coverage“.

Fabric is equally important. Jamie advises choosing substantial fabrics with gentle compression rather than thin, flimsy materials that offer little support.

“Dark colors can be slimming, but don’t underestimate the power of color and print – she adds- A beautiful print draws the eye and often makes women feel more joyful and confident than another basic black suit“.

One of the most common mistakes she sees is women sizing up in an attempt to hide their bodies.

“An oversized swimsuit often creates more bulk and less support. The most flattering swimsuit is one that fits properly and allows you to move comfortably.”

Swimsuit Styles That Work Well After 50

Banks recommends looking for swimsuits that combine support, comfort, and thoughtful design details. Among her top picks is the Jori One Piece, which features subtle ruching, built-in tummy control, and a flattering silhouette designed to enhance a variety of body shapes.

For women who prefer a two-piece, she recommends the Shana Halter Top paired with the Side Tie High Waist Bottom. The combination offers excellent bust support, adjustable sizing, and comfortable coverage while maintaining a modern, stylish look.

For those seeking a little extra coverage around the hips and thighs, Banks suggests skipping the traditional swim skirt in favor of a coordinating wrap such as the Liv Sarong. A lightweight sarong can create a polished, sophisticated beach look while offering the flexibility many women want when moving between the pool, beach, and lunch terrace.

Last but not least

Looking good is fine. But the idea of covering some areas of your body in summer shouldn’t become such an obsession to prevent you from fully enjoying your free time during that well-deserved cruise or at the pool.

A healthy body image means accepting how you look most of the time and ensuring negative thoughts about your body aren’t holding you back from engaging fully with other aspects of your life and the beach life. 

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