13 One-Piece Swimsuits for Summer

Just add water.

summer esentials
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Welcome to The Essentials, our weekly series highlighting a must-have classic, key to building a timeless, pulled-together closet.

One-piece swimsuits aren't relegated to the lap pool. With a reputation that's skewed matronly in the past, the maillot has been allotted new, modern sex appeal. A one-piece can make you a sultry Baywatch babe, all without the pitfalls of a twisted-up string bikini. Plunging necklines, swooping backs, and intricate strap details are just a few variations on the classic one-piece, giving butt-cheek baring two-pieces a dose of friendly competition. Built with a practical framework, the one-piece wins on beach days, and scores big on summer beach nights. Sport one with a breezy maxi skirt or pair it with a high-rise jean. Skeptics should envision themselves in an elegant one-shoulder version on the Italian Riviera or a gingham check for fireworks off a pier. There are so many options, you'll forget you ever owned a two-piece! Below, 13 to choose from.

Sara Holzman
Style Director

Sara Holzman is the Style Director at Marie Claire, where she oversees fashion coverage spanning seasonal trends, celebrity style, designers, Fashion Month, and shopping. With more than a decade of experience in fashion media, she has held roles at Condé Nast’s Lucky and Self and contributed style and travel coverage to Equinox’s Furthermore. A graduate of the Missouri School of Journalism, Sara is based in New York City, where she writes about fashion through both an industry and personal lens, including the realities of getting dressed as a working mom. Follow her on Instagram at @sarajonewyork.