11 Best Size 16 Swimwear

Best Size 16 Swimwear in 2023

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Be Not Ashamed of Plus Size Swimwear

Our glorious curves deserve their day in the sun. Take back the summer with these tips for purchasing flattering swimwear.

Yes, I know the dismal fashion plight of my equally voluptuous sisters.

We have all averted out eyes in embarrassment when we have spotted an otherwise lovely plump woman in swimwear so inappropriate for her body that she looked like a big pillow stuffed into a paper towel tube. We are horrified for her and horrified for ourselves, because we know we are like her. We all buy clothes one size too small. We all do! We pretend not to notice our blouses are pulling away from their buttons and the seems on our skirts start separating when we sit down. We're a size 16, not 18, darn it!

We can usually get away with wearing a tighter-fitting T-shirt or a before-the-yearly-holiday-weight-gain dress, but there are no secrets with swimwear. If you have bought the wrong size, we are all going to know it. Ladies, we must embrace plus size swimwear. It has been designed to flatter, disguise, enhance, diminish, and highlight all the right body parts. Women with our own fabulous proportions have created patterns and fabrics to help us look like the pin-up girls we are instead of the frumpy, oblivious jelly rolls we become when we squish ourselves into under-sized "XL" bathing suits.

What we find in plus size swimwear are user friendly designs and features. Wide shoulder straps minimize the deep red welts we usually get when thin straps dig into our shoulders. Higher cut arm holes hide any unsightly bulging from our spectacular busts. Realistic cup sizes, and sometimes under-wires, are added to keep our beauties from sagging down to our belly buttons. Unobtrusive control panels tuck in our sumptuous bellies. Lower cuts on the hips and thighs give us more coverage and minimize the likelihood of fabric traveling where it does not belong.

Plus size swimwear can come with tasteful adornments to distract the eye and keep the line of vision moving into more flattering directions. Some stripes here, some color there, and hips look narrower, waists look more defined, backsides look less like the poster child for a certain rap song about "big butts."

Of course, not all of us want to hide or disguise. Some of us are proud of our classic curves and have every intention of flaunting them. Forget the safe comfort of waist trimmers and tummy panels. We want bikinis, and we want them now, and we don't want to look like we should have thrown it out after the last donut. We want to belong in that bikini. We want to make grown men cry.

If you dare wear two piece plus size swim wear, choose wisely. You want patterns, colors, or ornaments to flatter your favorite features and downplay your less-favorite-but-still-fabulous ones. If you love your bust line more than your hips or thighs, wear a dark bottom piece and a colorful or decorated top piece. If your bust is less voluptuous than you would prefer, plus size swim wear does come in discreetly padded versions. If you want to diminish the appearance of your bust and draw attention to your womanly hips and breathtaking thighs, wear a dark color on top and lighter color on the bottom.

A two piece bathing suit will highlight your waist, so if this is one of your less favorite features, a tankini or one piece is for you. You can get one French cut with a low neckline if you still want to brag about your body instead of camouflage it.

There is truly no reason that only skinny people should get to swim in pools or lounge on the beach in clothes more revealing than a jogging suit. More than 60% of women wear size 12 and over. The world actually belongs to us. No more hiding. We are a glorious thing to behold. Throw on a pretty piece of swimwear, go to the beach, and show them what they are missing.