What Swimsuit to Wear If You Have Big Thighs (Outfit Ideas)
Short answer: Choose a swimsuit that covers some of the upper thigh, such as a swim dress with built-in shorts, a one-piece with a skirt, or a tankini with boy shorts. Add a darker color and a little ruching, and you get comfort and coverage without giving up style.
Leg openings that cut straight across the thigh are usually what make a swimsuit feel wrong. A skirt, a boy-short leg or a longer hem solves that. Here are 10 outfit ideas built around suits that do exactly that, with shoes, layers and accessories to finish each look.
Black Skirted Swim Dress for an Easy Beach Day
Our Tummy Control Swim Dress with Built in Shorts and Skirt is a black one-piece with crisp white binding at the neckline, straps and skirt hem. The flared mini skirt has a small side slit, and the midsection is ruched and gathered. Pull it on, add flat leather slides and a woven tote, then finish with a wide-brim straw hat. For the walk to lunch, tie a white linen shirt over it. Check the size chart for your hip measurement.
Tummy Control Swim Dress with Built in Shorts and Skirt · Black with White Trim · $89
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Navy Striped Swim Dress for a Boardwalk Look
The Cutout Tummy Control Swim Dress with Built in Shorts has a halter neckline, a cross-front bodice and navy and white vertical stripes. A small cutout sits at the waist, and a short, flared navy skirt covers built-in bottoms. A high-waisted band adds smoothing. Wear it with white canvas sneakers, round sunglasses and a red canvas bag for a nautical feel. A light denim jacket is easy to layer once the sun goes down.
Cutout Tummy Control Swim Dress with Built in Shorts · Navy Stripe · $89
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Mesh-Detail Swim Dress for a Resort Pool Day
The V Neck Tummy Control Swim Dress with Built in Shorts is black with a halter-style high neckline and a sheer mesh V-shaped panel at the chest. The bodice is gathered and ruched, and a flared A-line skirt sits over built-in shorts. Style it with gold hoop earrings, a silk scarf tied on your bag and slim black sandals. The skirt moves nicely, so it works well for poolside lounging and walking around the resort.
V Neck Tummy Control Swim Dress with Built in Shorts · Red · $89
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Long-Sleeve Swim Set for Full Sun Coverage
Our Tummy Control Swim Dress with Built in Shorts and Sleeves is a modest black set. It has a long-sleeve crew-neck tunic that reaches the hips, with side ruching and a drawstring gather. Full-length swim leggings sit underneath, so your thighs are fully covered. Pair it with water shoes for the lake, a bucket hat and a bright microfiber towel. It suits kayaking, family beach days and long afternoons in strong sun.
Tummy Control Swim Dress with Built in Shorts and Sleeves · Royal Blue · $99
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Striped Skirted One-Piece for a Vintage Mood
The Padded Plus Size Tummy Control One Piece Swimsuit has black and white vertical stripes, a deep V neckline and a fitted banded waist. A full skirt covers the tummy and hips, and thin crisscross straps open the back. Try it with red cat-eye sunglasses, a red lip and cork-heeled sandals for a retro vacation look. Bring a lightweight kimono for shade. The skirt gives the hips and thighs plenty of room to move.
Padded Plus Size Tummy Control One Piece Swimsuit · Black and White Stripe · $99
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Navy Halter with a Mini-Skirt Hem
The Halter Plus Size Tummy Control One Piece Swimsuit comes in solid navy (teal too) with a sheer mesh overlay on the bodice and a gold U-shaped bar at the neckline. A side drawstring at the hip lets you adjust the ruching, and the mini-skirt hem softly skims the top of the thigh. We list sizes up to XXL. Wear it with tan slides, gold bracelets and a white cover-up shirt for a polished pool look.
Halter Plus Size Tummy Control One Piece Swimsuit · Blue · $79
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Cutout Swim Dress for Vacation Photos
Our Cutout Plus Size Tummy Control One Piece Swimsuit is a swimdress with a short attached skirt. It has a halter neckline, a sheer mesh hollow-out panel at the chest and a ruched, gathered bodice. It comes in black, red and dark blue, and it is rated 4.9 across 95 orders. Style the black with gold sandals, a straw crossbody and a long open-front cover-up. Pick red if you want to stand out in the pool photos.
Cutout Plus Size Tummy Control One Piece Swimsuit · Red · $89
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Sporty Long-Sleeve One-Piece for Active Days
The Tummy Control One Piece Swimsuit with Ruching and Sleeves is a black long-sleeve suit with a front zipper, white contrast stripes down the sides and a boyshort-style short leg. The short leg covers the top of the thigh, so nothing rides up when you move. Wear it for paddleboarding or splash-pad days with a visor, water sandals and a tote with a spare towel. Zip it as high or low as you like.
Tummy Control One Piece Swimsuit with Ruching and Sleeves · Black, Short Sleeve · $69
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Black Tankini with Boy Shorts for a Classic Look
The Ruched Tummy Control Tankini with Boy Shorts is a solid black two-piece with a halter V-neck, a front twist bodice and side ruching with drawstring ties at the hem. The matching boyshorts are short and fitted, and they sit over the top of the thighs. Add a bright sarong, flip-flops and a canvas beach bag. Having two pieces also makes bathroom breaks easy, and you can match your top and bottom sizes to your body.
Ruched Tummy Control Tankini with Boy Shorts · Black · $79
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Brown Buckle Tankini for a Neutral Palette
Our Square Neck Tummy Control Tankini with Boy Shorts is a brown two-piece. The fitted halter top is longer in length, with a deep V neckline, a tie back and a small metal buckle belt detail at the waist. The matching low-rise boy shorts carry the same buckle. It has a 4.8 rating from 103 orders. Wear it with tan leather sandals, gold-tone sunglasses and a cream linen wrap skirt over the shorts for the walk into town.
Square Neck Tummy Control Tankini with Boy Shorts · Mocha Brown · $89
See the swimsuitHow to Pick the Right Size and Leg Length
Start with the size chart and measure your hips at the fullest point, since that is usually where the thighs fall. If you sit between two sizes, choose the larger one so the leg opening and shorts do not dig in. Built-in shorts and boy shorts should feel snug without pinching. Skirted styles give you more room through the hip and thigh. Not sure it fits? Email us within 30 days of delivery for a full refund, and return shipping is free.
Styling Tricks That Flatter Your Legs
Darker solid colors, vertical stripes and flared skirts draw the eye along your body instead of across it. Wear a long cover-up or sarong for the walk to the water, and add sandals with a little structure, like a slide with a wide strap. Pick one accessory to carry the look, such as a hat or bold sunglasses. Ruching and drawstring sides let you adjust how the suit drapes.
Want more options? Browse all tummy control swimsuits.
Questions, answered
Is a swim dress or boy shorts better for big thighs?
Both work. A swim dress with built-in shorts gives a skirt plus a layer underneath, while boy shorts give a clean, sporty leg line that sits over the top of the thigh. Choose the skirt for more coverage and movement, or the boy shorts for a more athletic fit.
Do these suits come with free shipping to the US?
Yes. Shipping is free to the US and takes 7-14 business days. If an item arrives damaged or is not what you ordered, we send a free replacement or a refund.
What if the suit does not fit my thighs the way I hoped?
Email us within 30 days of delivery, whether it is the fit or you simply changed your mind. We will give you a full refund, and return shipping is free.