Androgynous looking Swimwear for teen

[Mydustymonstera]

Hey shoppers
I’m trying to find some alternative swimwear to suggest to my teen daughter. she does not want to look in any way girlie or feminine. I just want her to feel comfortable at the beach! Her style is v androgynous. She’s sent a link to a swim top which I’m not keen on so trying to find some alternatives.

I’m thinking tankini / crop top in plain black, no cutaways or flounces or ‘shape enhancing’; not padded or wired, a blurb on the site that doesn’t talk about flattering one’s figure… bonus points if the models are boyish looking. I’m really struggling to find this even in sportswear and surf sites. The swim shorts we have sorted in plain black, it’s just the top.
it’s for a beach holiday where it will be hot.
she’s in adult sizes. Medium/ 10-12. Don’t think we’ll get away with age 13-15.
thanks for any help!

I'm not bothered about having 'androgenous looking' swimwear as such, but I like mine to be practical.
I generally wear a normal swimsuit (practical design, no faffy nonsense etc) l wear a rash vest in the sun, it is comfortable and gives smooth lines underneath the vest. In a pool in the UK I just wear a swim suit.

My daughter identifies as trans and she wears a plain black swimming costume with black swim shorts over it. I offered her rash vests but she wasn't keen, I don't know why.

A swimming costume and shorts avoids the tummy showing like it does in a two piece.

Look on Amazon - they have a good selection of vest top tankinis with support.

Proswimwear have a better selection of swimwear than the High Street so is worth a look. I think it's difficult for teens when they aren't yet confident enough to handle unwanted male attention (the problem is obviously the men who hassle teenagers). My eldest went for a more sporty style as a young teen (now she's an adult and has a tiny bikini), my youngest still prefers a one piece.

I wear a rash vest and board shorts with a bikini underneath

I wear men’s swimming shorts from Next or similar because they’re loose and have pockets unlike women’s swim shorts. I haven’t found the netting to be uncomfortable at all. Plus they last longer because they’re not made of the stretchy type swimsuit material.

For the norks, a crop top style top like this
https://rapanuiclothing.com/product/bralette-bikini-top/Solent/ works well.

look for Roxy and Animal on Vinted. Nice rash vests and board shorts.

These are really comfortable swim shorts, and you can get rash vests to go with them: https://www.whitestuff.com/p/5155/bay-swim-shorts/FR_NAVY

It would be helpful if you posted the link that your daughter did like

You can get loose women's swim shorts with pockets now so my netting issue is resolved. Though it annoys me that we so often are meant to have "tummy control".

My tummy will not be controlled! I resist tummy control! 💪

I wear these a lot and often get compliments as people like the retro styling but I think they are quite androgynous as they are essentially based on a 1920s male swim suit https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/womens-swimming-1-piece-shorty-swimsuit-dova-navy-blue/353109/c364m8891598

except you can’t actually swim in board shorts because they fill up with water and create drag, same with any loose shorts or swim dresses. and a rash vest is tight, that’s the point so it’s not exactly androgynous

My teen boys do. Fast!

Surely swimwear should not be compressed as that could restrict the capacity to breathe whilst swimming. Sounds very dangerous to me.

I’ve got this one and really like it. It’s more of a swimsuit but it’s got boy shorts and looks quite modern I think:

https://www.next.co.uk/style/st065480/t70150?gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21452395608&gbraid=0AAAAADm_5UX4VzXh8lHPc5DA1zJvEIZHf&gclid=CjwKCAjwtcHPBhADEiwAWo3sJn-sUqArp7h7z0448FDeiour9bRJymxFc0YdR0VI99x6cD2DxbebARoCYAAQAvD_BwE

I know you said plain black but i like this tankini - quite an androgynous pattern and good body coverage:

www.speedo.com/women-s-hyberboom-tankini-black-turquoise/15631681.html?utm_source=googleprod%2Cgoogle&utm_medium=cpc%2Ccpc&utm_campaign=gp_clothing%2CUK%20-%20Speedo%20-%20Shopping%20-%20Brand&affil=thggpsad&switchcurrency=GBP&shippingcountry=GB&utm_term=PRODUCT_GROUP&utm_content=shoppng%20-%20All%20Products

That’s actually lovely!

I have this issue with dd, who is also looking for swimwear at the moment, so useful thread. I was just looking at the Tomboy website when she walked in so I showed it to her, suggesting she might find some stuff she likes. I hadn’t read the subsequent comments about compression - oh dear. I guess I’ll have to have that convo with her if she decides she wants me to buy her one.

Currently she wears a teenage boy’s plain rash vest from Next and some swim shorts, but I can’t remember where they came from. She always wears a black Modibody swimsuit underneath (even when not on her period) because it’s quite thick and stops any nipple issues, or any flashes of midriff.

Her friend wears an actual burkini. She’s not Muslim. They all seem to be rejecting their female bodies. It makes me feel sad and I hope it’s just a phase. It’s hard to navigate.

I'd look into period swimwear as well. Wuka do some plain period swim shorts which could then be paired with top of choice.

Compression tops can induce Swimming-Induced Pulmonary Edema (SIPE).

@VenusClapTrap my DD1 and her friends went through a stage of wearing baggy 'masculine' clothes in their early teens. A lot of my friends had the same experience with their teens. I think all girls find puberty hard but as they've got older and more confident in themselves they have become happier to present in a more feminine style. I think if we as parents allow them to explore their own style but keep clear boundaries about what is and is not safe then they should grow up confident in themselves and their own bodies.

I’m so glad I asked here for help. This is going to sound cheesy but I feel seen: and much less isolated in dealing with this particular parenting conundrum!
and if I sound a bit more confident and less stressed it’ll help me offer options in a way more likely to be accepted by teen. Thanks again

What did your daughter like? Can you post the link because it would help with suggestions

Thank you @FruAashild

How about this set, with a rash vest over the top?

https://www.fatface.com/style/su820096/h86448

She's told you what she is comfortable with. What you're thinking will make her feel like shit.