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!

Why is this about you feeling seen? At least your teen will blow off family holidays real quick and then you can micromanage your own time to what 'you're thinking'

Because this is called MUMSnet and people are allowed to have emotions? I'm guessing you don't have kids so have no idea how much time mums (and possibly dads I wouldn't know) spend hiding their actual feelings so they don't accidentally use them to control their kids. You are allowed to talk about them on here, that's the point. OP's post is not 'about' her feelings though it's about not wanting her kid to damage their body using inappropriate clothes but finding an appropriate - as far as the kid is concerned - alternative.

Did you miss the fact OP's DD wanted a compression top / binder and OP was worried about the health risks? All the other posts are supportive to both the OP and her DD.

Entirely fair to not want to buy your DD something that could be damaging

However if you posted a link it would show what she likes visually

Nike, Adidas, Speedo, Decathlon are good places for plain, sporty rather than fashion styles.

There’s also this from H&M and this from Modibodi - if she wants something unbranded

Or something like this?

https://www.shore.co.uk/oneill-womens-basic-skins-short-sleeve-rash-tee-bl-184523.html

My androgynous teen wears exactly this ☺️

Next Age 16 is approx a size 10-12. They do some good sun safe swimwear with sleeves and shorts that my teen fits into and much prefers to the skimpy things you see in the adult stuff.

The high legs are awful! Not everyone wants their privates on display.

Agree, DD has a small collection now but her favourite swimsuit has shorts and long sleeves. She is just more comfortable not having skin on show at the pool. It also protects her from the sun on holiday - why are kids allowed sun safe swimwear but adults aren’t?

Just get the one she wants. Its not rocket science

Even a binder / compression top? No.

your Problem is????

I wear boy shorts and tankini top. One time I forgot my bottoms when I went to the pool so had to buy a cheap pair from the pool. All they had were mens shorts. They didn't fit me very well at all, because they are straight and I am not. They fitted over my hips and then I had to pull the drawstring round the waist a lot so they were really bunched up. It was fine for my one off pool swim, but I wouldn't want to do it often.

Lands End do some nice board shorts and rash vests.

Tankini vest top with support

Here you are

Or

Or this one

My daughter is a little like this with clothes and swimwear. But at the same time refuses to pick anything herself. So I'm left wondering what on earth to get her!
She went to Florida with her Nana for a month in 2023, and I was warned to make sure she had several swimsuits as they were going to go to various water parks, beaches, even swam with dolphins!! So I settled on swim shorts, girls ones so theyre short, but full coverage, like aerobics shorts. Then I got various rash guards, long sleeve, water proof t shirts type things, with with a 1/4 length zip. So it can be open a bit around the neck, but also zipped ALL the way up if thats what she wants! I got a couple from Amazon, and a couple from places like Very. I came across some fab ones that actually have SPF protection built into the cloth!! I obviously sent her with 15 different types of suncream ;) but it was really nice to know it didnt really matter if she forgot to put more on. And in the end she loved the outfits with the rashguard and the shorts. I did buy a couple of board shorts to be able to swap them out, AND tankini costumes (so strappy but long top, and a biniki bottom with it) and she pretty much lived in a rash guard top (no need for suncream then mum!! 🤦‍♀️) and a pair of shorts of some sort. Became a proper beach bum ;)

Not sure if anyone else has suggested it, but Lands End often does a decent range of separates. [ETA @BringBackCatsEyes has beaten me to it.]

I like them because they do tops for petite, average and long. (I really need long.)

https://www.landsend.co.uk/WomensRashVest/pp/P24761.html?dwvarP24761sizeVariation=59&dwvarP24761_color=BLA&cgid=11343&pageType=fp

https://www.landsend.co.uk/WomensBoardShorts-withSwimBriefs/pp/P40292.html?dwvarP40292sizeVariation=59&dwvarP40292_color=G1Y&cgid=16103&pageType=fp

CRZ yoga has some non -girly plain sporty swimwear

you could go for a top like this https://uk.crzyoga.com/products/ry004pu4?variant=47162038288608&default=M
or this
https://uk.crzyoga.com/collections/tops/products/h216pu3

or just a plain sports bra from there

and wear a loose fitting rash vest on top.

it would be supportive enough that it might feel like the compression garment she more comfortable in

I'm 50 and love the Speedo sporty bikinis as you can actually swim in them without the fear of anything pinging off!

Board shorts are also a good idea and more androgynous.

https://www.sweatybetty.com/archive-sale/deep-sea-xtra-life-swimsuit-SB8260_BlackA.html

I really like those! Have you tried them? Just wondering about quality and sizing.

Have a look at Mountain Warehouse swimwear. Lots of choice with boyshort legs and matching tops

I’ve got some sports tops from this company and they are great - equal quality to expensive brands like Sweaty Betty. Not tried the swimwear though

Definately Unity Cove