A few days ago, I hopped up onto my soapbox for a bit, because I was just so frustrated with the sizing and modesty of swimwear for our girls.
I posted it on Instagram and Facebook… and the comments came out in droves. Turns out, I’m not the only one struggling with this! Here’s a look at my initial post:
Alright moms. Let’s have a serious talk here. I just bought these two swimsuits for my kids. Nathan’s is on the left. Emily’s is on the right.
His is a size 4/5. Hers is a size 7. SEVEN.
So can someone please tell WHY ON EARTH the size 7 (of the exact same brand of clothing, mind you) is so much smaller in the girl’s size? You can’t even see the bottoms because they are tiny and hidden behind the shirt. Look how the boys shorts stick out because they are huge and cover up what should be covered when you’re 5.
Listen. I want my girl to have a girly swimsuit with ruffles and cute designs. But can someone please explain to me WHY the boys swimsuits cover their bodies comfortably, and the girls swimsuits are actually MADE SMALLER so they fit tightly and essentially show off their innocent little bodies?
And for the record, I bought the MOST modest girls suit I could find.
I don’t get on my soapbox very often but for goodness sake, when you look at them side by side, this is ridiculous. The clothes available for my seven year old girl are significantly smaller than the clothes available for my four year old boy. Why?
Dear clothes companies, is there any way we could refrain from oversexualizing our little girls until they are, I don’t know, adults who can make their own choices? Not to mention the self-confidence lost when my THIN, PERFECT seven year old feels bad about herself because she is “too big” for the tight clothing in her size?! What is going on here?!
Come on, Carter’s – I just really think we can do better than this. And Target Style I’m looking at you, too, with those tiny little Cat and Jack bootie shorts you’re trying to pass off as appropriate clothing in the girls section. Nope. Not buying it.
On a related note, I’d love any recommendations for cute swimsuits for girls that actually cover their bottoms, keep them protected from the sun, and still let them look like seven year olds. Please and thank you.
Not only did a drove of moms chime in and say, “YES! Why is this so hard?!”, you guys also volunteered some great recommendations for places to find modest (but CUTE!) swimwear for our girls.
I spent many, many hours looking through all those recommendations, and I’ve narrowed it down to a few fabulous companies I think all moms will LOVE. Most of these suits can even be ordered on Amazon, and delivered to your doorstep within 48 hours. God bless Amazon Prime.
The Best Places to Find Modest + Fun Swim Suits for Girls:
1. Coolibar Swimwear
This is our top choice, and we ended up ordering a few mix and match items that we LOVE. They carry long and short-sleeved tops, skirt bottoms, and swim shorts. The patterns all coordinate, so you can really mix and match with ease. We purchased 2 skirts, 3 shirts, and one pair of shorts, and can mix them into any combination as they all go together!
Things we absolutely LOVE:
- The skirts have swim bottoms underneath that are actually shorts, not bikini bottoms. This provides SO MUCH COVERAGE! And the skirts themselves completely cover her, reaching almost halfway down her thigh.
- Everything is made with this extremely light weight material that’s a lot softer than regular swimwear. It’s super comfortable.
- The material provides UPF 50+ rating protection against harmful UV rays. This is a big deal for us, since my kids burn super easily.
They have swimwear for kids, toddlers, and babies. Plus a line of clothing for adults as well!
In our experience, these suits run a little large – I will be exchanging Emily’s usual Medium for a Small, which still gives her plenty of room to grow.
Shop Coolibar for Kids HERE.
Shop Coolibar for Adults HERE.
2. UV Skins
These suits are comparable in style and protection to Coolibar. Actually, we had a few of these last year, because Costco carried them. (Come on Costco, bring these back!) They are super cute, and come with hats.
Things we absolutely LOVE:
- The skirts have drawstrings, making them adjustable – HALLELUJAH!
- The material provides UPF 50+ rating protection against harmful UV rays.
- These suits are often available in 3 piece sets, which tends to be a more affordable option. Note: these only go up to size 7.
These are fabulous options that provide a little style, great protection, and appropriate coverage for our girls!
Shop UV Skinz for Girls
Shop UV Skinz for Boys
Honorable mentions from other moms:
- Lands’ End – I actually bought my own swimsuits from them, and I love their stuff. I just couldn’t find much at this point in Emily’s size. You want to buy these early – like before the season begins!
- Jessica Rey Swimwear – These are SUPER CUTE, but a little pricey for us!
- Primary.com – These look great too, but my fashionista daughter did not go for these basic solids.
Friends, I hope you’ve found these links helpful if you’re in the market for some swimwear that covers and protects your girls. Let’s refuse to give away our kids’ innocence and modesty just because appropriate swimwear isn’t in stock at Target.
Check out these awesome companies whose clothing shows respect to our daughters. And I’d be so grateful if you’d share this post with a mom-friend!
Kayse is a wife, mom, and founder of the Anchored Women community. She writes to help women fight busy, find rest, and build a life that’s anchored in Christ. Kayse is also the creator of the S.O.S. Planner, the Anchored Life Kit, and other practical resources that equip women to manage their homes and families in confidence. You can find her writing and her resources at anchored-women.com!
Thanks Kayse for sharing and supporting so many families with your positivity and caring. I too found a lack of modest swimwear for my growing girls and as they are now just a year away or so from puberty , I have become ever more conscious of their growing bodies and how this is perceived in today’s society. I created modest, sun protective swimwear for my girls made from recycled plastics, as I am also about sustainability and preserving this beautiful world, as I could not find it out there. And now I have finally launched this brand of swimwear called Jody and Lara ( after my girls). http://www.jodyandlara.com I would value any feedback from you as I make my way into this e-commerce jungle.😍
Awesome collection for children. Keep on posting.
I am also behind the more modesty movement! We have two red-headed, fair-skinned sunburns waiting to happen. We have always gone for the shorts/shirts surf suits or board shorts and shirts. Sun protection and modesty! Our oldest daughter had to be resuscitated at birth, and in that moment God told my husband that modesty would be her strength and power. Far be it from us to let her wear something that would dis-empower her to walk God’s path for her life!
Thank God for modest options!
Also, just so you know, in the styles we sell at Costco, both the girls and the boys sun shirts are sized the same! There is really no difference in sizes for the average child ages 1-7, boy or girl. We’re sorry you couldn’t find our styles in your local Costco too. We don’t have control on where Costco decides to sell our products and we are really hoping they will bring us back next year but we haven’t yet heard, if you do like our products, you can let Costco know as they do listen to their members. But please feel free to email me and we can see if we have any samples we can send you. Thank you again for the great review. (Of course I’m partial to UV Skinz, but a Coolibar has great UPF 50+ products too! 😉
Thank you for the review Intentional Moms! I started UV Skinz 12 years ago, after losing my 32 year old husband to melanoma. It was this experience and being left to raise our three little boys on my own that gave me the drive and determination to want to raise awareness about the need for proper sun protection for our little ones. I’ve since remarried and have another son and daughter (age 8) and although our products were initially intended for sun protection coverage, I can FULLY get behind the modest coverage for girls too. With the four boys, I didn’t really have to worry about modesty but I am just shocked by the lack of modesty in the girls clothing options. So, thank you for protecting your kids from sun damage and for getting on your soap box about modest clothing options for girls. 🙂
I am so sorry to hear about your husband. I am amazed to hear how you took that experience and made it into something where you’re helping so many! I will certainly let our Costcos know that we miss being able to buy your suits in store. And I will be emailing you shortly!
We had the UV skins for both my son and daughter last year. We liked them and would buy them again.
You know what’s worse? When your 10 year old has already hit puberty. I can’t buy little girl sizes, I have to shop in women’s sizes for her! Talk about a lack of modesty! I’m near 40 and can’t find modest bathing suits! I’m tired of ALL women and girls being oversexualized. I don’t want MY cheeks/breasts falling out and I certainly don’t want it happening to my daughters! I finally found her some tankini/boy short combinations that are a good compromise. For my younger daughter she is a 10/12 and I found a polka dot one-piece halter that is super adorable and retro, with a good coverage bottom and ruffles. Bonus is that she LOVED it. I got it in pink and black there’s a red one too! I’m linking below (I’m not an affiliate and I get nothing if anyone clicks, I just found this to be a super cute option)
qyqkfly Girls Polka Dot Bathing Suit Adjustable One Piece 4Y-16Y Swimsuit (FBA) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01G1UVYSO/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_c_api_i_-1xgBbW52PMRA