The modest swimwear revolution is calling—and we aren’t just talking burkinis, either. Enabled by a new generation of fashion visionaries, the modest swimsuit has been upgraded, morphed and reinvented beyond imagination. Your quest for the perfect modest swimsuit will now lead you to brands doused in beachy hues and mood-enhancing prints without compromising on coverage or comfort.
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Whether you are looking to make the switch to sun-conscious clothing or want to adhere to modest dressing codes at public pools and beach clubs, you’ll find these brands united in the mission to ensure that your swimwear choices are predicated on one core tenet: freedom of choice.
How to wear a modest swimsuit
- The days of throwing on an oversized top and leggings for the beach are gone. You’ll now find a tailored range of modest swimsuits engineered with precision to offer maximum coverage in and out of the water.
- When starting your quest for the modest swimsuit of your dreams, it helps to define your outfit needs for the occasion. Are you headed to a public, semi-private or secluded location?
- Depending on the venue, it helps to define the level of coverage that you feel comfortable with—there are no wrong answers here.
- Once you have penciled in these crucial answers, you’ll find an endless array of options to choose from. Whether you find yourself drawn to the siren song of minimalism or you have a more-the-merrier approach to prints, your search won’t leave you empty-handed—that’s a promise.
Tips for finding the right modest swimwear
- While colors and bright hues can ensure a ‘gram-worthy selfie, you’ll want to factor in some additional parameters in your search as well.
- If you expect to spend prolonged hours in the sun, it helps to look for fabrics with UPF 50+ to protect your skin in places that traditional sunscreen may not reach.
- Lightweight, fast-drying fabrics will also ensure that you look and feel breezy at all times.
- If clingy silhouettes are not your jam, your search will need to be guided by layered ensembles that offer extra coverage while hopping in and out of the pool.
All the modest swimsuit brands to add to your radar
“Where can I buy a modest one-piece swimsuit in the UAE?” The good news: Just about everywhere. From sporting giants to homegrown success stories, the modest fashion wave has charmed key stakeholders across the spectrum. Need proof? Below, you’ll find 25 modest swimwear ideas, brands and outfits for making heads turn at your next tropical getaway. Good times without the tan lines—who’s in?
The year is 2017, and the internet can’t stop talking about Nike’s Pro Hijab—sculpted from lightweight, breathable mesh with an elasticated band for a personalized fit. While sports enthusiasts rejoiced the world over, many hoped that the waves of inclusivity would extend to other parts of their wardrobe.
The prayer was answered when Nike launched the Victory swimsuit in 2019. The semi-fitted tunic and leggings served as a revolution for modest dressers everywhere, but they weren’t the only ones. The virtues of UPF40+ received a nod from women growing increasingly concerned about sun exposure at the beach. Having to make the binary choice between leading an active lifestyle or opting for adequate coverage? Never again.
“Sports belongs to all.” Driven by this axiom, adidas’ first full-cover swimwear collection hit shelves in 2021. Offering neck-to-ankle coverage across a wide array of sizes from 2XS to 2XL, the collection was instantly snapped by swimmers everywhere. But they weren’t the only ones rejoicing—modest dresses flocked to the collection after an eternity of having their choices painfully restricted in the swimwear aisle.
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With trendy colorways to choose from—black, aqua, burgundy and more—an array of thoughtful finishing touches makes it the go-to choice for those looking for modest swimwear for women. Expect thumbholes for secure cuffing, singlets with sleeves and press studs to ensure that the fabric stays in place while moving underwater. A complementary lineup of swim hijabs—emblazoned with the brand’s iconic three-stripe design—will ensure that your swim wardrobe is ready to live, love and lap.
For years, Dubai-based influencer Hadia Ghaleb found herself puzzled by the lack of inclusive dressing options on the sartorial landscape. Where were the modest outfits that the women of today needed, she wondered? Could there exist a full-coverage swimwear lineup that empowered women to accept every aspect of their lives without being restrained by the lack of choices that catered to their modest beliefs? She often observed veiled and unveiled designs sold in separate stores entirely—could there be a space where they all came together to offer women the choice to opt for as much coverage as they wanted?
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The answer came to her in the form of a ‘swimsuit for all’ collection that turned the conventional notion of modest swimsuits for women on its head. A lively influx of colors punctuates the collection—driven by the founder’s own nostalgic memories of summery days on the beach. The trendy prints were accompanied by strategic silhouettes that allowed women the choice of covering up as little or as much as they wanted to.
Lanuuk
Full coverage swimwear that doesn’t compromise on fashion or femininity? Head right this way. Lanuuk, a London-based activewear brand, is revolutionizing full-coverage swimwear—all without compromising on comfort. The result is a highly covetable lineup of modest swim dresses with ruched detailing, throw-on-and-go separates and hoodie jackets. Round out your look with a range of slip-on turbans in coordinated colors, and you’re golden.
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Every creation at Lanuuk is produced in tandem with a small, family-run manufacturing team in the Philippines. Lightweight, quick-drying fabrics ensure that you can transition from the beach to brunch with ease. For those private retreats and holidays, the brand also offers a lineup of bikinis with high-waisted, full coverage bottoms. Their only goal? To ensure that you feel empowered and beautiful in your own body, regardless of the level of coverage you opt for.
LYRA
What does modest activewear look like for women, you ask? London-based LYRA has the answers. When founder Ikram Zein found herself torn between her love for the sun and the surf and the lack of modest dressing choices, the answer was clear. After spending a year holed up in her bedroom making moodboards and seeking insights from women of all faiths, she launched the LYRASWIMS in 2016.
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The undeniable je-ne-sais-quoi of Moroccan beach chic sneaks its way into the brand’s lexicon of modern minimalism. The colors run classic, the silhouettes remain flattering but never clingy. Imbued with UV protection and sand resistance, the fabrics will ensure that you get your quota of vitamin sea with no muss, no fuss.
SHELLÍNE
As she perused bathing robes for Muslim women, Sabina Khamid couldn’t help but feel distinctly underwhelmed. Did modest swimwear mean forgoing all sense of style? Driven by the belief that the modest wear industry could—and should—do better to cater to women of all preferences, she chose to take matters into her own hands by sketching her first swimsuit and taking it for a dip in the Aegean Sea.
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The response that she received was beyond anything she had fathomed—countless queries poured in not just from modest dressers but women who wanted to shield their skin from the sun as well. In the eight years since, the brand has expanded to include seamless tops, headbands and eco-friendly shopper bags.
Munamer
What happens when a Milan-based fashion designer finds herself immersed in Muslim culture and dressing etiquettes? Chiara Taffarello would find out the answers for herself when a sojourn in Pakistan helped her delve deeper into a new definition of femininity emerging within the region.
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In a bid to create modest wear swimsuits who wanted to travel and explore life to the fullest, she created Munamer. Now counted among the first Italian brands to take on the modest fashion market, her creations have infused on-trend prints, colors and hues into conventional burkinis. The brand also offers a range of swim dresses, medium-coverage one-pieces and breezy kaftan dresses that celebrate women who prefer higher coverage on the beach.
Cover Swim
Straight out of Dallas comes a high-coverage swimwear brand that cares about your skin. After her younger sister was diagnosed with melanoma, founder Lisa Moore quit her investment banking job to turn the swimwear industry on its head. The result is a sun-conscious lineup of swimwear with its own swim jersey® fabric. With nearly all UV rays eliminated, the fabric also delivers on temperature control. Once damp, the sunsuit will keep you looking—and feeling—cool, even on the most sweltering days.
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Beyond sleeved swimsuits—that score a major win for modest dressers—the brand also serves up high-necked swim tops, tunics and cardigans to help you have fun in the sun without worrying about UV exposure.
Hydro Swimwear
“Where can I buy a modest one piece swimsuit in Saudi?” If your search history has been driven by this query, you’ll find the answers you are looking for in Hydro Swimwear. For Cairo-based founder Sohaila Salem, the brand’s raison d’être is as simple as it is unique: celebrating the individuality and comfort that modest dressers seek in their swimwear choices.
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For summer 2024, the Egyptian brand is betting big on minty hues and relaxed silhouettes. Fitted bodysuits are layered with coordinated skirts, while an additional lineup of leggings allow you to maximize coverage when stepping into the waves. Water-repellent swim hijabs make for a compelling addition to round out the look.
Monochromatic hues serve as the headline to this Amsterdam-based brand’s modest swimwear offering. Expect a soothing palette of earthy neutrals, nautical blues and buttery-soft taupe. The traditional burkini is broken down into an array of versatile separates—think swim dresses with attached hijabs as well as sun-safe tunics that can be teamed with turbans and caps.
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Lightweight fabrics ensure that the airflow is not constricted on your skin during long, leisurely days in the sun. The end result? A range of modest swimwear designed to ensure that following a modest lifestyle doesn’t stop you from being you.
Best modest swimsuits to buy for full coverage
Whether you are looking to shield your skin from the sun or head-to-toe coverage, there are endless reasons to fall in love with burkinis and hijab swimming suits. On-trend prints and flattering silhouettes ensure that you’ll never run out of choices. Let’s get started, shall we?
What if you could swim like a mermaid without having to compromise on coverage? This is the question that the think tank at Nike set out to answer. The result is a lineup of hijabi-friendly swimwear crafted from lightweight fabrics doused in a streamlined design. A range of pop neons ensures that your modest swimwear choices are anything but boring.
Shop here: Nike Victory Women’s Full-Coverage Swim Tunic
The hunt for the perfect modest swim dress with sleeves ends here with full coverage swim tunics leading the charge at adidas. As a sweet bonus, you’ll find options crafted with 70% recycled materials to ensure that your poolside wardrobe is kind to the environment as well. Crafted with an in-built bra, the long sleeves are detailed with thumb holes to keep everything in place. Having to fidget in the water to keep everything in place? Thank u, next.
Shop here: adidas 3-Stripes Swim Long Sleeve Top
There are modest swim tops and then, there is Lyra Modest’s lineup of fuss-free designs. The colors? Soothing ocean-inspired hues of seafoam blue, lavender and olive green. The silhouette? High-necked with cross-over detailing to ensure adequate coverage when you are splashing around in the waves. A coordinated range of swim bottoms offers up ruched skirts. You’ll fall for the easy pull-on design that ensures zero interruptions in your time with the sun and the sand.
Shop here: Lyra Modest Nabila Swim Top
Modest swimming costumes, you ask? Look no further than this three-piece ensemble that comprises a surf-style jumpsuit with zipper detailing—a thoughtful addition for nursing mothers. Round out your look with the detachable wrap skirt and swimming hijab for complete head-to-toe coverage. Doused in the tranquil hues of seashell blue, the use of recycled ECONYL® nylon with UPF 50+ keeps your skin shielded from the harsh rays of the sun. What’s not to love?
Shop here: SHELLÍNE Luria Blue Capuccino
While you are on the market for three-piece modest swimsuits, it also helps to consider the burkinis from Munamer. Tropical prints spring to life on a modest swim dress that can be easily zipped on and off as needed. Ankle-length leggings join the party with an elastic underband at the heel to prevent the fabric from riding up during sporty activities. A shaped elastic hood assumes the role of head cover with UV and chlorine resistant properties to keep you protected while you kick back in the waves.
Shop here: Munamer Aruba Black Burkini
Best modest swimsuits for medium coverage
So, we hear you are looking for cute modest two-piece swimsuits? Say no more. Whether you are just dipping your toes in the modest lifestyle or looking to cover up your skin from the sun’s glare, you’ll find an exciting array of options are your perusal—expect breezy hues and beachy vibes.
Swimsuits that protect the environment and the women who wear them? Sign us up, please. The LBD of your beach wardrobe, this number packs in UPF 50+ to keep harmful rays out. The label’s signature stretch fabric ensures maximum ease of movement, whether you are catching up on a juicy summer read under a lounger or kicking around a ball on the sand.
Shop here: Cover Swim + NET SUSTAIN Valerie UPF50+ Stretch Recycled Swimsuit
Long sleeves? Check. High neck? Check. Quick-drying fabric? Check. There is little not to love with Lanuuk’s clay-hued design. A double-layered peplum skirt ensures modest coverage around the hips while the breathable fabric offers UPF 50+ for added sun protection. A range of coordinated swim bottoms allows you to opt for the coverage you’d like—your body, your choice.
Shop here: Lanuuk Serena Swim Dress in Stretch-Nylon
Say hello to the modest swim shorts of your dreams with Hadia Ghaleb’s four-piece ensemble. Build your look with a sleeveless top and high-waisted shorts for medium coverage. Looking to layer up? Simply slide on the cover-up skirt for added coverage or knot the matching scarf around your waist as you step out of the waves. Doused in mood-enhancing minty hues, consider this chic number as the equivalent of slipping on a refreshing lemonade on a sweltering day.
Shop here: Hadia Ghaleb Mint Shorts Set
Designed for fun in as well as out of the water—the modest swim shorts you’ve always dreamed about. Looking for some additional coverage over a one-piece swimsuit? Slide on this easy drawstring design as you hop from the beach to the cabana. The layered wrap design clocks in cool cred on the ‘gram, while the recycled polyamide fabric helps divert waste fabrics from landfills. Kind on you, kind on the environment—that’s what we call a win-win.
Shop here: Summersalt The Sea To Shore Swim Shorts
Micro-soft jersey cradles the skin with a breezy touch on the most scorching summer days. A front zipper ensures easy removal after a long day in the sun and the sand. A burst of tropical brights on the sleeves makes for a selfie-ready statement at all times. Crafted in an engineered flattering fit, your beach wardrobe is incomplete without this modest one-piece swimsuit.
Shop here: Duskii Neoprene Classic Long Sleeve Suit | Tropical
Best modest swimsuits for light coverage
When building the foundations of a trusty beach wardrobe, it helps to have options for every kind of occasion. For a quick dip in a private pool, you’ll find a host of fuss-free options that offer up light coverage and endless style. Let’s dive in—forgive the pun.
High on functionality, high on fashion—strike the best of both worlds with SKIMS’ classic approach to swimwear. A high-crew neckline makes it a win for those on the prowl for modest stylish swimwear for women. An adjustable front zipper offers versatile styling options while catching the rays by the poolside. Factor in the 76% recycled nylon fabric and you have a winner on your hands.
Shop here: SKIMS Zipped Sleeveless One-Piece Swimsuit
Looking to infuse a splash of color in your swim wardrobe? All roads can only lead to La DoubleJ. Known for its lively influx of summer-ready prints, this cap-sleeved swimsuit is no exception. An adjustable array of buttons at the front allows you to opt for coverage as you wish depending on the occasion. Wear it as it is by the pool or team it with high-waisted pants for any après-hours invites on your social calendar—the possibilities are endless.
Shop here: La DoubleJ Tutto Suit Whitsun Mini Blue In Lycra
Within the wide world of sleeveless swimsuits, Cynthia Rowley’s iterations stand out from the crowd—and it’s easy to see why. A pop of neon hues livens up the number from being relegated to the just-another-black swimsuit pile. A front zip closure ensures ease of movement while the use of recycled tires and conservative water resources clocks in a win for the environment as well. And that is before we get to the best part—a zip pocket at the back to stash coins, keys and other essentials.
Shop here: Cynthia Rowley Byron Sleeveless Wetsuit
Monochrome but never monotonous—say hello to the ERES Présage One-Piece Swimsuit that offers up the perfect blend of coverage and style. A two-toned tribal print ensures that you’ll get compliments wherever you go. Factor in the elbow-grazing sleeves and front zip closure and you have everything you need for last-minute trips to the beach. Round out the look with the coordinated pocket pouch for stashing SPF and other necessities or layer it with an all-black cover-up and you’re ready to roll.
Shop here: ERES Présage One-Piece Swimsuit
With short sleeves and boat-necked silhouette, Lanuuk’s Diana Midi Swimsuit is already ahead of the pack when it comes to cute yet modest one-piece swimsuits. Then, there comes the ruched detailing that ensures a flattering fit without revealing more than you’d like. Team this earthy number with coordinated leggings and turban for those days when you’d like additional coverage.
Shop here: Lanuuk Diana Midi Swimsuit in ECONYL® Regenerated Nylon
