The 11 Best One-Piece Swimsuits for Petites, According to a 5’1” Editor and a Professional Stylist

Splashing in the pool, sunning on the beach—all the reasons we have for wearing a swimsuit are fun. But shopping for one? Decidedly less so. Figuring out the best fit for your body type—whether you have a long torso or short, big boobs or small—is a feat in itself. And if you happen to clock in well below model height, well, that presents a whole new challenge, particularly when it comes to one-pieces.

The pros? One-piece bathing suits offer extra coverage and upper body support. The cons, especially for short girls, include a lack of adjustability and size customization—not to mention the risk of that extra fabric compacting your figure or hanging loose where you definitely don’t want it to. But if you’re hoping to find a petite-friendly one-piece that will actually flatter your frame (and help you avoid that dreaded diaper butt), you’ve come to the right place. 

As a 5’1” fashion and shopping editor, I know my way around plenty of petite styling tricks. And not only have I pulled tried-and-true picks from my fellow PureWow petites, I’ve also tapped professional stylist Samantha Dawn for her expert recommendations when it comes to picking out one-pieces that work for short women. 

Samantha Dawn is the stylist and coach behind By Samantha Dawn, a service which combines her background in psychology with her knowledge of fashion to help clients reestablish their personal style. 

As a short gal myself, I took into account things I like in a swimsuit, including elongating V-necks and designs that work to make short torsos look longer. I also considered the pro styling advice of Dawn, who shared multiple features that benefit different types of petite frames (which you can read more about at the end of this story). From there, I searched editor- and reader-loved swim brands that offer quality, comfort, style and a wide size range from bust to hip.

Dawn calls out the important point that “even though all petite women are under a certain height, that doesn't mean all petite body shapes are the same. You have to consider body shape, proportions and how [you] want to shape [your] body.”

That said, she notes, “choosing a bathing suit for a petite body shape depends on a couple of things:

• What are your proportions? Meaning, do you carry more volume in your upper half or lower half? 
• How do you want to shape your body visually?
• What body parts do you want to avoid being emphasized? 

“For example, if someone who carries more volume in her shoulders and wants to elongate their legs while minimizing their midsection, I would suggest going for a cheekier bottom that is high waisted, because that will elongate the legs and shorten the torso. However, if you have a shorter torso and want to elongate it, I suggest choosing a lower rise.”

She adds, “If you have broader shoulders, opt for thicker straps to soften the shoulders. If you want to emphasize your shoulders, choose a swimsuit with thinner straps, a halter neck or one that is strapless. If you want to focus on elongating your upper half to have a better posture…that will help you appear taller, go for a V neckline in your bathing suits.”

To play up your vertical lines, I’ll add that you should seek out styles with vertical stripes and cutouts (like the ones linked above), or diagonal designs. Belted or cinched-waist swimsuits are also flattering for petites, as they help accentuate curves and keep your torso looking proportional, rather than blocky and compact.