Bodysuits, swimsuits, and leotards are all garments that follow a similar design pattern but have different intended uses. While they’re all figure-hugging, form-fitting, and tend to cover the mid-section of the body, it’s their materials that truly set them apart. Still, their purposes can become overlapped, and we might find ourselves eyeing up that bodysuit in our wardrobe, wondering if it’s fit for the pool and vice versa.
The short answer
Bodysuits and swimsuits might look very similar. The main difference is the material they are made of. However, you can use a swimsuit and a body suit interchangeably if you really need to. But, if you can you should probably use a swimsuit when going swimming.
Bodysuit or Swimsuit?
There’s no denying that curve-hugging bodysuits look a lot like swimsuits. So much so that if you spot a bodysuit style you like that you can’t find in the swimwear section, you may be tempted to pass that bodysuit off a swimsuit. The good news is that you can. That said, you may need to be ready for the bodysuit to become heavy, water-logged, and even warped. This can be overcome by shopping for a bodysuit that’s close to swimsuits in material, usually made of polyester, spandex, and nylon.
In other words, bodysuits are best to be worn by the water instead of in it, while swimsuits are ideal for water-side and water activities.
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This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
What is a bodysuit?
A bodysuit is a one-piece form-fitting or skin-tight garment that covers the torso and the crotch, and sometimes the legs, hands, and feet. Popularised in the late 70s-early 80s, bodysuits have become a staple piece on the fashion scene and tend to come in and out of fashion without ever truly disappearing from designer’s radars. While one primarily used as activewear, they’ve found their way into general wear, often used as a layered piece during the day and as a standalone piece when it comes to nightlife style. So, while similar in design to a one-piece swimsuit or leotard, bodysuits are distinct due to their materials.
What is a swimsuit?
A swimsuit is a garment that’s designed specifically for water-based wear. Typically made from a blend of polyester, nylon, and spandex, swimsuits are flexible, water-resistant, and can stretch without losing shape. Swimsuits are also designed to be form-fitting so as not to catch water while keeping your silhouette aerodynamic, making swimming and other water activities easier and safer.
Select options
This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Bodysuit vs. Swimsuit, What’s the Difference?
Simply put, swimsuits are seamless; bodysuits are not. Designed to be aerodynamic and safe to wear in the water, swimsuits are mainly free from the snaps, hooks, or Velcro that tend to be included in a bodysuit’s design. It’s these features that also set bodysuits apart from the more streamlined leotard. Thong or T-front thong bodysuits usually have the crotch opening moved up to the front to the underbelly area to increase the wearer’s comfort. A bodysuit may have sleeves and varying shoulder straps and collar styles.
Can you Wear a Bodysuit as a Swimsuit?
Yes. You can wear a bodysuit as a swimsuit. That said, bodysuits aren’t designed to be swimwear, so you may run into some minor issues along the way, such as discomfort and waterlogging. There is nothing to stop you from rocking a swimsuit as a bodysuit. Very few people will be able to spot the difference, with only fabric connoisseurs being able to discern the distinct style, making bodysuits an easy-peasy and smart alternative to swimsuits.
Can you Wear Bodysuit to Swim?
Yes, bodysuits are suitable for swimming. However, as mentioned above, you may run into some small problems if you decide to take your bodysuit into the water. These can be overcome by keeping some considerations in mind while shopping.
While cotton tends to be the material of choice for bodysuits, it’s certainly not optimal when it comes to water-based activities. Fortunately, bodysuits are also crafted using a variety of materials that are much more water-friendly, including nylon and even lace.
Pay close attention to what kind of fabric blends the body suit is crafted from. The more similar it is to the material of an actual swimsuit, the better, meaning you should be keeping an eye out for that soft, almost glossy feel of polyester, nylon, and spandex. That said, you don’t necessarily need to analyze each bodysuit’s tag for certain blend ratios. Once it’s a good mix of polyester and a flexible fabric like spandex, you’re on the right track.
What Bodysuit Material to Avoid?
Avoid cotton at all costs or any other absorbent materials that can break down in the water, or their fibers can clog.
The Stretchier, the Better
If a body suit lacks stretch, it’s best to leave it on the rack. Once these bodysuits hit the water, they’ll become waterlogged and are liable to sag. The result is quite unflattering and very uncomfortable. So, be sure to perform a stretch test on every bodysuit by using both hands to pull its material gently in opposite directions. If the body suit only stretches in some areas or puts up too much resistance to your pulling, it’s not a good swimsuit alternative.
Know your Size
Sizing is crucially important when it comes to swimsuit alternatives. Since materials tend to change when exposed to water, it’s likely that any garment whose design is not specially made for water will temporarily warp. Should that happen, you may run into some unfortunate wardrobe malfunctions. To avoid this happening, it may be best to shop for a size smaller.
What’s the Point of Wearing a Bodysuit?
The purpose of a bodysuit is to provide support and a seamless tucked-in so that you can style with comfort and ease. Bodysuits can be skin-tight or relaxed, and due to their tension from shoulders to crotch, they can hug your curves as the perfect foundation and on top so you can pair them with any bottoms you want.
Do you Wear a Bra Under a Bodysuit?
If your bodysuit fills its design guidelines, you shouldn’t have to wear a bra. That’s because a bodysuit is a dual-design, smart garment that combines underwear and a top in one. Bodysuits are designed to be sheer and seamless, meaning wearing a bra underneath would defeat their purpose. To replace the typical function of a bra, bodysuits are designed with several supportive features that not only lift the bust but also tend to hold it in place.
That said, if you think you need a little extra support, you can wear a strapless bra under your bodysuit. The strapless design limits any lumps or bumps that ruin the sleek bodysuit effect.
Bodysuit vs. Swimsuit: A Conclusion
Bodysuits and swimsuits can be interchanged. Their similar design means that they tend to be safe to wear in the water as well as outside of it, meaning that a swimsuit can be worn as daywear as much as a bodysuit can be worn as swimwear. However, you will want to take the material into consideration, with bodysuits needing a little more polyester and spandex to function optimally as a swimsuit, while swimwear that features less nylon (looks less glossy and shiny) tend to look best as bodysuits.
Once you’ve found the best blend of fabric, your next consideration should be the size. The form-fitting capability of both garments cannot be underestimated when it comes to comfort and avoiding wardrobe malfunctions, meaning you should shop for your exact size or even a size lower. Finally, you can focus on style, choosing something that makes you look as good as you feel.
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Swimsuits are often made from stretchy materials like spandex. They are therefore prone to becoming wrinkled, especially when being stored away for the whole off-season. Swimsuits can get wrinkles from being folded or squished in a suitcase or drawer, or from being hung on a hanger for too long. It’s essential to take the proper …
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Swimsuit season is here, and if you’re like many people, you’re probably trying to decide which type of swimsuit to buy. One important choice you’ll need to make is whether to go with a closed-back or open-back swimsuit. In this blog post, we’ll explore the differences between these two types of swimsuits and help you …
Bodysuit vs. swimsuit
Bodysuits, swimsuits, and leotards are all garments that follow a similar design pattern but have different intended uses. While they’re all figure-hugging, form-fitting, and tend to cover the mid-section of the body, it’s their materials that truly set them apart. Still, their purposes can become overlapped, and we might find ourselves eyeing up that bodysuit in our wardrobe, wondering if it’s fit for the pool and vice versa.
The short answer
Bodysuits and swimsuits might look very similar. The main difference is the material they are made of. However, you can use a swimsuit and a body suit interchangeably if you really need to. But, if you can you should probably use a swimsuit when going swimming.
Bodysuit or Swimsuit?
There’s no denying that curve-hugging bodysuits look a lot like swimsuits. So much so that if you spot a bodysuit style you like that you can’t find in the swimwear section, you may be tempted to pass that bodysuit off a swimsuit. The good news is that you can. That said, you may need to be ready for the bodysuit to become heavy, water-logged, and even warped. This can be overcome by shopping for a bodysuit that’s close to swimsuits in material, usually made of polyester, spandex, and nylon.
In other words, bodysuits are best to be worn by the water instead of in it, while swimsuits are ideal for water-side and water activities.
More inspirations of what to wear if you don’t have a swimsuit.
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£40What is a bodysuit?
A bodysuit is a one-piece form-fitting or skin-tight garment that covers the torso and the crotch, and sometimes the legs, hands, and feet. Popularised in the late 70s-early 80s, bodysuits have become a staple piece on the fashion scene and tend to come in and out of fashion without ever truly disappearing from designer’s radars. While one primarily used as activewear, they’ve found their way into general wear, often used as a layered piece during the day and as a standalone piece when it comes to nightlife style. So, while similar in design to a one-piece swimsuit or leotard, bodysuits are distinct due to their materials.
What is a swimsuit?
A swimsuit is a garment that’s designed specifically for water-based wear. Typically made from a blend of polyester, nylon, and spandex, swimsuits are flexible, water-resistant, and can stretch without losing shape. Swimsuits are also designed to be form-fitting so as not to catch water while keeping your silhouette aerodynamic, making swimming and other water activities easier and safer.
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£49Bodysuit vs. Swimsuit, What’s the Difference?
Simply put, swimsuits are seamless; bodysuits are not. Designed to be aerodynamic and safe to wear in the water, swimsuits are mainly free from the snaps, hooks, or Velcro that tend to be included in a bodysuit’s design. It’s these features that also set bodysuits apart from the more streamlined leotard. Thong or T-front thong bodysuits usually have the crotch opening moved up to the front to the underbelly area to increase the wearer’s comfort. A bodysuit may have sleeves and varying shoulder straps and collar styles.
Can you Wear a Bodysuit as a Swimsuit?
Yes. You can wear a bodysuit as a swimsuit. That said, bodysuits aren’t designed to be swimwear, so you may run into some minor issues along the way, such as discomfort and waterlogging. There is nothing to stop you from rocking a swimsuit as a bodysuit. Very few people will be able to spot the difference, with only fabric connoisseurs being able to discern the distinct style, making bodysuits an easy-peasy and smart alternative to swimsuits.
Can you Wear Bodysuit to Swim?
Yes, bodysuits are suitable for swimming. However, as mentioned above, you may run into some small problems if you decide to take your bodysuit into the water. These can be overcome by keeping some considerations in mind while shopping.
Read more: How to go to the bathroom in a swimsuit
Shopping for a Bodysuit you Can Swim in
Choose the Right Material
While cotton tends to be the material of choice for bodysuits, it’s certainly not optimal when it comes to water-based activities. Fortunately, bodysuits are also crafted using a variety of materials that are much more water-friendly, including nylon and even lace.
Pay close attention to what kind of fabric blends the body suit is crafted from. The more similar it is to the material of an actual swimsuit, the better, meaning you should be keeping an eye out for that soft, almost glossy feel of polyester, nylon, and spandex. That said, you don’t necessarily need to analyze each bodysuit’s tag for certain blend ratios. Once it’s a good mix of polyester and a flexible fabric like spandex, you’re on the right track.
What Bodysuit Material to Avoid?
Avoid cotton at all costs or any other absorbent materials that can break down in the water, or their fibers can clog.
The Stretchier, the Better
If a body suit lacks stretch, it’s best to leave it on the rack. Once these bodysuits hit the water, they’ll become waterlogged and are liable to sag. The result is quite unflattering and very uncomfortable. So, be sure to perform a stretch test on every bodysuit by using both hands to pull its material gently in opposite directions. If the body suit only stretches in some areas or puts up too much resistance to your pulling, it’s not a good swimsuit alternative.
Know your Size
Sizing is crucially important when it comes to swimsuit alternatives. Since materials tend to change when exposed to water, it’s likely that any garment whose design is not specially made for water will temporarily warp. Should that happen, you may run into some unfortunate wardrobe malfunctions. To avoid this happening, it may be best to shop for a size smaller.
What’s the Point of Wearing a Bodysuit?
The purpose of a bodysuit is to provide support and a seamless tucked-in so that you can style with comfort and ease. Bodysuits can be skin-tight or relaxed, and due to their tension from shoulders to crotch, they can hug your curves as the perfect foundation and on top so you can pair them with any bottoms you want.
Do you Wear a Bra Under a Bodysuit?
If your bodysuit fills its design guidelines, you shouldn’t have to wear a bra. That’s because a bodysuit is a dual-design, smart garment that combines underwear and a top in one. Bodysuits are designed to be sheer and seamless, meaning wearing a bra underneath would defeat their purpose. To replace the typical function of a bra, bodysuits are designed with several supportive features that not only lift the bust but also tend to hold it in place.
That said, if you think you need a little extra support, you can wear a strapless bra under your bodysuit. The strapless design limits any lumps or bumps that ruin the sleek bodysuit effect.
Bodysuit vs. Swimsuit: A Conclusion
Bodysuits and swimsuits can be interchanged. Their similar design means that they tend to be safe to wear in the water as well as outside of it, meaning that a swimsuit can be worn as daywear as much as a bodysuit can be worn as swimwear. However, you will want to take the material into consideration, with bodysuits needing a little more polyester and spandex to function optimally as a swimsuit, while swimwear that features less nylon (looks less glossy and shiny) tend to look best as bodysuits.
Once you’ve found the best blend of fabric, your next consideration should be the size. The form-fitting capability of both garments cannot be underestimated when it comes to comfort and avoiding wardrobe malfunctions, meaning you should shop for your exact size or even a size lower. Finally, you can focus on style, choosing something that makes you look as good as you feel.
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