Somehow, for my “Busty & The Beach” series, I ended up with four suits instead of the two that Darlene and Jenn received (lucky me!). I’m actually starting with my favorite of the bunch (though it was a pretty tough call because I love them all).
This is the Figleaves brand Colourblock Underwired Non Pad Halter Bikini Top in 30G and the Colourblock High Waist Tummy Control Bikini Brief in UK 12 (US medium).
Disclosure: This set was received as a review sample. All opinions are my own and based entirely on my experience. The links to the top and bottoms are affiliate links, and clicking them may result in commissions to Hourglassy. I measure 38”-29”-42”, height 5’6”, and bra size UK 28GG/30G.
With four different bikinis, I created a little character for the photos of each one. In this case, I thought this suit was the most sophisticated, so I adopted a bit of an aloof fashion model affect.
In all seriousness, though, I absolutely love this suit! This is the first Figleaves house brand swimwear I’ve ever tried, and I’m really pleased with the construction, support, and attention to detail.
The top is structured with interior two-part mesh cups. The outer section is 100% nylon, minimally stretchy powernet mesh, while the inner part features 4-way stretch mesh (80% nylon, 20% elastane) to mold to the breast. As such, whether your tissue is fuller or shallower on top, this suit should fit a wide range of shapes. Further, there are side stays made of a more flexible material than the underwires, providing additional support yet remaining comfortable with no digging.
The outer layer of the bikini top entirely hides the underwire, giving it a sleek look. I know there can often be concerns with full-cup swimwear “looking like a bra,” but in this case, you really wouldn’t even know it’s bra-sized if you just saw someone wearing it on the beach.
Yet despite the fashion-forward styling, the support is top-notch. Even after doing a couple cannonballs and laps in the pool, nothing had shifted.
As for the bottoms, I think they’re extremely on-trend. If you follow any celebrities or “influencers” on Instagram, you’ve probably seen the bikinis they’re all wearing lately that feature a higher cut and less coverage in front. Compared to the other sets I’ll be reviewing, these definitely have the highest cut legs. Yet they’re more wearable for non-Instagram life thanks to the high waist and reasonable butt coverage.
Further, in addition to the standard crotch liner, the entire front side of the bottoms is lined in stretchy mesh for tummy support. I think it really shows! My husband accused me of sucking in my stomach in these photos, but I’m not—it’s really the briefs doing all the work! I only wish the backside was lined too, though that’s to keep them from wearing out too fast (sitting on the concrete edge of public pools tends to scratch up my bikini bottoms pretty badly).
Regarding fit, on most size charts, my waist falls into size medium, but my thighs fall into large or XL, so swim bottoms are always a gamble for me. I don’t want them so skimpy that they dig into my squishy bits or leave half my butt hanging out, but they need to be tight enough to stay up if I’m in ocean waves.
In this case, I went with size medium (my usual size), and they’re basically perfect. There’s no digging in, my butt is covered, and they stayed in place through my jumps in and out of the pool.
Finally, I have to point out the details that take this suit over the top. We already have hidden underwire, flexible side-stays, and lined bottoms…but I was next excited to discover that the back clasp is made of metal instead of plastic, so it should be very durable. Additionally, each little button that snaps into place within the clasp has a ring of clear plastic (silicone?) around it to keep it securely locked into place. Hearing and feeling that little click when I close it is extremely satisfying.
And lastly, I have to gush about the strap—yes, the strap! Instead of a bulky bow tied behind the neck, it’s ADJUSTABLE. It uses the same adjustment mechanism as a bra strap. It’s so clever yet this is the first I’ve ever seen it! I wish more halters were designed this way. It looks so much sleeker and it eliminates any possibility of the tie being too long, too short, coming loose, or needing to be re-tied after getting wet.
Oh, one more thing—at £34 and £18 (about $45 and $23 USD), this suit is extremely affordable among full-bust brands. It’s just a shame it stops at GG cups!
This is a great series of swimwear reviews. I like the really detailed examination of the garments and wearability tests plus they are stunning, they make want to be more adventurous in my shopping this summer. All interesting and flattering but this bikini is my favourite so far
Thanks for the feedback, Jan. It’s been really fun and energizing to put this series together.
I see you all have been wearing halter styles. I stay away bc my neck ends up hurting. I am a 32 G . How to these tops feel at the end of the day? It may be time to give them a try!
We didn’t get a chance to wear them for long, but Leah was mentioning that she never has issues with her neck hurting in halters. (And you notice that I’m not reviewing halters this year.)
Donna, I think it really depends on the style of the top. With underwires, the right cup shape, and a properly fitted band, the band ends up providing most of the support (just like a bra), so the halter strap isn’t really holding any weight. However, if the cups or band aren’t quite the right fit or it’s a wire-free bikini, then the strap may end up holding more of the weight, which could pull on your neck.
This top fit me very well, and had the bonus support from the side-stays, so it didn’t feel like there was any pressure on my neck.
I ONLY wear bra-sized swimwear, but I do have a couple bra-sized bikinis without wires and there is definitely more neck pressure in those cases. Luckily, most of the bra-size swimwear companies (Freya, Fantasie, Figleaves, Panache, Curvy Kate, etc.) offer multiple styles in each print, so customers have the choice of halter or no halter. Some even make convertible bikinis that can be worn either way!