I Tried the Controversial Tankini Trend—These 7 Are Cosmo Editor-Approved

Spiritually, this tankini feels the closest to the swimsuits of my middle school days—and I mean that in a good way! The colors look just as vibrant in person, and the strapless neckline is ridiculously flattering. I was admittedly skeptical about the grippy band situation, but it stayed in place—even when I was jumping around and sweating. Paired with the matching cheeky (but not too cheeky!) side-tie bottoms, this set is going to be a staple in my summer swim rotation.

First of all, how gorgeous is this coral red color?! I've had some hit-or-miss experiences with Amazon swimsuits in the past, so I was pleasantly surprised by this CUPSHE tankini. I adore the plunge neckline, which shows off some cleavage while giving me plenty of coverage on the side. It also has lace-up straps that cross on the back, which helps evenly distribute the weight of my chest and prevent shoulder pain—a major win, IMHO. If you want the look of a one-piece with the convenience of a two-piece, this is it.

The first thing I noticed about this tankini top is how comfortable it is—it has a looser fit than other options, but there's a built-in shelf bra for chest support. I saw some reviewers complaining about the cropped fit, but I love how it highlights my waist with its curved hem. And since it looks and feels like a sports bra, I would totally wear this with leggings to a yoga class. But I'd skip the matching bottoms or size down—they provided a little too much coverage for my taste, and kinda made me feel like I was wearing a diaper. Thankfully, it's easy to find other black bikini bottoms.

The beauty of this tankini is in its simplicity, making me feel sexy, but not like I'm trying too hard. My only gripe is its built-in pads—they look like a triangle bikini on the inside and were way too small for me. I ended up cutting them out for a smoother look, but people with smaller chests may prefer to keep them in for extra lift. On the bright side, it does have adjustable straps! I also love how easy it is to mix and match with SKIMS bottoms. I paired it with the Tanga bikini bottom, which I've owned for more than two years.

I'm genuinely sad that this tankini didn't exist during my middle school days, since the eyelet fabric and sunny color are so fun and youthful. But larger chest girlies, be warned: The top half of this tankini is on the smaller side and wasn't very supportive, so I think it would be best-suited for C cups and smaller. That said, I absolutely adore the cheeky, high cut matching bottoms, which make this otherwise playful set feel grown-up and sexy.

As someone with a larger chest, I was relieved when I slipped into this LBT (little black tankini, of course!) and it fit like a glove. My chest felt supported and lifted, thanks to the sewn-in cups and shelf bra. As an added bonus, the wider straps don't dig into my shoulders. For bottoms, I kept it simple with Summersalt's The High Leg Mid Rise Bikini Bottom, which was super comfortable and fit true to size. Although this set is a bit fuller-coverage than my usual style, I'll be packing it for my next family beach trip when I want something more PG.