The trick with swimwear shopping is to stick to well-established criteria. Your priorities, of course, are comfort, support, coverage and price. But while your demure black one-piece might cover those bases, you shouldn’t settle for a costume that does the bare minimum.

Take tummy control swimwear. If you want support in that area, you don’t have to avoid bikinis. Try a high waist pair with a built-in control panel, or a tank top. Ruching is fairly standard these days (as is a tie at the side) and does the trick by tucking everything away. If in doubt, wear something printed to distract.

Having a large cup size – and I’d count anything from DD plus – can feel like a minefield. There are specific brands for bigger sizes (I’ve listed some of the best I’ve found here), but it’s good to focus on support rather than simply more fabric. That means an underwire and proper straps – there’s no point messing about with bits of string.

You could also try underwire if you feel you need a bit of help at the other end of the spectrum. It may sound outdated, but it’s terrific at adding a bit of shape where you don’t have much, and if you spend half your day bent over sandcastles with your kids.

If you struggle to find your size, there are plenty of “one size fits all” brands – often with crinkly fabrics that do exactly that. But otherwise, it’s about looking for a brand that runs bigger sizes in its standard line. Marks & Spencer, for example, goes up to a 24.

And finally, if you want a swimsuit for swimming, go for a specialist brand. And do try it on so you get a sense of coverage – you don’t want anything popping out in the family pool.

The best swimsuits and bikinis for swimming

Green and brown check swimsuit, £70, Damson Madder

Patagonia orange swimsuit

Varley zip-front swimsuit

Batoko dinosaur swimsuit

Poetry floral swimsuit

Left: navy and pink zip-up swimsuit, £140, Finisterre. Centre: blue zip-up swimsuit, £104, Fabletics. Sunglasses, £10, M&S. Gold hoop earrings, £179, Monica Vinader. Right: blue bikini, top £30, and bottoms £28, Speedo. Earrings, £128, Astley Clarke.

Puma x Modibodi bikini top

Bottoms

Finisterre recycled bikini top

Bottoms

Sweaty Betty geometric bikini top

Bottoms

Rapanui recycled bikini top

Bottoms

The best swimwear for bigger busts

Green scalloped swimsuit, £34.30, Monsoon. Blue shell earrings, £16.50, M&S.

John Lewis adjustable swimsuit

Boux Avenue plunge bikini top

Bottoms

Heidi Klein halterneck bikini set

Pour Moi non-padded underwired bikini top

Bottoms

Fantasie v-neck swimsuit

Monday Swimwear crinkle bikini top

Bottoms

Bravissimo tummy control swimsuit

The most size-inclusive swimwear

Left: pink bikini, £195, Hunza G. Red earrings, £12, Asos. Right: printed bandeau swimsuit, £36, M&S. Pastel beaded necklace, £6.74, New Look.

New Look striped bikini top

Bottoms

M&S textured swimsuit

Next tummy control swimsuit

Hunza G scoop-neck swimsuit

Tona underwire bikini top

Bottoms

Junk LDN cherub print bikini top

Bottoms

Lucy & Yak tankini top

Bottoms

Tu frill detail swimsuit

The best underwired bikinis and swimsuits

Brown bikini, top £42, bottoms £38, Tala. Earrings, £27.99, Pilgrim. Necklace, £65. Reiss.

Boden printed swimsuit

& Other Stories underwire bikini top

Bottoms

Tala underwire swimsuit

Arket balconette bikini top

Bottoms

Left: orange swimsuit, £40, and beaded necklace, £25, both M&S. Sunglasses, £125, Ace & Tate, £125. Ice-cream beaded bag, £250 Alemais. Right: gingham bikini top, £70, and bottoms, £40, Ysé. Blue and gold necklace, £89, Ottoman Hands. Aqua blue double-layered necklace, £34.99, Pilgrim.

Calzedonia ribbed swimsuit

Next tummy control swimsuit

Bond-eye green shirred bikini top

Bottoms

Abercrombie wide-strap bikini top

Bottoms

The most flattering swimwear

Left: blue and brown striped tankini, top £59, bottoms £39, TBCo. Fish bag, £490, Anya Hindmarch. Right: cream tie-side swimsuit, £40, Next. Brown beaded necklace, £8.24, New Look.

Seaspray bandeau swimsuit

Boden halterneck bikini top

Bottoms

Monsoon bandeau bikini top

Bottoms

Joules ruched swimsuit

White Stuff tummy control swimsuit

Phase Eight halterneck ruched bikini top

Bottoms

Seafolly high-leg swimsuit

Bonprix ruched bikini top

Bottoms

Left: brown striped swimsuit, £156, You Swim. Green sunglasses, £125, Ace & Tate. Right: yellow bikini, top, £34, bottoms, £24, Pour Moi. Gold hoop earrings, £179, Monica Vinader. Beaded heart necklace, £38, Anthropologie. Bottom: red bikini, top, £75, bottoms, £70, Seafolly. Purple fish beaded necklace, £26, and silver star beaded necklace, £55, both Oliver Bonas.

The best men’s swim shorts

Next palm print swim shorts

Orlebar Brown zipped shorts

H&M embroidered swim shorts

Reiss tangerine swim shorts

Mr Marvis red shorts

Zara tie-waist shorts

Gant teal striped shorts

M&S quick dry swim shorts

Models AJ and Inaara at Milk; Connie at the Hive. Styling assistant Charlotte Gornall. Hair Alez Szabo at Carol Hayes Management. Makeup Sophie Higginson using Kama Ayurveda and Victoria Beckham Beauty. Makeup and nails assistant Sha Li.

For more, read the best summer wardrobe updates for women and the best summer wardrobe updates for men