This One Piece Is the Solution to All of Your Summer Swimsuit Needs

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Here at T&C, we pride ourselves on our discerning eye for quality. With Tried & True, our editors will give you an inside look at the pieces they simply cannot live without.

In theory, a swimsuit should be a simple garment: they're generally small, so there aren't many places to go wrong; they're stretchy, so tailoring shouldn't be much of a fuss; they don't require many bells and whistles to make them functional or even stylish, because at their core they're very basic—an item to cover all of your important bits while you enjoy some time at a beach or pool.

The reality, as anyone who has ever dreaded a trying on swimwear or struggled with an ill-fitting suit can tell you, is an entirely different matter. Whether they're unflattering or uncomfortable, there are a myriad of ways swimsuits can go wrong, and even if you find a style you like, it's all too easy to wind up with a vacation suitcase that's overflowing with them as you try to pack a style to meet all of your needs.

I had long ago resigned myself to just grinning and bearing it—wearing an option that was either a little more matronly than I wanted or showed off more skin than I was comfortable with; one that would be good for lounging but needed to be constantly monitored while swimming, or one than had all the fashion clout of an orthopedic shoe. Then one day, I finally broke down and bought myself the swimsuit I'd seen fans raving about all over the internet—Andie's The Malibu—and everything changed.

I'll admit, when I was first looking into it, it wasn't obvious what had inspired legions of swim lovers to covet The Malibu. Amidst a sea of swimsuits with femme frills and sultry cutouts, the understated line of The Malibu seemed simple, even borderline plain. But like a great little black dress or white button down, that's precisely the point—great lines that are timelessly flattering and endlessly wearable, long after the latest hot trend has died.

The key (as with LBDs and white shirts) is in the quality. The fabric of The Malibu has an ideal weight to it, hefty enough to gently smooth but not so compressive that you feel like you're wearing shapewear; it's also thick enough that even the white version is absolutely show-through proof, because a wardrobe malfunction is the last thing you want to worry about. I'm particularly fond of the ribbed version, which looks extra luxe, but it also comes in a dozen colors and finishes.

With medium coverage on both the bottom and at the hip, it doesn't ride up when I'm feeling athletic (it's my go-to for beachside hikes) and the wide, tank top-like straps and side coverage mean that bustier gals like yours truly are comfortably contained and supported. That doesn't mean there's no sexy factor though—the snap front neckline can open all the way to the bottom of my sternum for when the occasion calls for strutting my stuff (but can also button all the way up to crewneck height for family pool days.)

Even better, as far as my carry-on only ethos is concerned, that tank top factor makes it a perfect sub for a svelte-ifying bodysuit, so I can throw on a skirt or shorts for a poolside-to-cocktail-hour look and have one less thing taking up space in my suitcase.

Suffice to say. I've become something of a fanatic for this sleek suit that checks all of my swimsuit needs boxes. Sporty? Check. Stylish? Check? Body flattering? Check. Versatile? Check. Comfortable? Check. In fact, nowadays my only real problem is what to do with all of the also rans I never wear any more because I've discovered The Malibu. All in all, it's a good problem to have.

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