Universal Standard Swimwear Review

In 2023, Universal Standard asked if I would like to try their upcoming swimwear collection. The collection was so new that they didn't even have photos of the products, just drawings. As a Universal Standard ambassador since 2017 and a regular brand customer, I was excited to hear they were launching swimsuits and said yes. I chose a one-piece in what looked like a highlighter yellow color (one of my favorites). The suit arrived, I've worn it to the pool, swam some laps and did some somersaults to provide a detailed Universal Standard swimwear review.

Since writing this initial Universal Standard swimwear review, I purchased another swimsuit from Universal Standard and am contemplating buying a third from their 2024 Swim collection. While they still have “The Swimsuit” (the original one-piece in this post), it now comes in different colors (no neon yellow this year). Besides that, most every other piece this year is a different style, but still with the same technology, fabrication, and concept. I felt it made sense to update this review for those considering Universal Standard Swim in 2024.

Universal Standard Swimwear Review

As mentioned, I have been wearing Universal Standard since 2017. While I do get the occasionally opportunity to receive free product in exchange for social media promotion, I am not paid by the brand to do any sort of content here on Wardrobe Oxygen. While Universal Standard has a great range of diverse models, most of them are far taller than I (5'3″). Knowing that I am the average height of a woman in the United States, I figure me modeling Universal Standard clothes may be helpful to others so I want to have these reviews as shopping resources.

Universal Standard's Swimwear Collection

The entire Universal Standard swimwear is available at this link. This collection was not replenished after the summer season, and when Universal Standard Swim was relaunched in 2024, it was a whole new mix of styles as well as colors. The Swimsuit (reviewed below) was the only style brought back for 2024.

The Universal Standard swimwear collection is available in the brand's full size range of 4XS (00/0) to 4XL (38/40). There is a mix of one-piece styles and separates with a variety of coverage. The Swim collection has coordinating pieces like shorts and coverups to customize your look.

Universal Standard The Swimsuit Review

I am 5'3″ with a 36 F chest. I never buy non-cup sized swimwear because of my bust. Being over 40 and having my body change over the years due to activity, lifestyle, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and more, my curves are soft and blessed by gravity. I have only found cup-sized swimwear to provide the lift and support I desire and I like a thicker suit with layers or “tummy control” to support my belly and subtly lift my rear. I didn't have high hopes for Universal Standard's swimsuits, which have neither tummy control nor cup sizes.

Does the Universal Standard Swimwear Fit Large Busts?

I was pleasantly surprised. The Swimsuit (Universal Standard's original one-piece) is not bra-sized but well-covers and supports my bust. The swimsuit has a shelf bra design with an elastic band below the bust, sewn-in soft cups for shaping, and side panels made of a power mesh that keep the breasts from sliding into one's armpits while offering support. The design completely covered my breasts; no extreme cleavage and no side boob!

How is the Universal Standard Swimwear Designed?

The entire suit is lined in this power mesh. It's a tight knit that stretches but doesn't stretch out. Putting on the suit I was impressed by how this fabric contained me without being restrictive. It's not like a Miraclesuit which really compresses, but it contained more than Summersalt or Andie swimsuits.

The wide straps go through loops that connect to the sides of the suit and can be tied to adjust the strap length and the tightness of the bust area. You can play with where the straps lie on the suit to customize the fit; think like having one set of hooks for a corset (but much softer and more comfortable).

Is the Universal Standard Swimwear Adjustable?

The straps, even when I cinched the suit to shorten them, didn't dig in. My big bust is used to having neck pain at the end of the day from straps doing the hard lifting; this suit is so well designed the straps don't have to dig in to hold things in place.

The suit comes tied in a pretty bow. I recommend trying it on without untying to see if you need to adjust the straps. Then remove the suit, untie and adjust the straps and retie before putting back on. This isn't like those viral social media suits that you yank the strings to cinch the suit; I think it would be pretty hard to tie the suit while wearing it. Even with the straps shortened, you can still get in and out of the suit as easily as any other one-piece bathing suit.

I wore this Universal Standard swimsuit to the pool. I dove in the water, did somersaults, swam a lap or two, and in general had a fun hour in the pool. Nothing shifted, the suit didn't bag out or collect water, and the ties on the back didn't annoy me. My daughter said they'd fill with water and look like pillows, but it “wasn't weird or anything.” I climbed out of the deep end via the ladder and didn't have to do any adjustment to ensure everything was covered.

Issues with Universal Standard's The Swimsuit

I only have two issues with The Swimsuit from Universal Standard, and I wonder if both would be remedied with a different one in a different color. Maybe that's why the 2024 colors available are darker (teal, black, navy, plum, a black and white print, and vermillion).

The light color (Bright Melon) that I bought in 2024 didn't cover much. I could see my hip tattoo through the fabric. I think even a slightly darker color would fare better wet than this one; I wished I had gotten the suit in the vermillion color.

The other issue is that I had one cup's edge fold over, exposing the power mesh. I was able to adjust the suit to cover it back up, but it would sometimes pop out again. The power mesh is beige and very close to my skintone so it didn't really show on me, but not all people are the same color I am. This may just be an issue that happened with manufacturing this one suit as I hadn't read any reviews also complaining about this issue.

Universal Standard Bikini Review

Seeing the potential of Universal Standard swim and loving the power mesh lining and smart bust support, I purchased a 2023 Universal Standard bikini. It was a twist-front top with adjustable wide straps and a matching high-waisted bottom. I got both in a red color available that year, and both in size XS.

I was surprised by how much I ended up liking this swimsuit. While I gifted my yellow suit to a friend who had a darker skin tone and no tattoos (who looked gorgeous in it, BTW), I kept the Universal Standard bikini and have taken it on vacations to Curacao, Rehoboth Beach, and Chincoteague Bay, and have worn it several times to the community pool.

When I do activities like kayaking, hiking, and then taking a dip in a body of water, I choose this suit because I know it won't stretch out or shift. It doesn't bag in water, it doesn't give me a wedgie, it's a very reliable and well-made suit.

The Universal Standard bikini has the same beige-colored power mesh interior and does the same great job of offering support with comfort. I do not have the issues of it being transparent or of the lining showing at the neckline. It has washed beautifully, didn't fade from sun, salt, or chlorine, and the straps when adjusted stay in place.

While these specific pieces are no longer available, I trust that Universal Standard's current swim separates are of the same quality and in similar or darker colors that will provide opacity with style.

Is the Universal Standard Swimwear Worth It?

Universal Standard's swimwear collection is not cheap. However, I want to explain how freaking REVOLUTIONARY these suits are. Each style of swimwear is created to work whether you wear a size 0 or a size 40, whether you're an A cup or an H cup, whether you are shaped more like an apple, a pear, a starfruit, a triangle, a hexagon, or a cloud of fog. Dude, that takes some serious design, technology, trial, error, and passion.

Name another brand that is so size-inclusive and so passionate about it that they didn't create a separate design for half the size range. Name another brand that offers all the styles and all the colors to all the sizes. No ending the cool colors and patterns at size 12, no limiting the plus size and large busted to basic black and maybe a tropical floral print, no having the plus option be a completely different design, no deciding who can and who cannot wear a sexy suit, a practical suit, a versatile suit, a suit that makes them feel great.

Seriously, let this soak in. Look at the photos on the US site, on Instagram, and on Facebook of different bodies wearing Universal Standard Swim. And we all look great in it. That is, pardon my French, fucking fantastic. The changes US made from 2023 to 2024 with their swimwear shows that they listen to feedback and adjust accordingly to keep improving. It's why I continue to share Universal Standard, wear Universal Standard, and buy Universal Standard. The brand is not perfect, and the prices are not low, but damn, if other brands would try just a bit to be as inclusive and innovative, this would be a much more wonderful world to live in.