The first time I knew I felt comfortable in a swimsuit, it was -20 degrees Celsius.
A trip back to Calgary had led to my best friend and I road tripping to the mountains on a December day. After a frigid hike around Lake Louise, we piled back into her car and decided to stop at the Banff Hot Springs. The only problem? A December trip to Calgary meant a swimsuit was not high on my packing list—not that I was ever really thrilled to wiggle into the ill-fitting athletic shorts and sports bra that were serving as my swimwear at the time.
When we arrived at the hot springs, the front desk had swimsuit rentals for either “modern” or “vintage” swimsuits. The latter was completely genderless, a navy unisuit with a white stripe across the upper thigh. It cost a whole $1.90 for the day.
Look up promotional images and you’ll find everyone from smiling kids to smoldering body-builders rockin’ the suit. And on that December afternoon, I joined them, sliding into the steaming water in my heavy cotton suit that looked like it was 1950. It was euphoric. I spent much of our dip in the pool marvelling at the suit, and pledging to get one for myself. But when I got home, I found that the vintage swimwear market is pricey, size-exclusive and limited.
My swimwear quest finally ended earlier this year when I ordered an extra-large grey and navy blue unisuit from TomboyX, a modern spin on the same one-piece style. Sliding into it and hopping in the pool for the first time felt just like that frigid day at the hot springs; no gender, just vibes.
For me, that works. But for many queer and trans people, finding swimwear that’s affordable, gender-affirming and size-appropriate can be an endless task with no easy solutions. That’s especially true when it comes to trans and gender-nonconforming folks looking to bind or tuck at the beach or pool, or plus-size folks already underserved by mainstream fashion. Pair that with dysphoria, dysmorphia and general anxiety, and shopping and wearing swimwear can be especially stressful.
While there’s no one-size-fits-all perfect swimwear out there, LGBTQ2S+ folks have found certain brands and DIY ways to adapt and adjust to an industry that historically has not served us well. And more and more independent and queer-owned companies are popping up to fit the market need.
If you’re looking to make the most of your hot vaxx summer at the beach or the pool this year, here are a few brands, tips and suggestions to start you off in your quest for gender joy!
For the androgynous one-piece
If you’re looking for a more masculine or androgynous look at the beach but can’t go shirtless for whatever reason, a unisuit is a great way to go. And as an added bonus, you’ll be protected from the sun.
TomBoyX unisuit
Want to feel affirmed in your gender but also like you could jump on a bike for a quick 10 kilometre ride? Look no further than the unisuit, which strikes a similar profile to my beloved vintage hot springs attire. TomBoyX, already known for adapting traditionally “masculine” underwear styles for curvier bodies, takes that approach to the beach with their swimwear. And while you can mix and match tops and bottoms, it’s the one-pieces that truly sing for me.
While my own zip-up grey number is no longer on offer, they do sport some delightful floral prints and bright colours for your own hot gay summer.
And a personal tip from me: if you’re larger chested and looking for a bit more flattening in the front, it’s super easy to slip a swim binder or tight-fitting sports bra under there for some binding help.
Beefcake
Credit: Beefcake Swimwear
Talk about androgynous swimwear inspired by vintage styles, and you’ll inevitably come to Beefcake. After a Kickstarter in 2018, the brand launched a line of vintage-inspired one-pieces that work for a variety of cis, trans and everthing-in-between bodies.
The colours are bright—you can even get one with a rainbow—and their site features a refreshing cast of models across genders and body sizes. What more could you want?
For binding at the beach
Did you know that you can bind at the beach? For many folks, a binder and swim trunks is the exact swim style they’re looking for, and many popular brands of binders are safe in the water, so long as you follow all of their guidelines. Whichever you opt for, always remember to not try to put on or take off a wet binder—it’s easy to get stuck and harm either the garment or yourself.
Gc2b binder
Arguably the most popular binder brand in North America, gc2b’s classic binders are completely swim safe. The spandex and nylon material will not be damaged in the water, but they recommend you order a size up if you’re going to be swimming, so you can properly breathe.
Origami Customs binder
Credit: Origami Customs
Like gc2b, the Canadian brand Origami Customs offers binders that are fully swim safe. There are also made-to-order custom sizes, so you’ll be sure you’re getting the exact combination of style, comfort and compression you’re looking for.
For tucking or compression at the beach
For pre-op trans folks looking to wear a bikini or one-piece at the beach, tucking can be a solution. Much like with binding, however, it’s important to remember to tuck safely and listen to your body. Other options include compression underwear worn underneath swim bottoms.
The Lili Gaff
Credit: Swim By Alba
It’s on the pricier end, but the Lili Gaff is a swimming-specific undergarment created by trans advocate and model Lili St. Jerry in collaboration with British swimwear brand Swim By Alba. The g-string-style garment is specifically designed to be worn under a bathing suit bottom and provide both tucking and compression support.
Origami Customs gaff underwear
Much like their binders, Origami Customs’ gaff underwear are swim safe. They also come in a variety of sizes and styles to fit under your bathing suit bottoms of choice.
For femme coverage at the beach
If you aren’t comfortable for whatever reason with full-on tucking in a bikini bottom, a swim skirt can be a great solution for covering your downstairs, whether paired with compression bottoms or other bathing suit bottoms. Many women’s swimwear brands offer a variety of styles and lengths of swim skirts that can work great for trans-femme folks, and much like the unisuit or binders noted above, they give the bonus of extra sun protection on hot days.
ModLi midi swim skort
Credit: ModLi
A swim skort (a skirt/shorts combo for those of you not hip with ’90s fashion) like the Modli midi swim skort can be a great way to meet double needs of compression underneath and a flowing skirt for coverage on top. The skirt portion comes down to the mid-thigh, and with sizes up to 6X it’s perfect for bigger folks, too.
Torrid ruffle skirt one-piece swim dress
Swim dresses work well for all of the same reasons as swim skirts. With this Torrid one in particular, the ruffles can be a great way to accentuate your hips and provide coverage. Also, it’s just super cute in general.
For wearing prostheses at the beach
Most swim tops do not have the support to safely accommodate breast prostheses, but some specialized trans-inclusive brands (and mastectomy swimwear) are looking to change that.
Danae
The Amsterdam-based brand Danae offers a variety of women’s swimsuits designed to accommodate the needs of trans-femine folks, including prostheses. Their bikini tops and one-pieces come specially made with secure pockets for breast prostheses so they stay in place while swimming.
Hapari
Credit: Hapari
Hapari’s entire line of mastectomy-friendly swimwear can be great for trans women and non-binary folks looking to wear breast prostheses at the beach or pool. Most of their products feature secure pockets, and they come in a variety of sizes.
For packing at the beach
So you want to pack at the beach without the risk of your packer parting ways with your swim trunks and bobbing to the surface? Thankfully, there are products for that.
Cake Bandit jockstrap
Many cis men wear underwear under their swim trunks in case they fall down, so don’t worry about wearing packing underwear or a harness under yours, if that’s what you’re most comfortable with. This packing jockstrap from Cake Bandit can be a great way to secure your packer under your swim trunks while maintaining full range of motion.
Transthetics budgie briefs
Credit: Transthetics
If trunks aren’t your style and you want a more European look, packer brand transthetics makes a swim brief that can accommodate a packer in a water-safe way. An important note though! This one is only good for the beach, not a chlorinated pool. The brand warns that chlorine can shorten the life of your packer and the briefs themselves. But if you want to make a statement at the beach, go forth and fly!
Let’s go to the beach, beach!
These are just a few tips for meeting your specific swimwear needs at the beach, but it’s important to remember that all of us and all of our bodies are different. Are you most comfortable in an oversized T-shirt? Wear that! Want to slip into that hot pink Speedo? Wear that! Content with going nude? Live your best life!
One of the best things about being queer or trans is that you get to decide what’s best for you. And as we all enter this hot vaxx summer, that’s important to keep in mind!
If you have any queer swimwear tips or stories from your life you want to share, let us know at info@xtramagazine.com!
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