Time and Tru Women's and Women's Plus Size Contrast Banded Bikini Bottoms, Sizes XS-3X

Comfortable fit and snug enough to hold up to ocean waves. Attractive color contrast with the white banding.

I don't normally write reviews, but after years of struggling to find an affordable, well-fitting swimsuit, I felt compelled to say something. First, credit where it's due: Walmart's Time and Tru and Free Assembly brands have genuinely impressed me. Stylish, affordable, good-quality clothing that actually fits well — and plenty of cotton pieces, too. In my opinion, many of their items look just as polished as brands like J.Crew, Gap, Ann Taylor, and Banana Republic. Because of that, I assumed the swimsuit would be just as good. Unfortunately, I was wrong. The style looks beautiful online, but the fit of the bottoms was extremely disappointing. I didn't even bother trying on the top after seeing how the bottoms fit. To avoid any backlash, I tried them on over underwear with the liner intact and an extra liner. What frustrates me most is the cut. So many swimsuit bottoms lately seem designed to cover only a fraction of your backside, and on me, the fit felt skimpy, uncomfortable, and honestly unflattering. Maybe if you have Jessica Biel's physique, this style works beautifully — but for myself, and for many women I see at the beach of all ages, it just feels, impractical and a bit too risqué — a style that, rather than enhancing a woman's figure, often ends up emphasizing the very areas most women would prefer to downplay. As the mom of teenage boys, it's definitely more exposure than I'm personally comfortable with. Although, to be fair, if I had teenage daughters, I suppose this style might serve as excellent motivation to spend extra time at the gym. And naturally, my husband had zero complaints about the design — but then again, he probably wouldn't object to me wearing daisy dukes either. For reference, I'm fairly slim (BMI 18.9), so sizing wasn't the issue. I simply miss the more traditional bikini-bottom styles that provided comfortable, full coverage without constantly riding up. If retailers are paying attention to customer feedback, I really hope they bring back more classic, full-coverage swimsuit bottoms. Not everyone wants ultra-minimal coverage, and there's clearly still a market for comfortable, flattering designs.