Last summer, my 10-year-old started rejecting rash guards, deemed certain swimsuits too babyish, and formally requested two-piece suits. She was increasingly aware of what styles older kids were wearing and had stronger opinions about how she wanted to look and feel when hanging out at the local city pool or with friends and family at the beach.
Among tweens, the response to rapid physical development ranges widely — and so, of course, does evolving personal style. I spoke to parents of kids ages nine to 15 to find out what swimsuits were most appealing to this age group. A through-line for many of the families I spoke to was a desire for swimwear that is simpler, has less obvious branding, and — most important — feels age appropriate. “My daughter’s on the smaller side and is very conscious of anything that reads as too young,” says Storq founder Courtney Klein, mom to Nell, 12, and Lew, 9.
Most parents wanted to help their kids stay sun-safe while providing options that balance style and functionality. “I’ve tried really hard not to make the conversation overly body-focused but more about comfort, confidence, and practicality,” says Nicki Sebastian, an L.A.-based photographer with two daughters ages 8 and 13. “Can you run around in it? Dive into waves? Does it feel like you?”
