This One-Piece Swimsuit Is Ideal for Tall Women — and Comes in 44 Colors
The hunt for an athletic swimsuit that would actually fit me (5'10) was surprisingly fraught.
Published June 30, 2025
“When I first re-launched Words Like Silver, I jokingly called it "the island of misfit pitches" and this is a prime example. This is a commerce article I wrote for an edit test at a publication—hence the specific voice or more salesy language—but I liked it (and the swimsuit enough) to want to use it myself, adjusted slightly. If they're even on an affiliate platform, I couldn't find it.”
Recently, I’ve been swimming laps for exercise. I have this irrational view of anyone who does laps as their preferred form of workout as being extremely "together,"' perhaps because I grew up on a swim team and generally accept my lungs are shit. (Also: the Olivia Pope vibe of wearing white, giant goblet of red wine, issuing orders, and a dash of "should I have gone to law school?")
Although I’d been making do with the bikinis I use for tanning and surfing, I finally decided to upgrade to something more athletic: a suit I wouldn’t have to readjust every hundred yards.
Since I live on an island that’s basically summer year-round, I hoped to find a one-piece that was flattering and stylish, handled both chlorine and saltwater, and would survive dozens of wears without fading or stretching. Bonus points if it could take me from the pool to a beachside happy hour in style.
At 5’10”, I assumed my lanky frame fit the standard swimmer mold, so I ordered some options from a few sporting goods retailers. Multiple failed orders later, I was cursing online shopping and shimmying out of yet another one-piece that didn’t make it past my ribcage. I got a little pissed at Speedo actually for its fit calculator being so staggeringly off.
And their “long torso” options were either frumpy or prohibitively expensive. Frustrated, I reached out to competitive swimmer friends, with one recommendation surfaced repeatedly: Jolyn.
I’d seen the sporty brand all over social media but dismissed it as influencer bait. Usually, any recommendation I see has an influencer code attached. (Good for y'all, truly!) But my friends swore that Jolyn suits were comfortable, flattering, and built to last. Relieved, I ordered the brand’s top seller: the Brandon 2 Swim Onesie.
Available in a staggering 44 colors and prints, the Brandon 2 features a high neckline, no padding, a higher-cut leg, and medium-to-full bum coverage. It’s made from 100% polyester with a snug, compressive fit designed to reduce drag in the water.
Jolyn Brandon 2 One-Piece Swimsuit
I went for the Mango and Sunkist colorways for visibility in lake water and open ocean (plus, I love a neon vibe), and Pine because I'm a sucker for anything adjacent to deep green. I worried the lighter shades might be see-through, but the lining and two-way stretch kept everything covered — aside from the open back, the suit’s signature. The adjustable triangle straps make it comfortable for tanning post-swim, and the cut shows off my (growing) back muscles.
You're going to nip a little bit, but such is the nature of any sort of thin athleticwear. I care about polish, but I'm not one to pay too mind to modesty rooted in double standards. For example: when I'm picking out going-out wear, I don't really care about crops or cut-outs as long as they cover everything a swimsuit would. In Hawai'i, everyone's seen me in at just a swimsuit anyway.
On swimming days, I’m likely on the go — heading from a hike to the pool to a beachside gathering without returning home. I’d assumed that buying a “sporty suit” meant I’d need to bring a change of clothes to look cute after my laps, but this swimwear handles every occasion with ease. It’s become an instant staple in my island wardrobe. At full price, the one-piece costs just $68. With its durability, versatility, and standout fit, the cost-per-use is already worth it.
As a con, however, avoid using their welcome codes or discounts if you're even remotely unsure about sizing. Using their welcome code made me ineligible for a return (and only, so my first attempt at sizing was off and I couldn't return the too-small suit—my mistake in not reading the fine print, but the discount was small enough that the ineligibility annoyed me.
Overall, however, I accepted my fate of owning four swimsuits—two roomier (size 34) and two tighter (size 32.) For context, fit calculators told me I'd be a size 28, hence my annoyance.
I gave in and did laps in both, and that's probably a perfectly great mix for my Goldilocks-esque sizing in this anyway. I've been swimming often enough that it's a solid rotation (and I have considered using the darker suits for ballet classes too if I'm ever in a pinch.) I just likely would have picked different colors to add some more pizzazz and variety.
If you're tall and/or swim for exercise, the Jolyn suits are tough to beat, and feel fair for their value and attractiveness. I definitely tend to linger in these before and after each workout.
Notably, I ordered Pine twice because of the sizing mishap, and each shade was slightly different. One was noticeably bluer. Or maybe they just sent me Peacock instead. I like 'em both, so no harm done.
