Stick with solids for reversible swimsuits.

They work, but the versatility is often oversold. Most reversible suits have one side that looks good and one that’s just okay. The real trick is picking a suit where both sides are solid colors — then you can match with different cover-ups or bottoms without clashing patterns.

Fit matters more than reversibility. If the suit doesn’t stay in place or flatters your shape on one side, the other side won’t save it. Brands like Lands’ End and Athleta make reliable reversible options, but any well-constructed swimsuit with a simple color palette does the same job.

Don’t buy a suit just because it’s reversible. Buy one because it fits, and the extra side is a bonus, not the main event.