Swimsuits!

Today we’re going to talk about something every woman HATES to shop for — swimsuits.  Nothing strikes fear in the heart of a woman like swimsuit shopping.  And I am no different. 

I have a laundry list of requirements for a swimsuit.

1) It must come in two pieces for potty accessibility. 
2) The top must have enough support for "the girls". 
3) It must adequately cover "the girls". 
4) The bottom must have a panty attached to a skirt that is long enough to cover the widest part of my hips, short enough that I don’t look like a grandma, and streamlined so I don’t have excess fabric looking all froo-froo. 
5) The top and bottom must meet and preferably overlap, in order to cover my belly flab.

Not asking for much, am I? 

Fortunately, in recent years, swimsuit designers have gotten a clue, and there are many swimsuits available that appear to meet these requirements.  But finding one that meets ALL of the requirements AND fits nicely is a feat worthy of much celebration.  I’ve given up looking for perfection.  I just don’t want to feel ridiculous.  I aim high, don’t I?

One year I literally ordered NINE swimsuits at once, trying to find one I could settle for.  My poor credit card had a heart attack.  (To say nothing of my husband.) 

I returned all but one of those suits, and the one I kept was from Lands End’s faille collection.  I have worn that suit for four or five years now, and it’s about at the end of its lifespan.  Plus, I’m just in the mood for something new.

With my Disney trip approaching, I decided that a new bathing suit was definitely in order.  One day the Athleta catalog came in the mail, and I was intrigued by their bathing suits.  They have a bunch of mix and match options so I can get a tankini top and a skirted bottom.  Score one for Athleta.

Also, they have a selection of C-DD Cup Swimwear.  Score two for Athleta!

I perused that section until I came up with two suits to order, and last week they arrived in my mailbox.  I was bummed that the color I wanted was back ordered, but I went ahead and ordered this one.

Now yall.  I haven’t had a suit that isn’t black since about 1998.  This is QUITE a departure from my normal look.  And I do think that it would look better on someone with a blond complexion.  However, it’s pretty and different, and guess what?

It fits!

It isn’t perfect, but what bathing suit is?  I would be happier if it weren’t quite so low-cut in the bust area.  But the support and shape it gives is fabulous and seriously unparalleled in any swimsuit I’ve ever tried before.  I’m not even joking.  If I were any bustier, it would probably be too revealing, but it’s fine for me.

My only other criticism is that I would prefer a skirt with a higher rise, but the waistband is not binding, so it doesn’t create much of a muffin top, and the top does come down to meet the skirt, so it works.  Ideally I’d prefer a bit more coverage where the skirt and the top meet, but there is no ideal swimsuit, and this one is pretty close.

I also ordered another similar suit in a black and white print, but it didn’t fit as well.  The waistband of the skirt on that one was tighter, creating an unsightly bulge.  So the blue paisley it is!

If you’re in the market for a high quality swimsuit that offers support and coverage and a variety of pretty materials to choose from, check out the Athleta.  You might find something really great!