Yes, it's time for une femme to replace the swimsuit.The one I purchased a couple of years ago in Palm Springs, and loved like no swimsuit I'd had in decades, has given up the ghost. It's faded, stretched out, and the bottom is pilled and worn thin from pool chemicals and rough concrete steps. This suit shouldn't have been so flattering, there were no "slimming panels" or ruching, or v-necks "creating a more vertical line." There was no clever color blocking or underwire. It was a simple, brown tank with a soft cup bra and thin straps, and looked fabulous on. I started looking for its replacement last year with no luck.
Prior to my PS Perfect suit, I'd had pretty good luck with Land's End swimsuits. I should mention that a) I'm not a beach bunny or lounge-around-the-pool type (my family's proclivity for skin cancer means I'm a committed Siren of Shade, including the big hat, cover up and sunglasses in addition to my 50+ SPF sunscreen), and b) as with my clothes, I prefer my swimwear without a lot of gimmickry. I need something basic, comfortable, and flattering that's actually designed for swimming.
I'm also adverse to trying on swimsuits anywhere except at home. There's something about the lighting in most dressing rooms that highlight all of the features of my physique I'm less than enamoured of. Every bump and roll seems to be magnified in that fluorescent glow. So online I go. Let's see what's out there in one piece, V-neck styles.
Nordstrom's carries the Miraclesuit brand, which I've read good things about. This one is kind of cute, but the top looks less than secure, and brings back some embarassing memories of an accidental Girls Gone Wild moment after my Olympic-calibre jackknife from the diving board.
Option #2 meets my basic requirements (v-neck, simple) but is just a little too "boobs in bondage."
I'm all for a little animal print, but this one just screams Cabana Cougar.
Ouch. This is traumatic just to look at. Flashback to childhood summer swim lessons and the Fat Girl suits my mother made me wear (not to mention the swimcap adorned with multicolored rubber flowers).
Halters usually are flattering. Here's a possibility. The description says "underwire" AND it's available with a D cup...
Love the styling on this one, but the polka dots remind me of a dress my grandmother had circa 1965... 
On to Land's End. here's a one-piece that's not too stodgy, but I'm iffy on the shirring at the waist. sometimes when it's straight across like that it bunches up and creates the effect of an overly tight belt. 
If you want to rock a Betty Grable look, this little number is surprisingly flattering. It actually looks better on women with more curves than the model.
I've had Land's End tankini's in the past, and while they're not as flattering as a one piece, it's nice not having to peel out of and then back in to a tight, wet suit when you need to go to the bathroom. This halter tankini top might be worth a try (with bottoms here).
My pals at Travelsmith also offer some swimwear, and this style (also by Miraclesuit) is one of the more promising.
I'll let you know which I ultimately end up with, but will not be uploading any modeling pics.
I think I'll have to break down again this year as well. I loathe trying on swimsuits, especially in changerooms. Thanks for all the links -- maybe online shopping's the way to go. Even the hassle of having to pack up and return a suit or two can't compare to the ugliness of those changeroom lights and mirrors -- yuck!
ReplyDeleteTry the polka-dot one, go on - it's so fresh and summery, imagine it with a white sarong and hat. The brown suit above it looks good too though. As for your poor maligned plastic swim cap with flowers, i've actually been looking for one of those - I think they're glamorous in an Ethel Merman type way.
ReplyDeleteI just recently had to get a new suit and it was a very quick purchase and I did not give it a lot of thought--it was a sort of 6o's Pucci print from Old Navy and it is a halter--and I didn't even try it on before hand and somehow a miracle occurred and I love this $16.99 bathing suit.
ReplyDeleteAnd, I had the same swim cap you had. I hated that thing!
p.s. I like the brown one the best.
My condolences. And here i am in the same boat. Yuck! My thoughts for this year so far:
ReplyDeleteEsther Williams. Super retro cute. Winona digs hers.
BraSmyth. They have the Miracle suit and others.
Maternity suits. This is a tip from the gals at Manolobig, and as much as I loathe buying anything maternity, for $25 at motherhood.com I now have a backup tankini that doesn't mash my boobs, is loose around the middle, and has a nice big pair of pants. It will probably not be terribly aquadynamic(?), but I don't care.
The old lady chasing the toddlers in the baby pool, that's me. ;)
Actually all except no 8 were OK. I guess my choice would be the last one. At the moment I don´t have a swimming suit at all cause I just don´t like to swim, maybe I would if I had a swimming pool just for myself.
ReplyDeleteI went to Canyon Beachwear last year, and had very good success. Since you live in LA, it might be an option for you.
ReplyDeleteGood luck! My swimsuit, which I like, is from Lands' End.
ReplyDeletei have the problem of being -- in addition to rather reubenesque -- very long waisted. for years i had one bathing suit because it was the only one i could find that fit and was flattering... when it finally gave up the ghost, about five years ago, i went on a long search and found a brand called "Longitude" which came in size 16/18 and was for the long waisted woman. it had a boat neck, which i never would have thought flattering -- but it's turned out to be one of my best suits ever. try searching the brand online.
ReplyDeleteI swam on a masters swim team for 17 years and still swim four or five miles a week in a pool and in San Francisco Bay. For me, buying swimsuits is a total no-brainer: I get Speedo competition-style suits, size 34, preferably in the chlorine-defying "Endurance" fabric blend, which holds up for years, even in the chemical soup at my gym. Speedo is the only brand longwaisted enough for me. I NEVER buy suits in a store, and I never need to try them on. I always buy my suits online, frequently from Sierra Trading Post, which often has a decent selection at about 40% off retail, which means I pay about $45 per suit.
ReplyDeleteNote that competition suits have no inner "structure"--no bones, no bra cups--but you buy these babies to fit snugly, and they keep everything nicely controlled. And yes, even if you're large-busted or wide-hipped, if you're a serious swimmer you wear an unconstructed suit. Far more hydrodynamic. (Indeed, if I were still racing I would size down to a 32 or even a 30. For purposes of comparison, I wear a 6 or an 8 in most street clothes.)
I look at "fashion" suits and think: how can you swim in them? You really need a racerback style (or as Speedo terms it, flyback or proback) to keep a suit securely in place. A halterback is completely untenable.
How do I look in my Speedo? I look like a swimmer. That's all I care about.
I definitely prefer online shopping ... and not just for swimsuits! I went with one of the underwire options at Land's End, and I've really loved it. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteAll Miracle Suits all the time...that is my motto. They are extremely well made and flattering.
ReplyDeleteBefore my last trip to Cabo I dropped about $450 at Canyon Beachwear...and nothing I bought their looked as good as the Miracle suits that I bought from Bloomindales.com.
Uh, that would be there in my last post. Forgive the lack of spell checking.
ReplyDeleteExcellent post,I've linked to it on our blog.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you - bathing suit shopping is definitely something that should be done at home! In fact, I'm waiting on a rather large shipment from J. Crew which should be arriving any day now!
Also, love the suits that you've featured. (still giggling over the cabana cougar comment)
AIS, thanks for the link, and glad you enjoyed!
ReplyDeleteAh, the dreaded swimsuit replacement. Has anyone found long-torso suits cut longer than the Longitude sizes? I still need about two more inches!?!
ReplyDeleteI'm likin' the Grable, with a pair of funky mules and big sunglasses.
ReplyDeleteI actually like that little swimdress. But I like the Betty Grable suit the best.
ReplyDeleteI had to give up on a swimsuit too recently...it was a bikini had a big puppy face on each boob. You can imagine how hard THAT is to replace!
ReplyDeleteWendyB - I can just picture it. That would be tough to give up. Maybe you can have a custom one made with a picture of Henry on one side and Gigi on the other...
ReplyDelete;-)