Weight issues and bathing suits/bikinis?

[U2_rocks]

Around here all teens and young people wear bikinis (and they must be a sexy style too!) if they want to look cool, no matter their size. It did put a lot of pressure on girls to look good! I never did have the "perfect" body (I was always carrying a few extra pounds and hated my strangely shaped hip area) but I wore that bikini to fit in. Then when I was pregnant I switched to maternity whole pieces, then to tankinis that covered my whole torso b/c I was just not comfortable exposing a tummy that hadn't seen the sun for a while and was still shedding baby fat! However, I recently switched back to bikinis at age 38, and here's why: I find that when I am dry the fabric around my belly keepds me hot, and when I am wet it keeps me cold! I love wearing beach dresses over my swimsuit - I do errands before the beach in them, and after swimming I put them back on. A bikini feels so much better than a one piece or tankini under those conditions, as it's just like underwear! I did get a little more conservative than I was in my youth, but I haven't gone all the way to "frumpy" LOL! Actually, I did a lot of research, tried on tons of suits, and figured out what flattered me best out of all the 2 piece styles out there. A mid rise bottom with full back coverage and a scooped up front suits me better than very high cut or low cut. I can wear a halter or a bra style, but it must have good breast support. Now I have the perfect suit, and I'm going to go to my cousin who makes swimsuits and ask her to copy it for me in a different fabric.

There is nothing wrong with any swimsuit style as long as the private areas aren't jumping out and things aren't flopping all over the place! Sometimes it's not the fact that a swimsuit is a two piece that's the problem - it's that it doesn't offer enough coverage, or isn't flattering to the body it's on! I believe in making the best of whatever assets you have, so I try to keep up with current styles in some way, but I am not a slave to any fashion that does not flatter me. A simple style change or 1 size larger can make the difference between an awful looking bikini and a flattering one.

I also think that you cannot define a universally acceptable look for a bikini for anyone less than a Baywatch Babe! It's a matter of opinion! What I think looks good might look awful to someone else! And I know my DH has different taste from me - he loves many things about me that I hate (and it's a good thing ). He likes meat on bones - hates the "skinny" look. The world is full of different shapes and sizes - I don't think you have to be Baywatch Babe to wear a bikini, as long as what you wear suits YOU.

 

[LisaNJ25]

I don't think it's simply a matter on weight/size. It's more a matter of how toned someone is. I've seen size 14 women look great in a 2 piece and size 4 women look horrible.

I agree... Im pooh size and wont even wear a 1 piece.. its mens trunks and a t-shirt for me.

I know when to say no lol

 

[AuroraBorealis]

A one piece (no matter what the figure) is always most flattering.

Too revealing is just not sexy

Oh no! I'm tall (5'10") and have a loooong torso and one pieces make me look even freakishly taller in the middle and gives the illusion of shorter legs. Not to mention one pieces just are not comfortable for me. They cut into my shoulders and I run the risk of "popping" out of the top since the suit is working so hard to cover me. Even special "long torso" suits just don't cut it. So many one pieces are unflattering in cut of the leg as well. I feel like it is very hard to find an age-appropriate one piece suit anyway. (I'm 23.) Most one pieces I see are "illusion" suits or have "hidden tummy support" or come in really ugly prints. I don't need any of that.

Two pieces are just better for me. I look more proportionate and I just feel more comfortable. Besides, I worked hard for my abs and if I can wear a two piece then why not?

I'm not trying to be "sexy" when I'm wearing a bikini. I'm trying to swim. What I feel needs to be covered is covered and I'm not on display for anyone. I'm dressing for myself. I don't care for string bikinis and I know what flatters my body. To me, a swimsuit is just like any other article of clothing: wear what you are comfortable in and what flatters- not what others think you should or shouldn't be wearing. Here is a picture of the bikini I wore this summer. It was super flattering to my body type and gave great coverage. Granted, I didn't look like the model but I still looked pretty dang good.

I was comfortable, covered, and had the confidence to wear it, which is key!

 

[Disneyrsh]

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[Disneyrsh]

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[LuluLovesDisney]

That's a great suit! I just saved it into my favorites folder.

What people below 5'7" don't realize is that tall people have loooooooong torsos, usually. If I wear a one piece it looks like a tube has been stretched from my neck to my hips, and from the side the suit goes right from the top of my butt straight up to my shoulders, it never follows my hard earned junk in the trunk. And it mushes my small B b**bs. Why would I ever wear something that didn't fit me?

Oh yeah, like 1/8th yard of fabric's going to dictate the difference between a 'modest' and 'trashy' suit!

That girl in the white bathing suit-years later, you remember her. Oh yeah, that's what she was aiming for, right there, burned into the unintentional long term memory of everyone around her. But it doesn't matter what you line a white suit with, it's goin' sheer on you, no matter what. If you're 17, you may not have discovered that fashion rule. Hey, we're human.

I'm a big fan of structure, BTW, in any piece of clothing. You watch Project Runway and you can see the best designers BUILD that clothing onto the models. We can all use a little extra superstructure, no matter what size or shape we are.

I completely agree about structure! I also wanted to add, when I was thin, I had a white bikini, but it was about an inch thick (the fabrics). It had two heavy layers of beige colored lining, then a plain white layer and on top of that was the top layer - a thick white, cable knit. The top was a halter- the kind that is like a trapezoid that covers all the way up to the neck. That's the *only* white suit I've ever worn that wasn't sheer. It looked great with a tan. Ahh, the days.

I also wanted to add that it's not only white suits that can go sheer! I had a lovely pale lilac one piece that was very modest. Or so I thought. I always looked at myself before I left, but after a few washings I noticed it was starting to thin out and I could see my belly button. I'm glad I noticed that "sheering" before it was visible elsewhere.

 

[taximomfor4]

A one piece (no matter what the figure) is always most flattering.

uh, NOT always. I took a well-trusted (read: brutally honest and blunt) friend swimsuit shopping with me. After a handful of one-pieces, she took them all away from me. I looked pretty much like a boiled kielbasa link in one-pieces. Whereas in tankinis and other 2-pieces, I just looked like a slightly short, slightly chubby, mostly frazzled, 30-something mom of 4.

 

[BriarfoxinWA]

I get really ticked at people who pin an age to the whole bikini issue...really what difference does it make? I saw a really toned 60+ year old lady recently that looked incredible in a bikini. On the other hand I've seen some pooh sized teens and wondered "what the heck were they thinking"...

As for me - at 40 I'll wear what ever I'm comfortable in...usually a bikini.

 

[MScott1851]

Did you have DH do the honors? I don't think I could do that to myself. I would end up walking around with paper waxed to my hooha because I never got the nerve up to rip it off.

I will admit that I did one side Wednesday night before bed, and waited until I woke up Thursday morning to do the other. DH was out of town in Nashville for TN elections, thank god! He wasn't there to witness me putting myself into pretzels or hopping around after I pulled it off. Dh is WAY too squeamish for me to subject him to that kind of medieval torture.

 

[Cool-Beans]

I have popped two kids out. I'm afraid if young women saw my tummy that they'd never have kids and our population would dwindle. So, for the good of mankind, I cover myself.

BUT, if you want to wear a bikini, more power to you!

 

[BriarfoxinWA]

Hey I've had two kids too! But I was fortunate that all the stretch marks ended up below my bikini line. I do take pity on my teenager and only wear my smallest bikini when I'm out in our pool sunbathing. I wear more modest ones (from Landsend and Newport News with a higher waist) if we go out in public.

I honestly feel that, like somebody else posted, if you look horrible in a one piece you won't look any worse in a bikini. So why worry about what everyone else thinks. As far as size - the average american woman wears a size 12. I got down to an 8 and am working my way back to a 12 but that's a whole 'nother thread. If you had to be a size 2 or 4 or 6 to wear a bikini then NOBODY would be wearing them except a few 12 year olds...

 

[Planogirl]

I also wanted to add that it's not only white suits that can go sheer! I had a lovely pale lilac one piece that was very modest. Or so I thought. I always looked at myself before I left, but after a few washings I noticed it was starting to thin out and I could see my belly button. I'm glad I noticed that "sheering" before it was visible elsewhere.

Not only that but certain materials can change dramatically when they become wet. All I can say is buyer beware.

 

[ducklite]

I honestly feel that, like somebody else posted, if you look horrible in a one piece you won't look any worse in a bikini.

I disagree. A lot of one piece suits use various means to smooth bumps and bulges.

While a woman who weighs 240 pounds isn't going to hide much, a woman carrying an extra 10-20 pounds will be able to hide a lot of small flaws in a one piece and some tankini's. I was never able to get rid of my tiny tummy bump after I had my son. I was underweight and still had it. (5'8" and 115 pounds on a medium frame.) A one piece smoothes that out nicely, whereas a bikini makes it more prominent.

Anne

 

[Mickey&Donald]

What people below 5'7" don't realize is that tall people have loooooooong torsos, usually. If I wear a one piece it looks like a tube has been stretched from my neck to my hips, and from the side the suit goes right from the top of my butt straight up to my shoulders, it never follows my hard earned junk in the trunk. And it mushes my small B b**bs. Why would I ever wear something that didn't fit me?

Amen! I'm 5'9", have a looong torso (and long legs, but the torso's more of an issue when buying clothes and bathing suits). I'm not skinny, and I never will be. I have a more muscular build, and a serious hourglass figure (my waist is 13 inches smaller than my hips!). One piece bathing suits are ridiculous on me. Not only do they cut into my shoulders, they ride up in places that are not very comfortable (I know you know what I'm talking about!) and they make my middle look positively wide, because the fabric at my bust (which is not small, and is still being mushed uncomfortably) and hips is stretched and not able to cling to my waist. It's not a pretty picture, let me tell you.

Maybe I am too old (27 ) and too large (size 8/10) to be sporting a bikini for some tastes, but it's what's most comfortable and flattering to me.

 

[Mickey&Donald]

I disagree. A lot of one piece suits use various means to smooth bumps and bulges.

While a woman who weighs 240 pounds isn't going to hide much, a woman carrying an extra 10-20 pounds will be able to hide a lot of small flaws in a one piece and some tankini's. I was never able to get rid of my tiny tummy bump after I had my son. I was underweight and still had it. (5'8" and 115 pounds on a medium frame.) A one piece smoothes that out nicely, whereas a bikini makes it more prominent.

Anne

Honey, if you were 5'8" and 115 and still couldn't bear the idea of a bikini because of your "tiny tummy bump" then that's your neurosis. I know a lot of people who'd kill to be that size and would wear a bikini proudly!

 

[ducklite]

Honey, if you were 5'8" and 115 and still couldn't bear the idea of a bikini because of your "tiny tummy bump" then that's your neurosis. I know a lot of people who'd kill to be that size and would wear a bikini proudly!

No nuerosis, I looked better in a one piece, so that's what I wore. not sure why that's such a difficult concept. And BTW--for those who insist that anyone over 5'7" is long waisted--I beg to differ. I'm 5'8" and my chest resides on my hips.

Anne

 

[luvflorida]

Look, I want to emphatically state that "to each his own", I don't really care what other people wear and it's a free country and all that. But, I also want to point out that NOT liking how someone else might look isn't totally about being judgmental or looking down your nose at someone.

I was raised (right or wrong) during a time where etiquette was a big deal, people RSVP'd, people were quiet in movie theaters, and there was some propriety in the world. Granted, maybe then, things were over the top, but what I do remember (as a teenager) was that one only wore a bikini if you had the body to do so. It wasn't *just* my mom telling me this, it was society as a whole. So, really, I haven't worn a bikini since I was 20!! Now, in some ways, I'm glad that society has relaxed a bit (I remember when slightly overweight girls could never even DREAM of being on the cheerleading squad). But, I think with some of us, that mentality of how things used to be still sticks. So, I don't wear a bikini because I don't think I look good in it. A lot of other people DON'T look good in it but they seem to be okay wearing them. But that doesn't stop me from saying in my head "man, where'd she get the nerve to do that" and "does she really think she looks okay in that?". Yes, shallow of me I know. But I do keep it to myself.

I just wanted to say that this is one of the most intelligent, and HONEST, replies that I've read on this thread.

I think there is a big difference between CARING what other poeple choose to wear and how they look in it, and NOTICING what others are wearing and how they look. I honestly don't care what someone else wears, but I'm not going to say I don't notice someone who is spilling out of their swimsuit. And, I'm going to be SUPER honest and say that yes, I've seen people in various shapes and sizes wearing various shapes and sizes of swimwear that have caused me to think, "wow, what were they thinking."

There are good choices and bad choices in life. I cannot honestly look at someone who is obese and wearing nothing but a sparkly thong and think "you go,girl!" Yes, she has every right to wear it, and yes, I don't care if she chooses to wear it, and yes, she may have all the confidence in the world, but personally, I would think to myself that she made a bad choice that day.

 

[Disneyrsh]

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[Hercules10]

Look at Jennifer Lopez's outsize booty-she broke ground for MILLIONS of women to be cool with that.

Hey now!...speaking as a derriere connoisseur J-Lo does NOT have a "outsized" booty! She is gluteaus to the maximus!

Even the thought of that woman in a thong has me needing a cold shower.

Herc (aka Sir Mix-A-Lot)

 

[Pigeon]

I'm in the wear what you feel comfortable in camp.

I personally don't think I have the body for a bikini and wouldn't ever wear one. But I was at the beach yesterday and saw people of all sizes and shapes in bathing suits of various coverage. Honestly, what I hate looking at are tattoos, but that's just me.