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Working Moms
aeh72
member
NWMR - Bathing Suits for Us
aeh72
member
in Working Moms
Let me start this by acknowledging right up front that I know my days of rocking a sexy bikini are over! My gut (pun intended) tells me it might be about time to just commit to the one piece. However, is it me or does anyone else find one piece swimsuits generally to be unflattering and to actually highlight the areas you'd like to cover up (e.g., the remaining spare tire from a c-secion that has not fully deflated yet!)? I kind of feel the same way about tankinis - the tops seem to cut off right at a spot that is not attactive. I have one tankini that is more like a tunic tankini (kind of looks like a dress but its not as long and is two pieces) that I can live with (i.e., venture out in public in) but other than that, I'm at a loss on bathing suits. I took a shot and ordered a two piece from Athleta (it's cute and stylish but certainly not Victoria's Secret sexy-style!) and even though I do not feel like I'm in true bikini shape, I actually think it looks better than any one piece I've tried on. Maybe I'm delusional. Anyone else have these bathing suit frustrations? I'm already over it and summer has barely begun.
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Re: NWMR - Bathing Suits for Us
My retro one piece from Modcloth is my favorite suit. I love it and think it's super flattering. The ruching really helps if you are worried about the tummy area.
https://www.modcloth.com/shop/onepiece-swimwear/bathing-beauty-one-piece-in-violet
I wear monokinis.
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https://www.everythingbutwater.com/swimwear/browse/products/miraclesuit/miracle-network/53749+470215+4002.html
I own this and it's extremely flattering. somewhat sexy.
ETA: I tried to paste image but TB didn't like it and I can't get rid of the scribble.
I second Lands End. This is where I get mine from.
I did a ton of research after DD was born to find a swimsuit for a family vacation. I had a small pooch post c-section and needed to mask it. I didn't want a granny suit yet a bikini was no longer an option. I found an awesome, and inexpensive, suit that I love (and probably would have worn sans post-baby body).
It was Old Navy Women's Draped Yoke control max swimsuit. It plunged a little low in the chest to distract from any tummy issues, but still gave excellent coverage (and I'm a 36DD). I got mine in black and loved it!
My back-up was a ruched one piece bandeau swimsuit from MiracleSuit (pink). It also worked well, but was much more expensive and felt a little tight. This gave me a great strapless option to avoid tan lines.
All I can say is rock whatever you think looks best and go with it. I've seen a lot of early 20-somethings rocking a bikini with bellies bigger than my post-baby body.
This year I got a kenneth cole two piece that has a belly band support in it. It helps suck in the post c section gut. Also, make sure that the bathing suit fits on top too. Sometimes that means getting a larger size on the top than the bottom to give full coverage and not let the side boobs hang out.
My stomach was never my best area and now it's downright SCARY with flab and wrinkly loose skin. And, I totally look pregnant. And am not. I am looking for a long tankini. Why is that so hard to find? Wish me luck.
ETA: just read other responses. My mom gets suits from Lands End. Sigh. Guess I will have to check it out for me!
A friend and I were just laughing about how old we feel when we see the Lands End catalog in the mailbox and get excited! But seriously their swimsuits are my favorites post-baby. If you spend some time trolling the sale section you can find some amazing deals too.
Haha, this. I have found a cute bathing suit (tankini) from lands end and the quality is really very good. The thing I really like about lands end is that the measurements are spot on and the comments from buyers are very helpful. Not all of the folks giving those comments are the old folks (since they show an age range for each comment) which made me feel alot better. They are having a 30% off, free shipping sale now in fact. You can return anything to your local Sears store which have a lands end section in-store.
You are spot on about the top of the suit. The girls have got to have good support!! I think that's what sort of has sold me on this Athleta bikini that I bought. It is the single best bikini top I've ever owned. It comes in bra cup sizes, has underwire yet it's comfortable ,and it criss crosses in the back so no worry about DS pulling it off or a halter being too snug around the neck. Again, my stomach is not as "bikini worthy" as it once was but the top to the bathing is so great and the bottom doesn't look horrible, so I may have to give it a go - maybe not at our neighborhood pool but in our back yard and at the beach later this summer.
Also, to all the other posters - I'm loving all the Land End suggestions! I've had the "but that's where my mom would buy a bathing suit" feeling, but the tankini I have that I mentioned a couple times came from there and it's a really nice, well made bathing suit. I may need to peruse their website again to what else might work.
Here's to us all rockin' it out whatever we end up in at the pool and beach this summer! :-)
I have the same problem. I can still wear a bikini, but I feel the days becoming numbered. My stomach is not flabby, but I do have the little love handles, which I think are only accentuated by tankinis. I still need something to wear to my DS's swim lessons and I feel like a bikini would be inappropriate, however I think one pieces and tankinis look horrible on me. I have a very long body so I always have to buy a huge size and then it hangs everywhere else.
My friend suggested getting a cute surfer rash guard from zappos to put over the bikini top for swim lessons and I think I'll do that. It's still not super flattering, but at least I feel young and sporty.
I just think there is nothing sexy about chasing DS around a pool while wearing a bikini (crouching, bending over, etc.) Have you tried on any strapless/halter style suits? They are a little sexier but still cover you up.
Yes! I was just thinking the same thing when I was trying to shop for bathing suits last week. The one pieces are ugly. And many of them have the little skirt which reminds me of something an older, heavier woman would wear.
I'm not overweight by any means but I'm starting to feel a little self conscious in a bikini. I have a little bit of a muffin top going on. DH still thinks I look great in them.
I also have trouble buying two pieces. They have to be separates or the bottom doesn't fit. It seems like the two piece bottoms are made for women who have no butt. I'm all booty (it's the Latina in me) and I never fit in the two piece bottoms even though I wear a size 4 pants. They just don't cover my butt. So I have to buy a small top and a medium or large bottom.
I also have several lands end suits (for pp above me, you buy each piece separately so you can get different sizes)... 2 that I like are from a couple yrs back. Last year I ordered some more and had to send them all back, they looked terrible, not sure what the deal was.
I have one tankini from there and got the bottom that comes up a little higher for a little extra in the tummy area... I really like that one but recently the color has been running into my skin which is so bizarre, esp 3 yrs after I got it? The other is a bikini top (I have very little up top so it is not an issue for me) & shorts which I like b/c their shorts are not super tight like some others where you get teh bulge on your thigh under the shorts...but unfortunately I get a little side fat hangover in my midsection
ugh.
I never thought to try zappos, free returns is awesome, I am going to check it out now!
ETA since you mentioned athleta i went & tried there & found they had free shipping & returns over $50 so I got three suits and fingers crossed one of them works...!!!! Thanks for the rec. Hope you find some other new ones too!
yea ... i wouldn't blame a big booty on being Latina. i know many hispanic women, and i myself am hispanic, and have no butt. maybe it's just your body type.
as for where to get/what type to buy ... miraclesuit does have some flattering swimsuits. they also have tankini's. they are expensive, but i splurged on one expensive one, and a few less expensive ones -- it's always important to have ONE suit that you feel extra sexy in -- besides, every mom deserves it for everything she does!