Fashion Files: The Swim Suit Issue

Swimwear is a touchy subject for a lot of people. In everyday wear, we can easily disguise or cover the parts of our bodies we dislike, but when it comes to swimwear, exposed skin is unavoidable. But don’t fret; there is a flattering swimsuit out there for every figure so you can be confident in your swimsuit!

To break the ice, I’m going to tell you an absolute secret about my favourite swimwear that you cannot tell anyone: my absolute favourite bikini is from the plus size department at the Bay. I’m not kidding.  You look at me and think, “she’s definitely not plus size,” and no, I am not, but full-figure swimwear is designed to be extra flattering, so why not give it a try? Swimsuits are stretchy; you’ll be surprised at what you can find that fits in the plus size swimwear department and how amazing it makes you look.

Now that you know my dirty little swimwear secret, we can move on to the tips and tricks of finding the perfect swimsuit for your body. We’ll start with ladies’ swimwear, and then briefly discuss men’s swimwear.

If you are self-conscious about your derrière like I am, try opting for mini-shorts or little skirts on your swimwear bottoms. I feel like traditional, bikini-cut bottoms just scream, “Hey, look at my huge thunder thighs!” and accentuates how far they stick out relative to the rest of my frame. But now you think, “My grandmother wears swimsuits with a skirt; I’m way too young for that!” to which I respond, “No, you aren’t! If those skirt bottom swimsuits make your grandmother look good, imagine how awesome they’ll make your 20-something body look!”

The trick is to find a young-looking skirt bottom. One of mine looks like a wrap around skirt but doesn’t quite meet up at the front of the left leg, so there is a slit through which you see the black bikini bottom. The slit is strategically placed so it shows the bikini bottom from the front, not the side where my massive thighs extend far past my hips. I have another low-rise skirt bottom that has a plaid pattern and is designed to look kind of like a cute, flirty mini-kilt. The combination of a low-rise cut and ruffly, short-skirt look with a plaid pattern is flattering and looks nothing like your grandma’s skirted swimwear.

If you are self-conscious about your tummy area, opt for a tankini or a one-piece. Fortunately for you, the one-piece swimsuit has a made a fashionable comeback. No longer do one-piece swimsuits have to be synonymous with Speedos or other such racing wear. There are so many fashionable options out there with plunging necklines and strapless tops that a one-piece can look as good, or better, than many of the bikini options available. Furthermore, many tankinis and one-piece suits have ruching on one or both sides which nicely conceals any insecurities in the tummy zone.

Lastly, if you are self-conscious about your ta-tas, there is also a swimsuit for you. Halter style tops with a thick neck tie and thick bottom band look amazing on all sizes of ta-tas. If your ta-tas are of the larger variety, avoid those itsy-bitsy bikini tops; in many cases, they don’t provide the support or coverage you need to hold the girls in place. If you have smaller ta-tas, you’re lucky in that you can wear just about any type of swimwear top and have it look fabulous. You don’t have to worry about looking trashy or too scandalous by showing excessive cleavage or worrying about one of your ta-tas falling out of your top.

Now for the men. You have it pretty straight forward. Board shorts are a sure winner every time; you really can’t go wrong with swim trunks. You also can’t go wrong with crazy patterns or colours. The only thing I ask you to avoid is the brief-style Speedo bottom. If you aren’t a competitive swimmer, we really don’t need to see you in a brief style Speedo.  An acceptable alternative is the jammer-style Speedo. It’s significantly less creepy-looking, and is just as fitted and competitive-swimming-friendly as the brief-style. And that’s it for my male swimwear input.

Stay Classy and Wear Sunblock,

Amanda

Chief-Fashion-Officer