Help me find swimwear to make me feel fab

[Swimsuitbod]

Does anyone have any tips for swimwear to rescue me in this situation coming up in 6 weeks... I'm 39 and have been invited on a holiday in July with a bunch of couples who are all in their mid to late 20's. DH is 28 and these are his friends from his home town who I've met and they're all lovely. However- its a beach holiday in Mykonos- ordinarily I'd be super excited but it's been clouded by anxt over wearing a bikini / swimsuit in front of them all!!

I don't want to be worried and would love to be super confident at rocking my size 12 body but I confess I'm nervous about it! Never self conscious in front of DH (obvs) but all of the ladies on the trip are size 6-8-10 types, and one is even a model! 🙈

Looking for incredible swimwear labels / pieces or styles that can help me look my best and feel fab. Good bits- I'm tall and have long legs, big boobs and juicy bum! Less confident bits- my waist and tummy at best undefined, at worst bloated and middle aged spread! Knees are not as firm as they once were and upper arms too (though unless I wear a suit I'm going to have to expose those!) I'm not interested in things like tankini - I feel like they look a bit frumpy and I like to think I'm not! I'm still looking for something stylish / trendy.

[Swimsuitbod]

Bump! For lunch break!

[BikeRunSki]

I would love to be size 12 with long legs! But if you are worried, ho about a high waisted 1950s style bikini

[InterchangeableEmma]

I have an Esther Williams 1950s style halter neck swimsuit which works miracles. Mine is a deep green but they come in lads of colours and prints. It has a heavy mesh squeeze-it-all-in lining and makes my torso lovely and curvy without feeling at all squished or uncomfortable.

Her bikinis are lovely too but I've got a short body so the high waisted bottoms came up for too high. Likely to be grand on someone taller though.

[jeaux90]

I've just bought some swimshorts from Boden and a matching bikini top. I prefer sporty stuff but point is the swim shorts are very flattering

There is a kimono thread somewhere here at the moment, and I ordered a beautiful one which is knee length as a funky cover up.

[lemonsandlimes123]

At a size 12 you are not particularly big unless you are 5ft 0! Therefore you should be able to wear a really nice bikini and look great. So many people, and MN S&B is a horror for this, think that with swimwear more coverage is more flattering. It really isn't, unless you are very large. Do not fall into the trap of going for a pair of swim shorts, an overly structured one piece etc etc though I can see that you are already aware of the tankini trap!

prismlondon.com/collections/swimwear

www.vixpaulahermanny.com/

are a couple of my favourites.

[Swimsuitbod]

Thanks for these tips! I do try not to be down about my body and I know size 12 isn't "fat", plus I'm tall. But what with my body being 40 (and so in spite of strength training I have flab and saggy bits) I'll also be sunbathing next to a 26 year old size 6 model! So that what what prompted this really! 

Thanks for the thoughts about some swim stuff being ageing @lemonsandlimes123 - I think that's what I'm trying to avoid whilst also avoiding the stringy Topshop stuff that's not going to do me any favours! I quite like Brazilian bottoms as they flatter my bum and I'm okay about my bum. I think it's mainly my tummy and waistline I'm most insecure about- as well as thighs and knees but what can I do there! Will check out those brands, thank you.

[pigletpie2177]

I have a c section tummy and love the Boden talamanca swimsuit as it holds the wobble firmly in place 🙈 plus flatters the boobs without squishing them!

[Kazplus2]

S52MjCD05QzDiiShTUdZ0uCDQcGKJMBWDl7wQVoAaBPqTrobe0xoC10AQAvDBwE

[Swimsuitbod]

Thanks!

I forgot to add- further pressure is mounting as on the WhatsApp group they are all discussing if they will be "beach body ready" I feel like replying "I'm always beach body ready!"

[asparalite]

Beachcafe.com have quite a good range.

[mutinyonthebunty]

I've seen some nice things on www.pourmoi.co.uk - I'm the same age and size as you and going away soon so have been eyeing a few bits, they keep popping up on my Instagram feed so not sure of the quality!

[InterchangeableEmma]

Yy lemonsandlimes123 is right, objectivly pretty much everyone looks better in a bikini than a one piece. Feelings are another matter though. I'm perfectly happy to wear a bikini in most instances but there are times when my overly structured one peice is what I feel most relaxed in. It's certainly more obvious/noticeable in the beach-scape than a bikini but there are times when that is an acceptable price (to me) for feeling less exposed to aquatinces I feel physically insecure around. In those instances I'd rather move freely/behave normally in a one peice than spend the day attracting attention to my insecurities by faffing about with cover-ups and watching how I sit.

But, no, I've certainly never seen anyone of any size or shape (or with any amount of scaring, cellulite or wobble) in a bikini and thought 'Christ woman, you'd have been better of in a cozzie'

[InterchangeableEmma]

A bold choice is advisable with a one piece though, the bolder the better really. Or something that's blatantly just very sporty and functional. It needs to look like a style choice rather than a form of hiding IMO. 50s shape costume and big hat works for me but there are plenty of options.

[higgyhog]

I prefer a one piece, end up fidgeting and worrying about the straps etc. in a bikini. This year I have bought 2 very nice swimsuits from next for my holidays. One is designed to look like a tankini, with navy bottom and fora ruched overbit. Nice boost to the bosom, the ruching covers any wobbly bits. ( I am a size 12/14, and bought a size 14) The other is in a provencale print, blue and sleeker in style, but still looks good.
I hope to be a bit thinner next year and I might treat myself to a Sea Folly bikini then, but for now I feel confident and attractive in my new purchases, which is what it is all about.

[Strugglingtodomybest]

I got this costume last year, and I'm 5'5, size 10-12, hourglass figure, with what I call a kangaroo pouch from having 2 kids in 2 years in my 30s.

www.figleaves.com/uk/figleaves-tailor-underwired-tummy-control-stripe-swimsuit-d-gg-cup/FIG-004564.html

DH couldn't stop drooling, an effect that has never happened before when I've put on swimwear so I can safely say the swimsuit did a good job!

And it's on sale now too... I might stock up

[flobella]

My Boden Formentera swimsuit arrived - it's good, I am going to keep it. Keeps everything in place and feels like a very safe, secure fit if that makes sense. They have lots of different colour/pattern options. Some of them have a very retro feel.