To just wear mens swim shorts?

[CENqqq]

Please help me, I’m going on holiday and I feel very fat. In previous holidays I have not got into a pool and I feel this year I need to for my kids sake. My top half is okay but I hate my bottom and thighs. Even one pieces make me self conscious. I’m thinking I’ll wear a bikini top with men swim shorts? Will be okay? Reason why I’m saying mens is because I ordered ladies swim shorts with tankini but the shorts are so short! You can see half my bum in them whereas I tried on DH swim shorts and they cover me.

any suggestions on what I could wear? I’m really stressing about this holiday.

Next online have a few pairs of women’s swim shorts.

Totally agree with this! It's just the personal angst/ worry you get like worrying about what to wear when you go out out! No one cares,just be happy. I'm a wobbly size 16 44 year old,I wore a bright pink bikini top and fluorescent bottoms on our last holiday abroad ( 2018!) I wore a sarong until time to get in the pool. There's all different shapes and sizes out there!💝GFI

I wear these. They’re running shorts but perfect in the pool. Not sure if they’re too short for what you’re after though.

Speedo do things like leggings … say you are allergic to the sun.

I like to wear lycra/ cotton exercise shorts. They're stretchy, comfy and don't disappear.

Rest assured that however self conscious you feel, absolutely no one will even clock that you're even there. Most other people will be feeling self conscious about their own appearance so wear what you like and enjoy yourself.

I wore some Arcweg swim shorts from Amazon and found them really comfortable. They had two layers; a brightly coloured compression layer, then a traditional swim short as the top layer.
They dried quickly, came in two lengths, were practical for swimming and scuba diving in. Lots of women asked where I purchased them from, despite them being men’s shorts.

I have womens swim shorts that are basically cycling shorts but out of swimwear material that I wear for the beach. Think i got them from sports direct. Not attractive but needed for chub rub so I can actually run around and play with the kids. In the pool I just wear a one piece and shorts flowy swim shorts over the top. I'm a size 18/20.

OP I clicked assuming you were making a feminist statement about covering your chest and would ‘only’ wear men’s shorts and no top 😅 I’m sure you look great but that would be one way to ensure no one was looking at your bum…

@Stickinthemuddle lol! Your post made me laugh. I can see why you thought that!

thank you so much everyone for your lovely comments and suggestions. I’ll be honest I’m still very reluctant to actually go swimming but your comments are helping me think outside of my own insecurities. I’m a size 18 btw, sorry people have been asking but I forgot to answer. Apologies if I haven’t answered other questions. I will post an update after the holiday!

I am on holiday, somewhere extremely hot

I have been swimming in the shade of the pool
Swimsuit, plus aong rash vest with long sleeves
Because I don't want to get sun burnt

Other people in swimsuits, bikinis

I don't give an X

Just enjoy yourself !

I am a size 6 but have no desire to walk around in effectively bra and pants in the swimming pool!
i wear some like these from Mountain Warehouse with a plain black tankini top. It looks really good I think!
https://www.mountainwarehouse.com/patterned-womens-stretch-boardshorts-short-p23945.aspx/tropics/

Sainsburys have some in
https://tuclothing.sainsburys.co.uk/browse/women/swimwear/c:841932/opt/sort:new-arrivals/?cmpid=cpc&mteam=Arg&ch=ppc&med=ppc&src=google&adg=78574179278&kw=%2Btu%20%2Bsainsburys%20%2Bwomens%20%2Bswimwear&mt=b&dev=c&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=6466322351&utm_term=&utm_content=text&utm_custom1=78574179278&utm_custom2=887-970-8405&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw7-SvBhB6EiwAwYdCAbnCtt8VzG482VIDPT_IUCO_6oY4cAKMTi7MbZHzIZeYASrw9zZzcBoCo6AQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

You should definitely wear whatever you like!
I have a swim dress from Amazon ages ago, and skirt/top combinations as I don’t like how shorts make my tummy look. This site has fairly long ones and some swim dresses too if you do a different search:
https://calypsa.com/uk/swim-bottoms/long-skorts.html

@CENqqq if you are comfortable in men’s shorts, wear men’s shorts.

The ‘wear a bikini- no one cares what you’re wearing!’ train of thought also applies to any other swimming wear.

My DW and best friend both wear men’s board shorts to swim- one with a swim Tshirt one with a sports bra type bikini top.

Ive been a size 24- I wore as little as possible because I can’t stand wet/tight fabric touching me!

I have scarring that I prefer to cover up. I wear women's board (surfers) shorts.

I don't care about what anyone thinks. I promised myself when I had kids I wouldn't let it stop me doing things with them (like the beach, swimming) and it hasn't but this makes me feel ok.

Absolutely wear the men’s swim shorts! I’m a size 12, I buy mens shorts sometimes as they are just comfier, women’s always seem to be designed to be tight fitting and so short the bottom of your butt hangs out! I have a 2 year old, I want to run round after him and enjoy ourselves and feel comfy while doing it!

I think it's about finding the style that suits you. Women's swim shorts are fine for me, whereas men's would be too straight so either too large on the waist in order to accommodate hips or too tight on the hips. My bum has never hung out!

Another vote for Lands End swim shorts. I will be wearing these with a tankini top this year (I'm a size 18/20).
I also bought some cycling short style swim shorts from yours recently which looked nice with a tankini top and I can then just throw a beach cover up over the top for wandering about and still feel like I look nice. Both of these have the bonus of preventing chafing as well which troubles me a lot in a normal costume or bikini.

I've also ordered some uv surf tshirts from decathlon which haven't arrived yet but will hopefully be good for more active days on the beach with the kids etc

@CENqqq Sea Fancy do cheap swimwear with a bikini top and proper shorts with pockets. The shorts aren't short. They are double layer, like cycle shorts, with a baggier fit matching pair over the top. Only the outer layer rides up on water slides etc. The quality isn't great but they are inexpensive, comfortable and ideal for walking around poolside when you don't want cutaway legs.

I've got a similar problem, in that I have such colourful stretchmarks on my upper thighs, I've been considering swim shorts.

Personally, I love the ruffle burkini @Octavia64 linked to. Several of those on the page are something I would wear.

Bon Marche have started selling ladies' swim shorts this year. They do look lovely, but I don't think they'll have the coverage I want.

If mens' shorts are comfortable, I see no reason why you shouldn't wear them. As I've always told my children (girls) "they're not boys clothes, they're your clothes". We've always shopped across the aisles as they have a major aversion to pink/unicorns/Disney and love dinos/comfort/practicality.

If mens' shorts are comfortable, I see no reason why you shouldn't wear them. As I've always told my children (girls) "they're not boys clothes, they're your clothes". We've always shopped across the aisles as they have a major aversion to pink/unicorns/Disney and love dinos/comfort/practicality

I understand the concept of there's no boys or girls clothes in terms of children...but for adults, clothes are cut quite differently for men and women.

Last time I went on a pool/beach holiday was to Thailand a couple of years ago. Sp lots of people from all around the world were there. Women were wearing all sorts, swimming leggings, costumes, board shorts, string bikinis and more. We all looked awesome because we had all made a choice that made us feel confident and comfortable. I go for board shorts and a bikini top because I like full coverage on the bottom.

You need to wear a form of bikini brief underneath or people swimming behind you with goggles on will see your vagina (actually vulva, before the vulva police arrive 😬).

Try looking at boyleg swimsuits. I have also worn a normal swimsuit with a rash vest over the top in the past.

By a stroke of serendipity, today I found I'd left my tankini bottoms at home so nipped out to see what was on offer in the sports centre. I had a choice of either vary large or very small women's swimsuits and an array of men's shorts. Since I did have my tankini top I opted for the shorts.
Thankfully they had a tie waist and the inner pants thing (though the pool was pretty empty so there was no danger of me flashing.
The main problem was that they dragged in the water, but I guess that's not such a problem for leisure swimming and would be the same for women's board shorts.

What on earth are you doing in the pool where other swimmers can see up the legs of board shorts and into someone’s crotch?

it would take some contortion to be able to see my privates while wearing mid thigh length shorts.