Help DH won't wear speedos but going to France!

[letitgoletitgo6]

Taking DCs to Disney land Paris in May. DH has severe body dysmorphia and getting clothes that he will wear is a nightmare as he genuinely hates the way he looks (there's absolutely nothing wrong with the way he looks but it's not as easy as just telling him that!)

So I've recently found out about the law in France about all men and boys having to wear speedos when swimming. We aren't staying at Disney we are staying at the centre parks so we definitely plan on going swimming. He's point blank refusing to wear them which I do completely understand as he will worry about it every hour until we go. However if he doesn't go then non of us can go in as Dc are small and can't swim without help and I can't help both on my own. Is there a speedo alternative that's a bit more body forgiving that I could suggest to him?

My husband wore Speedo Swim Shorts. My brother was convinced he wouldn't be let in but having something that was clearly a swimming brand helped. The rule is there to prevent people from wearing non-swimwear in the pool.

That is NOT the reason. It's because people can't be trusted to be hygenic and not wear the shorts they've been BBQing in. playing footie in, shopping in and generally wearing for days on end without washing.
I've no idea what all the fuss on here is about!

Do you really have no sympathy for people with body dysmorphophobia, or less severe body image issues? Admittedly, people with these issues could just choose to not swim in pools that enforce the rules. I'm not suggesting it's a good idea to ignore the rules and piss people off. But surely it's not so hard to understand that some people feel less comfortable in tight clothing.

I really do envy anyone who feels fully comfortable in their own body. Yes it would be better if we could all feel that way. But unfortunately these things can be deeply ingrained and difficult to overcome.

The fuss is that some people feel less comfortable in tight clothing.

If pools were finding that a lot of their swimmers feel that way and wanted to be more inclusive, maybe they could offer thin, baggy over shorts that could then be returned at the end of the session (like when spas have their own towels available for customers to use). If the majority of swimmers don't care and it's only a small number of people on short holidays who could just choose not to swim, maybe it's not enough of an issue for them to bother finding ways to address it.

I think the issue is pretty easy to understand though. A lot of people feel very body conscious.

By “some people” presumably you mean men. I’ve never seen a woman in a swimsuit that wasn’t tight and form fitting, such a thing doesn’t exist! As for providing over shorts I think the Brits need to get over themselves. No one else cares, they’re too busy enjoying their holiday.

No I wasn't just talking about men. I have a loose fitting tankini top a bit like this one: https://www.cottontraders.com/products/scoop-neck-printed-tankini-top/AK11371.html

It's not that dynamic in the water but I'm not really going for speed. I always hated wearing a tight swimsuit in the water as my nipples are very pointy and I hate having them sticking out.

I know people aren't all looking at me, but I care what I look like and I'm so much happier when my nipples aren't on display. I would actually prefer to be topless versus a tight top, the tight lycra just seems to emphasise things.

Maybe this would be fine and allowed anyway, I don't think it's the kind of thing people would walk around town in. But it's not just British men who feel more comfortable in loser swim wear. I'm not a man and I'm also not British. I prefer lose swimwear.

Even that suit is very form fitting around the bottom and it seems to be the lower half that everyone’s getting wound up about.

Also, you may mean looser! I wouldn’t call anyone a loser over their choice of swimwear 🙂

I wonder why people have said on here they were told to take rash guards or babies sun suits off though? As they wouldn’t be worn like that.

It's not enforced we have been

Been to France every year for past 15 years, never seen it enforced!
It has been enforced where I've been.

I have seen it enforced in several eurocamp and yalloh parks.

“We have been” is doing a lot of lifting in that sentence! It has been enforced in the resorts I’ve been in, including the local town pool where I was at Easter. Better to be prepared!

The local town pools are where the rule is guaranteed to be enforced because it is required by law. Privately run pools have more discretion to set their own rules.

The Parisien has handily provided a guide to the top 5 swimsuits for men allowed in public pools (in French naturally, but you can scroll for pics). Another reason given is board shorts have pockets and men forget to take bits of tissue, coins etc out of the pocket before they jump in.

It is definitely enforced in the many public pools I've been in (our local outdoor has handy pictures and explanations for english speaking tourists, clearly sick of the questions!) and as people have found, it's a bit hit and miss in private campsites. I guess if there is a bit Brit clientele complaining they might decide not to bother enforcing, but I have been to lots of campsites where it is enforced. I guess they have to balance the cost of cleaning the pool with tourist complaints and it is a management choice.

My son tends to wear his board shorts lounging around with his speedos underneath and takes the board shorts off when he is actually getting into the water.

If they are that bad don't go To their beautiful
Country!! Seriously!!!!

Well ive been too, and they do enforce it.
So whats your point?

You couldn't wear this (the loose tankini) in a public pool in France. There are pictures up to show what is allowed and not allowed.

At a hotel or in a private campsite or health club, it would be down to their rules.

I guess they have to balance the cost of cleaning the pool with tourist complaints and it is a management choice.

I very hope that they are still cleaning the pool even with the magic protection against all dirt that speedos offer?!

Lol this made me giggle. I wish there was a laugh reaction as well as a give thanks.

Yes thank you, I did mean looser lol.

Sorry if I'm being crude but I think I would be more worried about the tightness of the lower half if I had external genitalia (took me ages to work out how to spell that one too). I'm more worried about the top because that's where my lumpy bits are.

I do genuinely think it's great that France have such a body positive culture, rather being so repressed and embarrassed by their bodies. I'm sorry if I'm coming across as anti-French, it's not my intention.

Just wanted to explain that it's not always easy for people to just get over their body image issues. Thankfully for me I don't really swim on holidays anyway so I won't have to worry about it.

We have been to places where it has been enforced and others where it hasn't.
Could you buy a pair just before you go, leave labels on and keep receipt, then if not needed or DH refuses to wear them, you could take them back for a refund?

Its truly bizarre that you read/think I have no sympathy. I lived in France. I have never been thin or happy with my body. If you stand out the French will stare at you.

just goes to show.

I haven’t felt comfortable in my body for years, I hate my body in a swimsuit. But I do like going in the pool on holiday, and the kids love me going in the water with them. My mum hated swimming pools, and I realised she had passed those hang-ups on to me, and I was determined I wouldn’t do the same to my own kids.

Also as I have got older I have realised that relaxing and making good memories is far more important than what we look like. Looks are temporary.

Also - on a practical note - when you are IN the pool nobody can see your body anyway so it’s really only the getting in and out of the pool that’s the issue. So I have a selection of cover-ups that I can quickly put on when I get out the pool, so I am not walking around just in a swimsuit. I don’t see why a man couldn’t do the same with a shirt or baggy t shirt or those big towel things that are fashionable now.

I’m aware of that as I spend around 3 months a year in France. Many of them do choose to have this rule and to enforce it. It’s unwise of people to blithely tell OP “Oh they never enforce it” when many places actually do. OP would be better served contacting the venue in question and asking them directly. That’s bound to be a more accurate answer that those from random strangers in the internet!

No I agree, I was picking up on the "including the local town pool" part of your comment. That's the one place you can absolutely guarantee the rule will be enforced. With private pools there's really no way of knowing so it's best to be prepared.

Still can't believe how many people are suggesting wearing board shorts on top of Speedos.

🤔