swimming costumes: "one pieces make you look pregnant or like an old woman". Discuss

[thewomanwhothoughtshewasahat]

it's such a good job I've got dh around as my style guru. ok ladies what kind of cossie will you be sporting this summer and why? what suits you? do tankinis draw attention to your worst bits (according to dh they make my boobs look small and give me a white wobbly bit round the middle). What suits a 5 foot nothing short legged, slightly wobbly but not big size 8-10? I believe I have mentioned before I am going on hols with a size 6 social x ray and a rather gorgous 5'10 blonde. so this is of utmost importance.

I have something like this but black and more rounded at the neck Couldnt go swimming otherwise id look such a state.

aha..like this

it has its advantages ss!

look at figleaves or bravissimo they have some lovely onepieces, go for an underwired cup to give you a fab cleavage and a sexy wrap or tunic and you will exude an air of mystery!

Oh and not forgetting some sexy little heeled mules

i always do bikini ....one peices show up flaws ..bikini disguises but thats just me!

thanks sugarpop - I don;t normally get further than M&S or next. This looks lovely but is it really worth £100 ?

notanotter - that's dh;s theory - he's clearly desperate to get me in a bikini - but I just feel very very white and very flobbery (even though I'm only a little bit flobbery)

Personally I think boy shorts don't do anyone any favours Last year I spent over £50 on a FAB swimsuit that made a HUGELY wobbly me feel thin(ish) and even though I am 3 sizes smaller now it still fits!! I went to John Lewis and tried on everything I ended up with a really deep plunge front swimsuit in a brown suede effect fabric. Really classy, but cut very well to look glamourous. I did take a LOT of trial and error. I would advise going to the biggest dept store you can and do the same. I have gone off tankinis for exactly the reasons your dh mentioned, the jelly belly seems to pop through the gap!! I now have a fab swimsuit and I bought a Bikini for this year from BHS of all places. Again I tried EVERYWHERE. I wanted a non-hipster style, that I could tuck my 'overhang' into without worrying it would pop out. I got a great brown and pink spot bikini that makes my boobs look huge and my tummy hidden!!

I would go and and buy EVERYTHING in your size, and bring it home and try try try. I think I had 12 bikinis at home at one pioint!!

Also a wafty kaftan is always good, I found TKMaxx had some, they are fab to wander around in, so you only need strip off at the poolside and then you can hold your tummy in!! (or lie on it!)

further enlightenment from dh - apparently bikinis are good, because they are more like bras and make your boobs look good, hence what the rest of you looks like is irrelevant - cos who's looking? hmmm. a very male take methinks. just dug out my old bikini. and I'm not convinced.

But you can get one-pieces which really flatter your chest. Personally, I'd go for a swimsuit. Whenever I see someone (mum or not) with wobbly, flabby middles in a bikini, I always think it looks awful. What looks nice is a one piece with a nice wrap around skirt to walk about in. I think it also has a lot more class. Bikinis look ok so long as your body is really firm, whatever the size.

Still, you could always go and try on various bikinis and just see what you think. Maybe you would look good in one if dh is so convinced and he does know what you look like.

just in case anyone's interested this is just the thing to know what works (allegedly)

last year I got a great costume from M&S that had a sort of stretchy material over the tummy bit to keep all the saggy bits in. It works really well and I always get compliments from other people when I wear it. It was a little bit like this one but didn't have the belt feature.

Otherwise, BHS has got some good costumes/bikinis in at the mo.

I love the description on that costume - 'holding power in all directions'

I liek that, those plungey ones suit me but a lot of them have that lovely "wrinkly rich old bag" feel to them I find

i prefer bikinis, one piece suits squash your boobs in and show all your flaws imo

i bought this recently, along with a couple of others

foxinsocks - I like that - I am coming to teh conclusion that a bit of rouching (sp?) - especially if it creates diagonal lines going to a point on one side, is the way to go. You might have just saved me £50 as I was seriously considered a couple of similar ones from figleaves for twice the price!

I think that looks a bit large and floppy lou, you should consider getting one like mine (the first white one, click on the pic you will see that it is nice and revealing)

I do think that in general, style advice from one's male partner should always be ignored. They tend to advocate prancing around in micro-miniskirts all bloody day, possibly accessorised with a halterneck top.

i am an old woman.

and i love it.

i love my one piece swim costume, my hotpant/mini skirt free wardrobe and my subtle makeup.

wear something that you feel you look good in.

it's about style in life, not lifestyle.

motherinferior - so true. If I even dream of buying a skirt that covers my knees, dh has a minor sulk.

CD - those bikinis are gross!