Swimsuit or tankini?

[TheBookofRuth]

I'm normally a bikini girl, but we're taking the kids to Centre Parcs in October and a bikini doesn't feel quite right for flinging myself around a pool with my toddler - plus I'm only 8 weeks post-partum with my second so still have mum-tum.

I've tried on a couple of swimsuits but they look a bit matronly on me - I'm a curvy size 14 with a very large bust. However, tankinis feel a bit...dated to me.

Any thoughts, oh wise ones?

I can't do tankinis at all, though that's because I have a really long torso and always end up with an unattractive gape between top and bottom. However have recently discovered the wonder of bikinis with high waisted bottoms, which actually cover the I've-had-two-kids tum and look sort of cute in a pin-up way, if that interests? Wore same for chasing two kids up and down the beach in Spain earlier this year.

A bikini just feels a bit "sexy" for Centre Parcs to me. Although I could be overthinking this!

Halterneck swimsuits avoid the 'matronly' look imo this is lovely or this?

Agree about not a bikini at Centerparcs, even though when we used to go there I was slimmer, and I do no wear a bikini on the beach.
Just gat a plain one, or a speedo (in fact get two so one can dry while you wear the other one....)

IMO an all in one is cooler than a tankini... Get a halter neck definitely, I prefer a plain colour. Effortless and not too try hard x

Tankini -- much handier for going to the loo, and you can get tops and bottoms in different sizes so generally more flattering.

Retro high waisted bikini styles are also handy for the loo and keep the tum in shape while looking very cute.

I love swimsuits, seen some nice ones but haven't been able to wear one for over two decades due to a long torso. We are going to Centre Parcs next week so I'll be wearing a tankini then.

Frost French do really lovely one pieces.

The key thing for me are
a) support for the large bust
b) space for the long torso

I'm currently wearing a very supportive Boden tankini that does these things.

Plenty of people do wear bikins at Center Parcs.

I am not ashamed to admit I got the idea of wearing a high waisted bikini as something flattering to the longer-torsoed lady from Oprah magazine...

I'd go one-piece or bikini. I think tankinis just emphasise the tummy.

wow lots of people here with long torsos, thought it was just me with this! swimsuit shopping is horrendous. I'm a slim size 8 but at 5"8 with a stupid long body everything looks awful on me.

I like the sound of the high waisted bikinis. would people wear these to just a normal indoor swimming pool to take kids for a swim etc??

I don't see why not.

A proper sports costume if you actually want to enjoy going on the shoots and the rapids without fear of indecent exposure.

If you don't intend going on the rapids there's no point in going to CP.

BTW, if you do want a sports costume Speedo are not bad for long torsos - my actual "going to do lengths in the pool" suit is a Speedo (think it's one of these, though mine is about six years old: www.speedostoreeu.com/women/women-all-swimsuits/809024.html?dwvar_809024_color=0001&cgid=women-all-swimsuits#cgid=women-all-swimsuits&cgid=women-all-swimsuits&start=3) and it's pretty comfy. Not the most beautiful of garments but it's functional.

I have a long torso so normally wear tankinis. But I have to choose carefully to make sure the BIG pants come up to my belly button and that the top is long. M&S had some good separates over the summer - their bikini tops were horrific though.

Thanks for all the advice. A sports one sounds sensible, as I do want to be able to get stuck in without worrying about my ridiculous boobs escaping, but I also need to be able to breastfeed DS. Hmm...

I don't have a long torso though. That was someone else up thread.

Oh yeah, if you need to breastfeed you'll need a halterneck or something - can't imagine being able to feed in a racerback (unless it's uncommonly stretchy or you have very weirdly positioned boobs).

I have a pretty nice Boden halter-neck one-piece, kind of vintagey style, which is the sort thing that might work? Though annoyingly they don't seem to be doing them at the moment.

Tankinis aren't really the height of fashion are they? I got a nice one piece thing from tesco, this style but navy and i think it was f&f's own brand www.clothingattesco.com/swimwear/elle-sport-ruched-swimsuit/invt/cz420970

That's nice chocolate rainbow but would be no good for my csection tummy. That's why I like tankinis. I do have one like that from M&S but it looks more like a tankini, and has a separate ruched overlay . In their usual way they discontinued something rated 5/5 ...

Like this one but with no ties and a top part like the pink Elle one you posted.

Ooh, I just found the Boden one I have on clearance (I have the navy):
www.boden.co.uk/en-GB/Clearance/Womens-Swimwear/WS038/Womens-Tie-Front-Swimsuit.html