Help me not look shit on holiday ....please

[princessconsuelabannahammock]

Hi all i am off on holiday in 3 weeks!! Yay. This will be my first beach holiday in years and i am taking both kids and DH.

I always look a sweaty mess on holiday but pre kids i at least had slimness and youth on my side! So i have been low carbing and am almost a size 14 - so at least some of my dresses might fit.

I have bought a hat - a panama, which i am very taken with. I have jaw length hair which looks lank and a mess unless done, so that should cover the beach hair thing.

I wont do a bikini but have a swim suit and a tankini and a cover up. I have nice prescription sunglasses.

How do i look a bit put together?

Shall i fake tan before i go? what sort of make up do i need (never really wear any but have tonnes). Any other tips to make me feel fab? I want to feel nice to get the most out of the trip - i know its shallow.

TIA

So i ordered a skirtini and tankini top from BHS and they look hideous on, so they are going back. I am heading to town this weekend and i am looking for a large bra type bikini top and a pair of short thin shorts instead. The problem is my general size so i am not over happy in anything. I think i will also get a swim suit and a nice cover up.I know when i am there i wont care, i am just giving it far too much thought at the moment.

Probably wont get a tummy control one i just want one with good boob support. I have my hat and my nice sunnies, some nice sandals and my gorgeous DH and kids, so it will all be fine. Cant wait! Just over 2 weeks to go!!

princess - I think we must be long lost twins because I'm the same as you, even down to the bitchy Nan and fattist dad!

I'm trying to slim and have until August, but I have just spent £500 on bikinis from brastop and lazeme as I'm determined to not let my body hangups spoil the enjoyment of my holiday.

I bought them all on a 0% credit card and will return most of them next week, but at least I'll have a good selection. I've got for black bottoms and loads of different coloured tops to try.

er...not black or navy clothes on a hot holiday for obvious junior school science reasons.

not white either, something in between.

boardshorts look good on everyone and dry quickly, much better than silly bikini knickers. Shower off if you've been in salt water as it gets itchy otherwise. Add bikini top and rash vest for ages in the water with no worries.

enjoy!

Went swimming again today at a holiday park type place and there were more larger women in bikinis - i was in awe. Admittedly they had nicer tummys than mine but def considering board shorts and a very supportive bikini top and some fake tan as my tummy NEVER sees the light of day. In my head i shall pretend i am Ursual Andrews emerging from the sea!!! I am sure a good smile and a sexy wiggle will help me carry it off, thats what i usually do.

I watched everyone in the pool and larger women look like larger women whether they are wearing bikinis, swim suits or skirtini/ tankini type things. In fact trying to cover up wobbly bits draws attention to them rather than hides them. There does come a point when you just have to say fuck em and i think i am getting there. Thanks for all your support.

Felicia - good luck with your mamouth trying on session and have a fab holiday. Family eh?!

I think board shorts/tankinis/skirtinis etc just add bulk and make you look bigger than you are.
Embrace the current tent for 50's style high waisted bikinis. The bottoms are incredibly flattering on every shape and size.
Leg and bikini wax, good sun care, and my absolute must have-Lancaster tan maximiser.
Avoid linen, loose drawstring trousers, anything elasticated, looks cheap is horrible in warm weather.
Loose midi skirts with tucked in cami vests, good leather sandals all look great.

Yey you're getting there !!! Get some fake ran on that belly.

The other good thing about board shorts is that unlike silly knickers , they cover normal adult female pubic hair . each to their own, but fifties mega knickers looked awful then and look worse now. And will take even longer to dry. Op wants to swim , not just cover a sun bed.

I'm a huge fan of engineer built quality bikinis like Freya, Fantasie etc. They're pricy but cheaper than lipo :) Go to a department store to try on then order from eBay.

In bottoms, you'll be an xl. The pants will look laughably huge but once on will be flattering as they won't dig in to your hips.

Seriously, once you've enjoyed an uplifting, solid bikini in a gorgeous design, you'll never go back to an apologetic black one piece.

So I have sent back the bhs stuf and ordered a pair of board shortsand a blue giraffe print bikini top! Will up date in a few days when it arrives. Off to fake tan a hectare of ghostly white belly!!

I always have a spray tan before I go on holiday. It just makes everything look better so I feel better. I use the holiday skin to moisturize in the morning and evening and it kind of takes over as the spray tan wears off.

I ordered a huge range of stuff from brastop. After a trying on session this morning I have settled on www.brastop.com/curvy-kate-atlantis-padded-balconette-bikini-top-deep-sea and www.brastop.com/curvy-kate-instinct-padded-balcony-bikini-deep-sea with the matching briefs. Honestly, I never thought my size 16, 36FF body would look good in a bikini but Morris is absolutely right! I think I look pretty good and they are so supportive for my boobs. It makes all the difference.

Invest in an expensive swimsuit. I have quite a prominent tummy and I find cheaper swimwear makes it look worse.

Heman- I love your bikini top. I have ordered something very similar, it looks like it has some good scaffolding behind it and nice and big. No way could I get away with an itsy bitsy one. The bit I was really struggling with was having my lower belly out as its very wrinkled and tiny bottoms get lost under my massive c sec overhang. The shorts will hopefully help with the chub rub too.

Oooh I hope it fits OK princess! I've never tried curvy kate swimwear before. It is very generously cut. I'm waiting on delivery on an Elomi swim bra/briefs/tankini set as I've always gone for tankinis. I'm not sure I'll need it now!

I always take a pair of nice gold leasandals with me on holiday .They go with absolutely everything

That was supposed to say leather but the screen jumped and it posted instead! Also a pair of smart tan leather sandals for the evening as they also go with everything.

Floozie by FrostFrench at Debenhams is usually a really nice range. I'm a similar size to you and also reluctant to wear a bikini but their styles are really sassy and unapologetic and also mostly really flattering. I hope you have a really memorable, happy holiday. I always think to myself, if anyone makes a comment in relation to my figure, 'I could reply in kind, but I'm too well bred to make personal remarks'.

Oh! And I meant to say - we stayed in a villa a couple of years ago. I took much less clothing than I would normally and stuck a load of washing on every couple of days, hung it out and it dried in a couple of hours or so. So I don't think your idea is mad! I also did most of mine and DS's laundry before we left. So I had less to do at home. I hate doing laundry but it's so much more relaxed on holiday .

We are staying in an AI hotel this year, for the very first time. I've checked - they have a laundry service! We will be taking enough outfits for half the holiday and then getting them laundered for the second half!

I have a lovely pair of leather and a pair of nude sandals, problem is i also want to take a pair of heels, a pair of wedges and my fit flops. I KNOW i will end up living in just one pair of shoes, need to limit myself.

I also want to take a ton of clothes so need to cut back there as well. I am def doing some washing there, i have small DC and need to pack other bits for them so dont have enough space otherwise.

I have just realised the bikini top i have ordered isnt underwired but shaped cups, so that might yet have to go back grr depends on how supportive it is.

Any tips of tan extender stuff? I dont really tan and am unsure about fake tanning before i go - once did this and looked like i had a weird skin condition as i had very patchy knees and wrists and ruined all my white tops. Would a gradual tanner be ok? I wear factor 30plus as i am very very pale and hate getting burnt but i do want to look like i have been on holiday.

I am 2lbs down this week yay but still looking like an overstuffed sausage in one or two of my dresses, 2 weeks to go so fingers crossed.

Hmmmm. I'm fair skinned, although my upper body tans okish, my legs never tan. I have great success with using a tan accelerator for about 10 days to 2 weeks before I go on holiday. Then I use ultrasun family spf 30 on my top half and boots protect and tan on my legs. I can't find the sun cream on their website although I'm sure I saw it in store. Anyway, this is the 30spf spray m.boots.com/h5/cat_hub?path=%2Fen%2FSoltan-Protect-Tan-Ultra-Light-Texture-Suncare-Spray-SPF30-200ml_1316170%2F&unCountry=uk. Maybe look for a tan maximiser/aftersun product to use in the evenings?

Sorry, that doesn't help you with looking a bit pale when you get on holiday. But the tan accelerator should help you tan faster and I find it helps with prickly heat rash too.

I am just back from Ho,I day and a very curvy size 16, pale skin and freckles ....
I swear by tankinis and the tops tend to be long - next, sainsburys, debenhams. I get a patterned top with contrasting bottoms
I wear dresses during the day - Boden, H&m, white stuff, M&S
Evening - maxi skirts in block colours with vest tops, white girlfriend jeans with various tops, one knee length dress (usually in blue tones)
Shoes- flip flops for beach, fit flops and wedge espadrilles for evening
Make up - as others have said cc cream, lip gloss and mascara
Skin prep - all over body scrub and moisturise +++ a couple of days before you go and I do use fake tan on before I go and go so red you don't notice the patchiness have started using bio oil as an after sun
Mani and pedi helps make me feel a little glam

But in all honesty by the 2nd day you will be chilling out (hopefully!) and you will forget what you are wearing and just be enjoying yourself.

Have a fantastic holiday xxx

www.mandco.com/giraffe-print-underwired-bikini-top-navy/292311401032850.html

I ordered this with but the one without the underwiring - it has to go back as its not man enough for the job!! and i will reorder this one, i intend to wear it with short board shorts. I will also be rocking my panama hat, sunnies and some nice flip flops. Hoping the shorts dont sit too low on the hips and i can fake tan my tummy into looking thinner. Fingers crossed.