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Original poster

The bikini vs swimsuit debate

20 replies

Lweji · 13/06/2016 12:09

Having nothing better to do, I've decided to conduct a scientific survey of bikini vs swimsuit on the beach I'm in at the moment.
So, Algarve, Rocha: a ratio of 30-50 swimsuits for every 100 bikinis.
Or only 23-33 % of every woman on the beach is wearing a bikini. That's 1/4 to 1/3, after reaching just about 50 odd bikini wearers.

All shapes and sizes.

Number of people actually bothering about what other people are wearing: 1. and in a bikini with a wobbly tummy.

Any reports from other holiday spots?

OP posts:

SheHasAWildHeart · 13/06/2016 12:12

Just returned from Turkey and would agree with your numbers. The more swim dresses the better. Nice to eat in the outdoor buffet without being surrounded by people in tiny bikinis and their bits hanging out.

Original poster

Lweji · 13/06/2016 12:15

Ups, sorry, I meant to say
Or only 23-33 % of every woman on the beach is wearing a SWIMSUIT

Not bothered by either on the beach, although I do prefer some coverage around the restaurants. :)

OP posts:

hollieberrie · 13/06/2016 14:25

Got back from Greece a week ago. It was pretty quiet but a real mix of swimwear. Def no more than 50% bikinis. The rest swimsuits or a shorts and top combo (tankini is it called? Or board shorts and bikinis ).
No one cared at all. I was more concerned about trying to look brave getting into the freeeeeezing sea than I was about my body

dementedpixie · 13/06/2016 14:29

Ill be in a bikini on my holiday. Much easier when you need to go to the toilet too! I don't care if you don't want to see my wobbly bits tbh

JohnCheese · 13/06/2016 15:12

Will report back next week!!

I also will be in a bikini. Way more comfortable. I have my wobbly bits too, so what. And hey, I'm in good working order. Life's too short to fret about a bit of wobble.

TooExtraImmatureCheddar · 13/06/2016 15:31

Informal survey of last week around the pool - bikini 1 (me); swimsuit 2 (SIL and MIL). So I was outnumbered 2:1. I have many wobbly bits, but I actually thought SIL looked a bit odd in her swimsuits, mainly because you rarely see women in their thirties wearing them to the beach, unless they are cute retro type ones. SIL is probably a size 10 or 12 and very pretty, but I've seen beach pics of her on other holidays and she always wears old-fashioned swimsuits. MIL is in her 60s and not known for her clothing taste, and even she had a nicer swimsuit.

DerelictMyBalls · 13/06/2016 15:53

I wear bikinis because I have wobbly bits... Wobbly and tanned looks better than wobbly and white!

SpiritedLondon · 13/06/2016 17:48

I was recently on holiday and took 2 rather glamorous swimsuits since I've put on weight and felt very self conscious. ( I read in a Sunday supplement that it's all about 1 pieces at the moment and felt somewhat vindicated. ). Once on holiday I found them hot ( they had 2 layers over the stomach) and stayed wet for ages after swimming - making it awkward to pull up and down for wees! After a few days I borrowed a bikini from my glamorous mother ( who gave me the swimsuits in the first place). Better to wear a well fitting bikini I feel. Didn't actually make it to the beach we just stayed at the villa so cannot give you the vote from Croatia sorry.

Doobigetta · 13/06/2016 18:40

Hmm, I don't think I've ever seen more than about 10% one pieces. But I'm a fan of the tropical, so most people I share beaches with take them pretty seriously

Floisme · 13/06/2016 18:48

'I am a one in ten...'

I prefer a one piece and have done since I was in my twenties. I've always found bikinis far too much of a faff. With a one piece, I can relax and forget what I'm wearing.

I rarely go on beaches now my son is grown up but agree that when I do, I'm in the minority. Such is life.

sunnydayinmay · 13/06/2016 18:52

Week in Brittany, mainly fleeces and cardigans but... around the pool, probably 75% bikinis. One pieces mainly worn on occasions when mothers had been persuaded to go down the waterslides with dcs.

WindTheFrog · 13/06/2016 18:55

I'm usually a bikini girl but this year the kids want to do several days at a water park. Do I risk a bikini popping off on the water slide or go cossie? I'm wobbly with big boobs.

Original poster

Lweji · 13/06/2016 20:15

hot ( they had 2 layers over the stomach) and stayed wet for ages after swimming

This is why I don't buy swimsuits anymore. I used to have 50-50.

I'd have said before about 10% in the Algarve, so it was more than I expected, but it's not peak season yet.
There were many locals and older women (not all in swimsuits).

OP posts:

Trills · 13/06/2016 20:21

I find a bikini that fits less faff than a swimsuit, and in no danger of popping off.

Trills · 13/06/2016 20:22

In many parts of Spain the most common "one piece swimsuit" you'll see is the bottom part of a bikini without the top bit.

Original poster

Lweji · 13/06/2016 20:25

I don't see many topless women here anymore, even young women, but it was fairly common 20 years ago.

OP posts:

retainertrainer · 13/06/2016 20:29

Top tip for any cossie wearers who have trouble going to the loo-you don't need to pull the whole thing on and off just pull the gusset over to the side of your fanjo.

I went to gran canaria last week and saw about 2 swim suits all week (mine being 1 of them!)

Pissant · 13/06/2016 20:30

I'm a one piece fan.

However am quite obsessive about my body shape so feel much happier in a sleek swimsuit. Bikini only if there is NO wobbling on that particular day.

Floisme · 13/06/2016 20:38

I find a bikini that fits less faff than a swimsuit,
That may be true - if it fits. I never found one that did. Admittedly I gave up looking a long time ago but I really cannot be arsed starting again. I'm not much of a swimmer, I never sunbathe and I'm happy with my one piece. I was just giving a different point of view.

elliefredericksen · 14/06/2016 11:02

Perhaps part of the problem is that as we (most of us ;) ) only go on a hot holiday for a couple of weeks every year, spending money on a bikini seems a big expense. So we end up panic buying, too close the leaving, or buying up the dregs of last summers sale, or just buying a really cheap "that'll do" bikini. Then wonder why we feel uncomfortable and self conscious! When we really need to be researching all the styles, trying loads on, finding the best one for our budget etc, months before we actually need to wear it.

Last year, after a holiday as the only one on the beach in a one-piece, and the next holiday feeling really silly in a cheap bikini bought on resort which was the worst possible style for me, I did just that. I've now got one from M&S, and another from Boden which I feel really good in, and fit well, and which co-ordinate with a couple of cover ups for walking around in. Such a difference, and I have no such anxieties about this years holiday at all.

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