Swim dresses - just another way to show off how fat you are?

[ShotsFired]

I'm well overweight (edging towards size 26 ) but working on it and hope to lose a bit by the time I have to go on an enforced and unavoidable villa/pool-based holiday. To make it worse, a couple of the party really don't like me very much (and are normal sized and toned).

Anyway, I tried this on yesterday and liked it, but do swimdresses in fat sizes basically scream Hattie Jacques or can they work?

tuclothing.sainsburys.co.uk/p/Spotty-Skirty-Suit/130566424-Blue?searchTerm=:relevance:type:Swimsuits&searchProduct=

I wear these, if you can work a 1950s vibe they can look really glam (large brim sun hat, cat eye shades, wedge shoes)

I had one when I was about a size 14 (but looked bigger because I'm only 5ft0) and I hated how I looked in it, ordered it because I thought it looked really cute, but it just accentuated the bits I didn't want accentuated and I hated the extra fabric flapping around my thighs (especially when wet).

Honest opinion as a fellow chunker - swim dresses are fine for lounging beside the pool but as soon as they get wet they are your worst nightmare. They cling and flap, accentuating everything you were trying to conceal.
I've never bought one myself but a weekend trip to the a water park last weekend revealed the truth about swim dresses as I observed a couple of larger ladies wearing them. They looked fine coming out of the changing room but then like a sack of spuds wrapped in a bin bag after they were wet. Don't go there.

I am slim and toned and wear swim dresses or shorts because I fucking well will not shave my pubes for anyone :)

For the record, I wear a black one piece with a fitted bust and a diagonal bias stripe to accentuate my waist and bust.

George at Asda do lovely skirted swimsuits. As a size 10 these are all I wear to swim. Very glam and stop me feeling self conscious.

I think they're a bit pointless. Nobody is going to think 'Well, she's a bit chunky on the bits I can see, but I bet she's slim under that strip of loose fabric...'

Plus as stated above, they cling like a possessed shower curtain once they're wet, and they must get so heavy.

People know by looking at me fully clothed how big my arse is, so trying to hide it when I'm less covered would be silly.

i think its nice, and who cares if mainly bigger women wear them. probably because they suit them more and help you feel a bit less vulnerable

I agree that they're pointless. There's no getting away from the exposure of swimwear. You've just got to own your size when you're forced to wear it.

Interestingly I'm far less self conscious about wearing a swimming costume around strangers than I am around people I know, which I tend to avoid at all costs.

How come you're going on holiday with two people who don't like you then? Is it a family group or friends? I can sympathise with you there, I'd be stressing at the idea of putting on swimwear around people who don't like me too.

Branleuse - if they retained their dress shape in the water or when wet, I'd wear one...but they don't.

How about this swim dress and shorts outfit, OP? I'm projecting
here because I like as much cover as poss.

www.amazon.co.uk/Septangle-Vintage-Swimsuit-Skirtini-Swimdress/dp/B01M4QTZFQ/ref=sr_1_42?ie=UTF8&qid=1489744476&sr=8-42&keywords=swimdress&tag=mumsnetforum-21

Ashes, that's pretty! When swimming though, wouldn't the top bit float around leaving the belly bare? Feel like I would be dragging the pool behind me

Good swimsuit and a pair of board shorts here.

Ashes that's really nice. I love the look of that and I think it would suit all shapes and sizes of ladies.

As for swim dresses, as an onlooker, I don't see that they offer any extra coverage than a regular swimsuit. When I was younger (and less confident) I used to wear shorts over my swimwear, not sure if that's an option?

It's all about you feeling comfortable though. If you feel better in a swim dress then that's the most important thing. It's taken me a fair few years to really stick to the line of thought that "who cares what they think". My DH is very overweight and has a massive belly and it's him repeating that mantra to me that's given me the confidence. I'm only a size 10 but have huge body insecurities so please don't assume it's only larger women that are feeling self conscious around the pool x

www.swimsuitsforall.com/swimsuitsforall-2630-Gardenia-Long-Board-Short#rrec=true

Link.

And they deliver to the UK. Good site for a browse.

Love the spotty print and the curvy cut but the skirt will be a real pain...flappy and dreadful when wet and really bulky under a cover up/pool dress.....I am large up top so have given up on swimming costumes so get a proper fit tankini and large short sort of bottoms and spend most of my time with loose cover up on top- am v pale and dont really do well in teh sun full stop
last year was so hot ended up chucking a t short on top when swimming cos got bored with sun creaming!

I think ones with a longer pull down body look 'neater' and not so flappy!

www.modcloth.com/dw/image/v2/ABAT_PRD/on/demandware.static/-/Sites-modcloth-master/default/dwd9129423/images/10090789_GRN_MAIN.jpg?sw=913&sh=1304&sm=fit

You're going to look your size in a swimsuit, whatever that size is and whatever the swimsuit is. So the only answer is to choose something you feel good in. Or at least the nearest to that you can find.

I think that spotty skirted swimsuits that have a strong 1950s style look great.

I'm a 16 and after losing weight I have really unsightly loose flappy tummy skin. For my own comfort I wear the tanksuits from Next, the contrast between the top and bottom is flattering and no horrendous gapping between the top and bottom part as it's an all in one.

Again, thank you all for your thoughts and the links, they are all very much appreciated and food for thought.

Just to clarify, the two dislikers are part of a wider group, so it won't be just me and them the whole time. Just part of the dynamics of families we all have to bear with sometimes.

Oh I like that bejazzled!

I don't think these styles are flattering on larger figures as it can cut the leg off at an unflattering point. But if you like it, fuck what anyone else thinks!

Remember it is only outside the water that people will see you (fuck em anyway.. but) so think about coverups that you can take off just before / just after you get out.
www.matalan.co.uk/events/holiday-shop/womens-holiday-shop/s2652045/feather-print-maxi-kimono

www.evans.co.uk/en/evuk/product/clothing-250468/swimwear-250499/blue-shibori-print-kaftan-6173844?bi=0&ps=20

www.simplybe.co.uk/shop/beach-to-beach-convertible-sarong/wq483/product/details/show.action?pdBoUid=5205#colour:BLOOM,size:

www.simplybe.co.uk/shop/together-summer-splash-kaftan/wq331/product/details/show.action?pdBoUid=5205#colour:Summer Splash,size:

I'm a size 8 with pretty good muscle tone, including defined abs. I wear swim dresses, board shorts with a tankini top or swimming costumes with legs. Out of the pool/on the beach I wear kaftans or loose clothes.

I wear what I am comfortable in and don't like showing a lot of skin.

Wear what YOU like and feel comfortable in. Enjoy YOUR holiday.

I agree about the skirt bit clinging when wet. Must get cold and uncomfortable. I would go for a well structured cozzie and rock your look. A decent cozzie isn't cheap but only get one and look after it. That's what I have done.