Am I the only one that hates women’s swimwear/beachwear options?

[Mudonstairs]

A total first world problem…Just wanting a rant really. I have booked my first holiday since becoming a mum and am finding the bikini options quite depressing. I’ve never liked one piece swim suits so bikini/tankini is really my only option. I just find them all so revealing and I wouldn’t feel comfortable wearing them. The tankini options tend to look so plain and unattractive and I find they are marketed at the plus size market so unavailable in my size sometimes. I am finding most styles are either too revealing or on the other end of the scale just frumpy 🤷🏻‍♀️ I just want something pretty that covers the bottom a bit better. I don’t want to have shave or wax while I’m away for two weeks so knickers are a bit too revealing. I feel annoyed that men don’t have to decide whether they want their pubes on show!!!

I am late thirties, a size 8 but I do go up a size or two on bottoms to get more coverage. Another rant: why do the bottoms only cover half a bum cheek?! 🤬 perhaps a lot of retailers believe that women want to bare as much flesh as possible, especially if they are of a smaller frame??? I don’t get it.

I have bought a skirted bottom from M&S online (can’t remember which brand) which is ok and still feminine without looking frumpy. But I can’t find anything else remotely pretty but still not too much flesh on the bottom area on show. People have suggested sarongs/cover ups but honestly I just want something I can go in and out of a pool without too much faffing. I will have a two year old to run after!

Sorry, rant over! Does anyone else feel my pain?

I am struggling to find swim skirts that I like. I think I am fussy. I want it to look feminine without loads of frills/frump.

I have bought this swim skirt I love (I will link it in case others like it) but I need more than one for a 2 week holiday. I mean I could always by an identical one but I was hoping for another style. I like this as it’s feminine and pretty without being frumpy IYSWIM

Swim skirt I’ve got

I think boy short refers to the cut of the leg rather than any nod that they would fit boys.
My boy short cut swim shorts would not fit on a boy/man.

So cycle shorts (which just means fitted) are too revealing, board shorts are too 'surfer type'....I'm not sure what you're looking for. I think board shorts mean the cut is looser, like shorts rather than traditional swim suit fabric.

Yes, but the op has had the same issue a lot of women that are pear shaped have had, and I don't think it is uncommon for the coverage to be bad at times. You have obviously been lucky in your picks to have had it never happen, if you're also pear shaped! I thought most people have tried on a badly fitted swimsuit at one point or other. Hopefully your choices will help her.

PP have posted shorts that aren’t board shorts that I think look ok. I will have a look at all the links people have suggested once I’ve got the kid to bed.

I guess I find cycling shorts/boy shorts not appealing to look at and still too knicker like in the way they are so form fitting. I have posted with a link to a nice swim skirt that I’ve already got. Maybe that will give you an idea of what I mean.

That swim skirt, in my opinion, is perfect as it’s feminine without looking too fussy/frilly. I can pair it with almost any black top. It’s not for everyone but that’s more my kind of thing. Im looking for more stuff like that.

Nobody likes hoiking gussets out of anywhere, do they? But by the sound of some people on here, they don’t mind. Maybe not all genitalia are such gusset munchers 🤣

and I agree with the socks. I have bought some from Amazon that are marketed as diabetic socks and they have perfect ankle/leg length without having to deal with an oversized men’s sock.

Look on seafancy. They have lots of swimsuits that are cut with shorts.

Have you looked at Lands End - they seem to have cornered the market in slightly more covered up swimwear eg https://www.walkonbeach.co.uk/floral-high-neck-wide-straps-tankini-set-with-high-waist-shorts-apds-tk010302.html

Admittedly, I usually avoid those cool surfer brands as I think I’m not cool enough but I will have a look.

Thanks. 😊
yeah, I hear great things about the laser hair removal but not something I can afford or even justify saving for right now unfortunately

Yes, I find it annoying that the default style is arse hanging out and if you don’t want that you have to trawl online. Men don’t have this problem and it’s frustrating that we do. All swimwear in shops is arse hanging out style where I live!

Im now imagining men’s swimming trunks with cutouts in the arse being sold in M&S 😂

Try having wide lower legs, they literally go straight from my heels! Every sock leaves indents, dh had to to buy me "special ones" that claim to eradicate the issue. 😂
I wish retailers would stop making gussets for 14 year olds too, this ruins so many great swimwear and outer short contenders for me! I have to check the inside leg to make sure it is an acceptable length. I want shorts, not oversized knickers, but not long shorts at the same time, as they swamp my little legs.😂

Oooh thanks these look great. They are very similar to the swim skirt I’ve already got. I posted a link.

I’m not plus sized either but I have a large bottom. Thanks, I will have a look at the link.

OK - I don't think I am pear shaped. Is that what being curvier means.

My own swimsuit trial is that I am tall and there is NOTHING flattering about a too short one piece! This is why tankinis are great for me.

Oh brilliant, I didn't see that. They have a fully working cord (it isn't for show 🎊). You do have to secure it with a knot either side as mine got lost. Apart from that I highly recommend, I just ordered a couple of sizes, and returned what I didn't want. They go great with any bikini top. They also have a nice wide band at the top and room to sort of position them at a comfortable height on your stomach. I didn't want high, or too low waisted either. Anyway i think you get the jist, promise I don't work on commission 🤣

Haha yes, pear is where you're smaller on the top in proportion to the bottom, so think bigger bum, hips in comparison to the top half. It can mean some costumes lack enough fabric on the bum cheek area. I understand what you mean about a one piece as well, I'm only 5'4, but have a long torso , then this with the 'pearness,' and little legs is troublesome 🤣🤣

I don't know. I've been looking and there are SO many options.
From thongs through to boy shorts.
Lots of high waisted if you are conscious of your tum. Lots of different levels of butt coverage. Somewhere like next does masses of different brands

https://www.mountainwarehouse.com/patterned-womens-stretch-boardshorts-short-p23945.aspx/jet-black/
I found these board shorts quite flattering. I don’t think they scream surfer, are not too long and have quite a feminine cut

These?

https://www.johnlewis.com/panos-emporio-agape-bikini-shorts/black/p110249609?size=16&sppc=2dxxmixedfashionnBAU&tmad=c&tmcampid=2&gadsource=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIm67lyN70hgMVF5xQBh0JCQopEAQYBSABEgJtxPDD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

these bikini bottoms look to have reasonable coverage. Pretty too. Other colours listed as seperate items on the website.

In a few countries on the continent men have to wear speedo type swimming costumes to communal pools. Shorts are not allowed. I actually think those are MORE revealing.

I feel the same but tend to wear board shorts and a bikini top. They don't look frumpy but a bit more cover!

I’m very fussy about swimsuits and like Boden and Andie (andieswim.com/en-gb).

The hair issue is easily solved by getting a leg suit. The only potential problem is that legsuits tend to be more for actual swimming than sunbathing.

Hmm, quite hard to tell if the bum cheek coverage would be sufficient for my rear end. It looks quite ‘cheeky’ on the model and my bum is bigger 😂