Do I need help? I think I want to buy a swimdress!

[ghislaine]

So I'd always associated these items with my grandmother and Esther Williams. I'm not ready for the full flower swimcap but I have found myself strangely drawn to swimdresses when looking for a new swimsuit. Something like this:

Palm print dress

Navy with frills

Navy with belt.

Is this a sign of madness or have I found the gateway to a new poolside look? For context, I'm in my 50s, size 12, hourglass figure with wobbly but slimish thighs.

edited for spelling.

I love swim dresses, they look elegant somehow.

You def dont have anything wrong with you @ghislaine go for it.

They do not age anyone btw, most people I see in them are young.

I’m currently on holiday in the south of France and have seen all shapes and sizes, ages etc wear swim dresses. My dd has one and looks stunning, she’s 18. She also looks fantastic in a bikini. Times have changed.

I love mine, also decathlon. It’s a lovely shape and looks sporty and elegant. Yes I do hate my thighs, spent my whole life hating going swimming as I can’t bear myself in an trad suit and suddenly I have an option to take that awful feeling away. It’s been life changing. I am a size 12 too, a pear shape which makes shorts look awful as they make the pear shape appear much wider (I have tried them all), whereas a dress has a much nicer shape. Not being forced to display the bit of me I hate most to the world to go swimming makes me happy, so I love it. Men don’t have to wear tiny suits after all (well, except in France 😂)

I usually wear them too. They suit my shape and I'm usually also running around after a small child so they give a bit more coverage and feel like a bit more of an outfit.

I bought a lovely one from matalan it's so flattering my freind suggested it and I was t sure until I tried it on

I wear board shorts ( not as long as men's) and a rash vest all from billabong usually. I don't like tonnes of suncream, I burn easily and often get sun rash

I didn’t even know they made these but I love them. I have been getting by with swimming in a short cheesecloth kaftan thing over the top of a swimsuit. I don’t really have body image issues, I just don’t go to the beach often and feel very exposed in normal bathers.

Also I hate having to be perfectly hair free all the time on holiday!

I think I'd go more swim shorts/playsuit options... the dress would make me feel like a 5 year old . Sugar plum fairy...

Ah, I think you have my vibe @MadameMassiveSalad . I have that boyleg suit already!

I’m in my 50s , size 14 and wear a swim dress from Joe Browns. I am super self conscious in a normal swim suit and the skirt covers a rather large varicose vein on my thigh so it makes me happy . I swim in mine too.

I don’t see why I should let it all hang out just because of convention. I rebelled this year and bought a swimdress. It was a very lovely one from Landsend and nothing frumpy about it. I’m size 10 and I think it was very elegant.

mine was reduced from £120 to £30 so an absolute steal.

I think the trick is: no pleats no flowers and a slimline silhouette

Women are not expected to wear tiny thongs. Of course, they can do so if they wish, but in other countries in the world they are not permitted to show arms or legs. Count our blessings.

As for men’s swimwear, have you bern watching the Olympics?

I agree @TheDelayyAA that they’re chic. I wouldn’t wear a dress that short out so it’s definitely pool/beach wear. No need to be skimpy.

Yes but @StarlightLady thats for speed reasons. Your average bloke on holiday is in big shorts!

https://www.meetcurve.co.uk/red-halter-twist-front-polka-dot-swimdress-b-desd014005.html?catid=186&user_device=mobile
This is super cute!😊

I tried swim dresses but it’s like any other swimming costumes, nightmare if wet and you need the loo, so I now wear a skirted tankini top and separate bottoms

@BrendaSmall i just pull to the side for a wee!

I only wear swim dresses! They look so cool and a bit vintage

The navy one with belt is gorgeous! Absolutely get one, I think they look lovely, whatever your body shape and size. The first response is just unnecessarily bitchy-disregard it.
I wear bikini tops with swim skirts, for no other reason than I love them. Like you I love retro clothing, I have lots of little dresses with full skirts and belts that pull in the waist. A modern twist on 50s style is gorgeous and flattering, which is what I think these swim dresses are

Where do you live that women are 'expected to prance around in tiny thongs?', @Gogandthepeoplefromhonda 😮

They are awful! Even on a fat person, they just look you’re ashamed and uncomfortable.

@LoneHydrangea some bikinis and swimsuits look awful too.
Do you think this looks awful?

I've worn swim dresses since having children/packing on a few pounds and I bloody hate them.
I was brave this year and actually bought normal swimsuits and I've never been happier or more confident poolside. Even had to get out of the pool and stand outside for half an hour during a fire alarm yesterday and I was fine 😛
I have a bit of a belly and cottage cheese thighs (blobby size 14 and only 5ft) but I genuinely don't care what anyone thinks and my husband still thinks I'm the most gorgeous thing to walk the planet 🤣 so it's all good!

Where I live they are very popular!