if you saw a size 18 lady on a beach in a bikini would you think...

[lizandlulu]

good on her, or put it away?

i have my own reasons for asking

I wouldn't think anythng.

People are whatever size they are and a bare tummy is a bare tummy. It doesn't look smaller with a lycra tankini stretched over it. Why is a bit more flesh a reasoon to cover it - all flesh is flesh. Why should bigger people not enjoy the sun and cool or warm air?

What I hate is people having views about what other people should and should not cover up - but luckily the insides of thier heads are hidden from view and it doesn't generally spoil my day

I was reading a copy of this weeks Woman magazine and Gok Wan says that tankinis are a no no. He gives tips on how women of all shapes and sizes can make the best of their swimwear on the beach.

I personally don't think size 18 is that big (I'm size 12) but it does depend on your height and if your body is well toned.

wouldn't think anything or even notice

Also,if you have inner confidence, you can wear anything because you don't give two hoots what anybody thinks and that is the way it should be imo.

I think a bit of sun does wonders for flabby strech marked belly,don't look so bad if it's brown and I would not think anything,other than wonder where she got it if I liked it

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Her size wouldn't be relevant to what I'd think as such - if a woman is toned, in good proportion and looks good, I'd admire her, if she is not, whatever her size, I might well think 'put it away' if I'm honest.

But I am very judgey with people's outfits if I'm walking around town I do almost physically cringe sometimes and I do find myself muttering to DH 'Did she forget to look in the mirror this morning?' or 'What's she come as then?' Not a comment on size, although it is a fact that if someone is wearing an atrocious outfit, they are more likely to look atrocious if they are overweight, I'm thinking spilling over low-cut jeans, polo necks with big boobs, clingy see-through white stretchy capri pants, you get the picture.

Liz if you feel good that probably means you look good so go for it.

Ah such honesty!

Really, how many people do not 'people watch' and exchange looks with their friends as a particularly frightening combo walks past?

I'm terrible aren't I Novice?!

I used to be a manager for a fairly high-end clothes shop a long time ago and my time spent there trained me to notice things like that a lot more than I did before then, so I blame that... DH is even worse than me, and he's got no excuse!

well i'm a size 28!!!
I don't wear a bikini but I do wear a cossie.I'm going on holiday with all my skinny mates and their hubbies and their kids in July. One of my friends' sons has already been shocked that i'm even contemplating wearing a cossie on the beach!(as opposed to covering myself up from head to toe!).However,because i am so big, and because my kids so wanted to learn to swim,I persuaded my hubbie to come swimming with me every Sunday morning.I know people stare...i've got enormous boobs and horrible,horrible elephant legs....but I decided that it's the one type of exercise I can do without getting out of breath and I enjoy it. Have asked kids if I embarrass them when they're out with me and they're just happy that I enjoy myself with them.(At least that's what they say to my face!)So-although very nervous about it-i'm gonna apply this to when I go on holiday. Bugger everyone else!

I would look out to sea for Japanese whaling fleet approaching.

Not really. If the presentation was very poor I might think, "oooh you need more uplift" but I wouldn't think "put it away". Size 18 isn't all that big anyway.

Just because your a size 18 doesnt make you a heffer I am 5'11 and am usually a size 18 (am 39+4 weeks pregnant at the moment) I have always played sport and am really quite solid to be honest some short arse size 14s look a hell of a lot worse than me on a beach! anyway how on earth would you know they are a size 18 anyway I take it you have decided that this is the size for a fat women!

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Good for you cute mums, have a great time on holiday

D'you not think shorts are really unflattering? They make my legs look 'dumpy'

sorry cutekids

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I wouldn't take any notice.
I have always had dimply thighs. I have worn a bikini for years.
Its the people who try to hard, with their fake tan and fake boobs hanging out of their string, that make me think put it away.

Good on you Cutekids I went up to a size 26 after having my first DS and decided not to go on holiday as I felt so bad about myself in fact i didnt go away for 3 years! now I think sod it if I am happy I dont care what others think I did manage to lose some weight mainly because I wanted another lo and was way to heavy for that thankfully I lost 5 stone last year and am now 39+4 and have only put on 6lbs during this pregnancy - oh a pic of me as a size 18 is on my profile shows you dont have to be fat to be a size 18!

spokette, i read that too and was gotted as i have just bought a lovely jade green and white spotty one from next.
i will still wear it anyway, but it has took the shine off my new purchase

but it is beautiful!!
sod him ,he has a tusk through his ear

you know what, I think most people, unless they happen to be exceptionally youthful, and exceptionally toned, look pretty unattractive in swimwear.

so I probably wouldn't think twice.

It's a shame really as it seems to be only women who worry about this kind of thing. They can be very pass remarkable on such things, but get paranoid at the thought of anyone doing the same to them.

Us guys don't give a shit. Most women in bikinis are just part of the background.

Even the most attractive women can look perfectly normal in a bikini.

It is a kind of leveller i guess.

Wear it and have fun. Don't give a damn what others think.

Spokette - tankinis are out? Oh no!!! I've just bought one fro my holiday in July - I haven't worn a bikini for decades, but it's a real beach holiday this year, so I thought a tankini is better than a bikini, and I can't really wear my speedo on the beach.

Right, sarong it is then.

Don't want to pretend I'm a completely non judgemental saint (realised my previous post sounded a bit PC)!

But bizarrely I probably judge people in a pair of jeans more than in a bikini. As a girl, you know how much courage it takes to wear one regardless of size....

Wouldn't think anything, I think people should wear waht they want with pride. My dh is a body facist which I find very irritating, he's not exactly the mose toned inidvidual these days.

TBH though I think shorts look terrible unless you're kiera/kate/girls alound. I'm not saying don't wear them of course but I think a highish (not pammy) cut leg can work wonders for balancing hips and elongating thigh. Shorts tend to draw attention to the worst bit of a womans bum.

Sorry to hear tankinis are out, i rely on mine for untoned belly cover up whilst still showing an ok (ish) cleavage.