Swimming with the young and beautiful.

[Gettingbysomehow]

I'm going wild swimming with some colleagues. They are all young and I am 63. They invited me and I love swimming and really want to go however I've lost 5 stone and the tops of my legs are awful and I need a bra at all times.
A skimpy swim suit is right out.
I bought these, board shorts and a rash vest with short sleeves, do you think I will get away with these without looking like a ponker.
I have visions of them thinking I look like I'm wearing a victorian swimming costume with bloomers and a hat!!!!

https://www.mountainwarehouse.com/womens-uv-rash-vest-p8352.aspx/coral/

That will look fine and be perfectly acceptable for wild swimming. I'm 68 and very conscious/hesitant to strip off these. To be honest, I don't think the young and beautiful have much expectations of glamour from us "oldies" anyway. I don't think we're on their radar in that context. Love the Victorian swimsuit image though - made me chuckle. I'd actually wear one if I could!

I agree they will look fine.

Well done for losing 5 stone.

Oh, I really like that OP! Enjoy the swim!

This is totally fine. But a one piece or a tankini or a bikini would also be fine. Your 63, you can wear whatever the hell you like.

I'm 45, and for the past 15 to 20 years, I've been swimming in swim shorts and either a rash vest or bikini top. I wear the same in pools too. I used to surf, and I found it so much more comfortable not having to fuss with bikini bottoms or a bra—no constant adjustments or worrying if everything's still in place. Plus, I think the look is great. I have those exact shorts, really quick drying and comfy.

Great thanks everyone. I feel reassured.

I wore board shorts to the waterpark this year.

Wear whatever you want. Wild swimming is about the joy of getting in the water.

Anything goes when wild swimming. I've seen bikini's, swimsuits, nudies, a man in a yellow thong and plenty of shorts and rash vests.

I have swim leggings which I absolutely love. I also wear a rash vest. I burn very easily and like not having to bother with suncream, as well as the extra warmth when the water is cold! I see a real range of costumes, so I'm sure nobody will think you look like a Victorian.

You may want some neoprene booties too keep your feet warmer and protect them abit too. Depend on where you are swimming. If you stick at it a tow float too is great Hope you have fun

Thanks. It's a swimming spot in a river run by the council, people do swimming, kayaking and water boarding. I had NO idea it was there. It's only in the next village.

Great option. Hope you have a really fun time.

As others have said there are (thank goodness) so many more options these days and nobody cares if you're not in a traditional swimsuit or bikini

I've got some of these too. We've started paddle boarding.

A lot of younger women wear shorts and vests these days, presumably don't like the aesthetic of a bikini. It is like walking round in public in your underwear tbf, odd when you think about it.

The few times I've been wild swimming I wore a short wetsuit because I get cold really quickly. Attractive it is not but it was practical and covered everything.

I hope you have a wonderful time.

One of the things I love so much about outdoor swimming is that literally noone gives a shit about how anyone else looks. It's incredibly liberating.

I am young, by no means beautiful, but you do you. Enjoy yourself in whatever you feel comfortable in and for most, the only opinion of you will be ‘oh cool! It’s nice for her to join us’. Anyone else can do one. Hope you have a nice time x

Water boarding? Is that what the council do to people who haven't paid their council tax?
Perhaps you mean paddle boarding... 😉

I live near a swimming spot on the river and people wear all sorts. Weirdly, plenty of teenagers wear full on shorts and tops rather than swimwear (i guess they don't want to look like they've tried too hard).

Came here to say exactly this

LOL!! I meant paddle boarding.

One particular young surfer who is one of the best around at the moment always wears board shorts / covers up when she's surfing.

Lots of people think she's incredibly cool because she doesn't care at all what anyone thinks of her, and skimpiness is becoming less and less fashionable in the sport.

Have fun!!

As for the young and beautiful, remember you are going wild swimming. Thankfully, you haven’t been invited to a Love Island-style party at Ocean Club Ibiza. Which I am sure some people would love!
We also view the youthful people through our own lens - you realise how fabulous you looked back in the day because hindsight is a wonderful thing. They are probably worrying more than you.
I love your outfit. It looks fabulous. And most of all, will make you comfortable while you are out there enjoying all of the wonders of wild swimming.
Good luck, and let us know how you get on!

I live by the sea and I am only a few years younger than you. I wear a wetsuit or I get too cold, but most older women here wear a one piece. Some wear a bikini or tankini, and there are lots of swimmers in their 70s. A simple sporty swimsuit with shorts legs is popular too. Your outfit is totally normal for round here for all ages, you won’t look out of place. If you get cold have a look at swimmers wetsuits from Aquasphere, they are only 2mm thick so not super warm but they make very cold water a lot more bearable ! Mine is sleeveless, easy to swim in.