‘Burkini’ / Muslim swim costume

[PrinceRegentLady]

I’m going on holiday next week and I am so bloody FED UP with being self conscious & miserable on the beach. Either I stay in normal clothes, a dress probably, getting hot & sweaty while my family splosh about, or I squeeze into a swimsuit & feel really sad about my squashy bits, plus I worry about sunburn (my Celtic skin goes red & peels), and get sand in my sensitive crevices where it really should not be - let alone all the bloody self tanning before hand. I hate it & have really got to the stage where stripping off for the beach just feels like another sexist burden placed on women.

So my partner who knows my feelings jokingly asked ‘why not wear a burkini?’ . I looked these up (new to me) & I actually think they look good. (I’m not sure if that’s the right name for them, but it’s what eBay calls them so I will use the term- with apologies if it is inappropriate.) No sunburn! No sand! No exposing the squashy bits! Coverage! Honestly to me they look like a much more middle-aged-woman friendly option than a swimsuit or a bloody bikini (though I would not cover my hair, just the body.)

But I am a bit nervous about this radical change in my swimwear! I am not a Muslim - would it be ‘cultural appropriation’ to wear one of these? Would it be disapproved of? (Not sure by whom.)

What are peoples’ experiences of choosing to wear burkinis (again apologies if that is the wrong term)? Are they positive? Did you feel self conscious?

I’m a Muslim and I wear burkini when on holiday for religious reasons. And I wear it for all the reasons you mentioned. I don’t feel self conscious, I prefer not exposing my squishy bits, the flexibility etc.

It’s not cultural appropriation - you’re wearing it for all the reasons you mentioned above. You don’t have to be a Muslim to wear one.

You don’t have to wear the head piece.

I got mine from eBay too.

Buy one and relax and enjoy yourself 🙂

But imagine how hot you’ll be in it. It looks really uncomfortable to wear in a hot climate.

I always wear a long sleeve rash vest and shorts. I don't sunbathe though, when I'm in the pool or at the beach I'm there to be on the go with DC.

They look very hot to me but worth a try.

How about a normal swimsuit and some sort v lightweight cover-up/sarong?

If it's good enough for Nigella Lawson...

It looks horrifically hot

What about men's long board shorts, and a top you feel happy in. Either a tankini or long sleeve rashi?

But I am a bit nervous about this radical change in my swimwear! I am not a Muslim - would it be ‘cultural appropriation’ to wear one of these? Would it be disapproved of? (Not sure by whom.)

Just buy a wetsuit.

It's basically what they are.

I often wear a rash/uv top on the beach as I’m blue skinned and burn my back and shoulders really easily. I’ve seen lots of sets of a zip up top, crop top and shorts that are like cycling shorts when I’ve been having a look for a new top.

Not sure if it’s Deja vu but I’m sure I read a post exactly like this one not that long ago. I always think these look very hot. Can’t you just wear a beach cover up when you aren’t in the water OP?

I wear a long sleeve rash vest and swimming shorts/leggings when swimming or at the beach on holiday. I don’t think that’s weird or unusual.

There's a few every Summer.

@YabbaDabbaDooooo They are not wetsuits, the fabric is completely different. Ive worn them on holiday and they are not hot at all, I burn easily and also prefer being covered sometimes.

I don't think anyone would have an issue, I bought one without a head covering.
I wear modest clothing at times and im not Muslim and no one cares, its nicer to be covered up at times.

Just buy a wetsuit.
It's basically what they are.

A wet suit is totally different!!!!! It's made out of hefty rubber stuff, not nice lightweight swimsuit material!

I'm guessing that burkinis are a relatively modern form of Muslim wear, designed for practical reasons, so it doesn't feel too much like cultural appropriation. I hope not, as I (not a Muslim) have also adopted some Muslim sportswear! I have alopecia, and the most practical sporty turban-style covering I have found for wearing in the gym etc is from a Muslim shop specialising in modest sportswear.

I was raised a Muslim. My mother is english and dad is Pakistani in origin. Im not fully practicing, nor do I wear a headscarf. I believe in the basics.
I'm married to someone who wasn't born muslim. I could wear a bikini if I choose when we are on holiday, but I always wear a burkini without the head covering. I've seen a variety of women wear them. It's not cultural appropriation either. The whole point is to wear something you feel comfortable in. I do not feel comfortable in a bikini so I am glad there's an option for someone like me. There's a lot of people who have problems with them, but they are comfortable and help me have a good time without feeling self conscious.

Swim shorts over a one piece swim suit and a Tshirt for the sun works well. Though I’d happily wear a burkini if I had smaller boobs. Kaftan or large overshirt to throw on when I take the wet Tshirt off. I love swimming and hate nudity so this works for me.

I suppose the thing with cover ups is you cannot actually swim in them. But you can get lovely ones of course.

I wear a rash suit (top and leggings) whilst snorkeling, they have a 50 spf rating. Mine is from an Aussie brand called Stingray. They have the added advantage of being jelly proof. Decathlon also do rash suits.

I’m a Modern Orthodox Jew and I just wear a baggy T-shirt and cotton skirt or swimwear with sleeves and a skirt.

Thanks so much! Reassured by this I have taken the plunge & ordered one. (Fingers crossed it arrives in time.)

it has made me think though about cultural expectations & how swimwear has changed over time - & who our generally accepted modern western style of female swimwear is ‘for’. Interesting issues - particularly given comments above to the effect that this question comes up every year!

There’s always someone. Just because it looks uncomfortable to you doesn’t mean it actually is. Unless you’ve worn one how do you know or speak about it so confidently about the level of comfort?

I need to cover all my skin due to a medical problem so wear a high neck/ long sleeve swimming costume and leggings in UV rated fabric. No hotter than a regular swimming costume, and in fact you get a lovely cooling effect when you get out of the water when the water evaporates from it. No one bats an eyelid.

Because I’m absolutely boiling on holiday on a beach or by the pool wearing a swimsuit. Therefore I can imagine having more of my body covered would make me even hotter. Hope that’s ok with you.

Being covered by wet material is not hot.

My body is not toned by any means but I would be a lot more self-conscious about very obviously covering up than about wearing a one-piece swimming costume when everyone else is wearing one. You won't be the least athletic looking person to wear one and honestly nobody else will notice. I'm also fair-skinned, so I'd just put a short dress with some shoulder coverage or a t-shirt and shorts on over the top when the sun got too much.

But having said that, if you're still uncomfortable - a friend swims in the sea but is a bit of a wuss about getting cold, and she has found some specialist swimming leggings and tops (I think possibly in Saltrock) which meet her particular needs quite well. That might be worth a look. They are designed for warmth rather than modesty so they have quite a sleek, sporty look. Or if you're at the beach in summer and it's warm you could probably just use any 3/4 length leggings and fitted top (don't choose cotton though, they will sag and go a bit see-through when they are wet). I've swum during a run before and just gone in in my running top and leggings - they make quite good swimming kit.

Im another very pale person, and I hate sun cream. Spf50 long sleeve rash vests and shorts or leggings are great. They'll keep you covered and burn free. Lands End do great non sport style rash vests.
I also wear a hat in the pool or sea to protect my face. I do also wear sunscreen, but with all this I can wear minimal amounts.
Before SpF fabrics existed my mother made us wear shorts and tshirts to swim in hot places. Cotton isn't dense enough a fiber to provide protection when wet and we all burnt.