Bathing Suits?!?!
 

Ok, Ladies--

I've always admired girls who are a little on the chubby side, but still wear a bikini with pride! I, on the other hand wrap myself in a towel and spend the entire time tugging on my tankini top hoping that it's hiding my saggy belly button. (I have an obsession with my belly button..)

I digress.. I'm going to Huntington Beach in June-- with my TINY best friend who makes me look like Sham-MOO no matter how much I lose-- and she bought this tiny little bright colored bikini. I would feel so.. obviously trying to mask my fatness... in my black suit. I need to know what your beach worthy suits are like and where you have found them at!

I'm not very original: I bought my two red bikinis in Decathlon (French sportswear & articles store), because I needed something to go skin-diving, and I absolutely can't stand the feeling of a wet bathsuit against my belly. ~shudders~ I thought it wasn't such a bad deal: since it's made for a little more than 'just' sunbathing on the beach, at least the huge boobs could fit in it. But I'm not very self-conscious about that particular matter, I admit (I'm way more self-conscious about, uhh, being shaved properly down there. :lol: ) Anyway, maybe you can find nice bathsuits as well near where you live? If it's like here, they're not too much on the fancy side, but they're not ugly/too plain either, and offer enough support as well.

I love the one piece bandeau suits from Newport News. They are absolutely my favorite as I love to go strapless! They are inexpensive as swimsuits go! As a matter of fact I own about 4 of them. Also, I buy board shorts online or at Academy and wear them over my swimsuit because I hate my thighs!

I too do admire those that wear their bikinis with pride. One day...one day!

I have a tankini I wear I got from Eddie Bauer .com
I am about the same size you are and I can wear the 18 no problem.. (the bottoms are a tiny bit big.. but I like my bottoms tight.. they have great colors and I love the ruched (sp?) top mine has..

Being from Hawai'i I know first hand the unpredictability of wearing a bikini to the beach especially if there are waves. I, personally, go for board shorts and a tankini. They make really cute board shorts nowadays in varying lengths and colors. I'm planning a trip to Disney World this summer and figure the board shorts would be best for the water parks. The tankini holds everything in place. I like the halter style. I usually surf online for clothes. I got a decent halter tankini from VS it offers great support for the girls and they do make larger sizes. The board shorts are available everywhere in Hawai'i in all sizes. Some online stores have um too just do a google search. The upside of this style is that you don't have to worry about pulling your bikini out of your butt, it's supper comfortable and can be very stylish. The downside, a good tankini with bra support can cost $40 and up. Board shorts can cost a lot too, especially, if you go for name brands.

What she said. Except I'm from Cali with family from Hawai'i. But definitely a big YES on the board shorts with tankini top. Bikinis are great for sunbathing and looking cute, but if you want something that you're sure will stay with you, go with board shorts and a tankini top. Lots more reliable.

My current outfit is a pair of black boardshorts with wide stripes up the sides in a dark turquoise mesh, with a matching racerback tankini top. Got it at JC Penneys, I think.

I haven't got a bathingsuit this season. I'm actually hoping not to have to shop in the plus size for it. Last year I got my bathingsuit from lane bryant online. It was a tie-died purple and blue halter. It wasn't circular tie-dye instead it was vertical transations though the colors so I hid some of the weight. Also the halter made my boobs look amazing.

I used to sell high-end swimsuits during high school. This much I know is true: A quality (even if it means extra $$$) swimsuit is worth its weight in sunscreen.

Ugh the name of this thread makes me depressed...

My problem is my "largest" area is my tummy. Therefore, I can't wear a tankini because it squeezes my fat into the area that shows. I either have to wear a full bikini or a 1 piece.

My problem was (and still is!) finding a suit with the lycra in the right spot. In a one-piece, I still need it in the tummy area, but not in the butt or else it looks like I'm trying to fit in a sausage casing (sorry for the mental picture). That's actually my problem now- finding properly fitted bottoms is quite a search. At least before I was all one size. Now I have to find a swimsuit in 2 different sizes- S/M top and M/L bottom.

Thanks to who ever suggested Newport News-- I found a really cute brown crochet halter tankini-- hope it looks as cute on!!

torrid is ok for swimwear too. most of their things are tankini's. fashionable..but they dont have much of a selection.

Is there a good swimsuit option for someone who doesn't want to show her thighs? :(

Best swimsuit for someone who wants to keep thighs a bit more hidden would be either a skirted suit/tankini, or a pair of longer board shorts. Here's a pretty good one I've found:
http://www.titlenine.com/images/us/l.../654202_dt.jpg
Unfortunately, it only goes up through an XL (size 16), so not for the more plus-sized, but if you're in that range it's supposedly a pretty "roomy" fit. Here's the text that goes with, and a link to it (if the link doesn't work, go to "swimwear', then 'board shorts and more', then 'real boardie'):


Real Boardie and Surf Skirt
Our friend Jen designs surf-inspired gear for real women, doing real stuff, with real bodies. Roomy flattering fit doesn’t bind and does fit... our body, our lifestyle and our life. Quick drying poly micro. Boardie: Velcro closure, 9" inseam. Skirt: Zip closure, 18½" length on medium. Only at T9. Cement, Gypsy blue; S(4-6), M(8-10), L(12-14), XL(16)
Title 9 Sports Board Shorts

For tops, Title 9 carries a pretty decent selection of tankini tops and stuff, or just hunt around and find a place that has tankini tops, cause that's what works best with board shorts.

My thighs have always been a problem. I'm totally going to have to find me some board shorts! Good call!

Thoughts of swimsuit season is making me sick lol...I don't think I went swimming much last year. (even though we bought an above ground lol) I actually haven't bought a suit in probably 2 or 3 years..The main thing I hate is my legs and my back. Ugh..I just don't want to think about it anymore. I am in too good of a mood lol.

Bathingsuit season is always scary- but at least there are more swimsuit options than there used to be - I've been eyeing this one from L&T- basic black, and it will cover my tummy while I continue to get in shape :)
http://www.lordandtaylor.com/gifts/O...ID=2011356&c=1

I always go for the tankini with halter top makes your breast look perky and awesome, and the bottom like a hot pant.... maintains everything in place and discrete but cute!!

I haven't owned a bathing suit in almost 10 years!! But this summer I'm planning on getting one. I recently moved to Phoenix, AZ and if I want to survive the 115 degree summer I'm going to have to get into a pool sooner or later! I'm planning on buying from Newport News, they have tons of styles (and a feature I especially like called "build your own bikini" which lets you mix and match top and bottom styles) and it's inexpensive and they go up to size 18. I'm planning on a halter style top because it's flattering and a skirted bottom to contain the thighs a bit!

Thanks for the tips! That's awesome.

I have been dreading bathing suit shopping! I am not ready yet, but I have been looking- I just refuse to try anything on! I saw some really cute suits in the May issue of More Magazine. The feature is called "suit yourself," which I thought was so cute because it is about finding the best bathing suit for you. Anyways, I really like the Nautica one on page 71 if anyone has the issue!!

hmmm, I could probably use the halter top, I didn't think of that- I just read an article in Sunday's Washington Post about a Lord and Taylor personal shopper- I was thinking of using one when I take the bathingsuit plunge- do you think if I told them what I was looking for they could pick out suits for my body type? Plus it might be nice to have an un biased opinion- my usual, brutally honest shopping friend, who I've counted on for years has just moved and I'm lost without her!

Halter tops look great-- but if you're big boobied like me, they hurt your neck after a while!