I just looked at Land's End. Last time I had looked (a couple years ago) they only went up to D and their selection for that size was really limited. It's a bit better now. But again, I wish the bottoms of the tankinis weren't so darn low! With loose skin from all that weight loss, I need something to hold it in - not cut it on half or slip below it so that my loose skin hangs out! Ack!

But... reality is, like Munchy mentioned. I will probably look best in a one piece - especially a girdle type (miracle suit or whatever). To hold me all in. I think I have it in my head to wear a two piece because I'll be the smallest adult size I've ever been, but that doesn't mean I'll look good! I'm 42 and my body has a lot of battle scars.

Make sure you check the Lands End overstocks. They have some of the tunic-length tankini tops in the extended bra sizes. I have one I bought on the overstock site last year - tunic length - and it doesn't ride up. The one I have has ruching along the sides to help hide the tummy and it tends to keep it from riding up as well.

Thanks. I just looked. They have it in a size 6 in DDD (in black). I'm not sure that style fits my body type, but it is a good deal. However. I'm not a size 6. And not sure if going down two sizes is a good idea. I'm now a pretty solid size 10 in most clothes.

BBB what about the suggestion of buying two bottoms and sewing them together? Then you could buy by your bra size and just buy the corresponding bottoms (but buy two of them). When my seamstress did it she was even able to make some small adjustments in the bottoms so they really were a perfect fit (something I normally wouldn't have having a large butt and smaller waist!).

They do have a lot of brands that sell suits/Bikinis by bra size Freya, Fantasie, Panache, Curvy Kate, Elomi, Ewa Michalak (but only in season) are some. The problem is (and I deal with this too) is that many times they are made for the younger crowd so you do have the problem of bottoms that are more low cut. Elomi has suits that are more full-coverage BUT it's a plus-sized brand so it stops at 34 bands and the bottoms only go down to a UK size 12 (I think that's about a US 8?).

BBB they actually do have a number of one pieces in those brands (and I have the same peeing problem! ). My Fantasie one piece actually might be a great fit on you because you have a shorter torso than me (that's my biggest complaint with it). It's actually quite flattering, but I don't like it as much because the fit is just off throughout the body with my long torso.

Oh, and I have the same problem with tankinis, why do they sell those stupid things??? I really want a Freya Active swim suit (they are made specifically for heavy duity swimming) but they only come either in a one-piece or tankini +boy shorts. I'm thinking of buying the tankini and gettting it altered down into a top.

Oh, and have you seen this Freya suit yet? It comes up a lot higher in the brief. It's not out yet but it says coming soon on the website.

That suit is soooooo cute! One can dream right?
Runningfromfat, yes they come in bra sizes, but do they give support like a bra? What I would really like is a tankini (I happen to like them) that has a real hidden bra inside of it. Not just a shelf with elastic or a floating "underwire". If you see something like that, I would be interested. I am tempted to just make my own. I know the bra I put inside would probably break down due to chlorine after a season or two, but at least it would support me. etc. I decided this year I am going to just alter the tankinis I got last year to support me a little more at the boobage and keep looking since I am not at goal anyways.

Yes, all those brands do just that (the ones I mentioned). I'm a 28J and have a Fantasie swimsuit that holds up just fine for lots of laps and water aerobics.

Freya Active has a new suit that is made specifically for heavy duty swimming:


that comes with a tankini top. But they also have a lot of normal swimsuits that come with tankinis (and yes, all with a good underwire and excellent support!).

That looks nice and supportive! I am going to bookmark this thread so I can refer to it when I am at/closer to goal. I hate to spend the money right now not knowing exactly what bust size I will be.
I hope Berry can find something!

It's a cute suit, but that bottom is still low. It would need to come just undere my belly button or at it.

And yes, do these suits just look like a bra, or are they basically bras? I definitely need the support of the bra.

I found some suits last night that look really cute by Sunsets and Tara G swimwear might work for me. This is my gift to myself this summer to have a smoking hot suit on our european vacation because I hopefully will be at goal. Be it a nrreally nice two piece or a one piece. I might get two suits as we will be in the water a lot and nothing is worse than putting on a wet suit.

Oh and, I like that sport suit by freya. I've been eying that. I did buy a short last year and it was cute enough. We have a swim shop in the mall near us. I guess I could mosey over there. I have nev, ever ventured into a swim store before! I think I peaked into one years ago with a friend and kind of remember them only having small sizes which wasn't t me.

10 pounds to go, so I don't see much harm in getting some better ideas. I would love it if they would all me to special ordere a bra size without having to buy it first. As I fought they will have my size in the store. But I'll check.

I did pick up a tankini at Marshall's a couple weeks ago to get me through. It's a D cup version and is quite generous in the cup. That will help me with this spring as we arer going to start going to the indoor pools to try to get my younger son swimming before our trip. He has lessons starting April 15th. My suit from last summer doesn't work. 16 to 10 is too big of a difference and the "girls" can tell.

Man, this is cute! I may need to order it...I'm short so maybe the bottoms will go a little higher on me...

Maybe not! LOL

BBB- I've found that the bras tops are very supportive. It's certainly better to buy one that isn't a halter top if you want the best fit but, honestly? I have a swimsuit top from Ewa Michalak that I was using a bra for awhile to get me through.

I definitely want one of the Freya Active suits. I just wish it came in a bikini top instead of a tankini because we have the same issue of them rolling up. I might buy one, though, once I'm done losing and just get the waist section taken off....

You must have a seamstress you really trust. I need to find one! I am about to head off to the mall to go to the store "Everything But Water". I'm not expecting much, but it's a start right? Like maybe they'll have some bottoms I can try on (over my underwear) and maybe "maybe" they'll have a DD cup there and since I'm not much bigger than that, I can at least get an idea what will work and not and then worry about ordering.

It seems so early, but swim season starts in 2.5 months and this is a big goal weight thing for me.

Yep, I'm really luck in that regards. I have a great seamstress here and alterations are ridiculously cheap.

Good luck at the mall store, I've never had much luck but I also have a very hard to find size.

I definitely understand the planning ahead thing! I already have most of the basics for my goal wardrobe picked out and am planning on posting them on my blog soon. So, um, yeah... i have that problem too!

Well, it was worth going as I learned a lot. First, for bottoms of at least Sunsets and one other brand, I need a medium or a 10 (though I should try an 8 too) and if it's a high rise bottom, it looks good - like pretty darn good!

Two, DD swim tops are NOT like DD bras - at least for some brands. I tried every DD they had in the store (which was like 5) and the three bikini tops were all way too small - like spilling out over top and on the sides, but I could see if I had the right size top with the right kind of bottoms, I could look cute. The tankinis were a slightly better fit, but still - bigger bust cup would be better.

Sunsets DD is RIDICULOUSLY small - like seriously - maybe a C cup?

Tried a brand called Seafolly that has a pinup tankini halter top in DD that actually fit nice, but it's not quite my style.

AND... 34" band is the size I need - at least from the several brands I tried - I don't need to go up there AND if the cup size was right, it would be supportive enough. Problem was that it was lacking the right cup size.

What it means is that I don't need to give up the idea of a two piece. I think what I would love to do is get a tankini top and bikini top to where with the bottoms to have two options - one for beach. One for when I feel like being more modest.

Of course, something else I'll need to think about is some sort of rash guard. I am EXTREMELY fair and it takes a long time of sun exposure, very slowly to keep from burning. The toughest sunblock will still let me burn quickly. I think I might be one of the few who will burn in March.

And, of course, I want the rash guard to be cute and probably zip up.

Anyone have experience with custom swimstuff from zenaswimwear.com, customswimwear.com or pango-pangoswimwear.com ?

Also, OP, I'm around a 34F/10 and I just got the "twist front tankini top" at Target, size medium. I found that the body runs bigger than I expected but the bust is generous and pretty supportive.