You have put off the inevitable long enough and unless you act quickly you will be stuck wearing last summer’s suit. Here are some tips on How to Look Your Best in Your Bathing Suit.
But First…
Fun Fact: On July 31, 1946, the two-piece bathing suit is christened the “bikini” after the atomic bomb testing site at Bikini Atoll.
How to Look Your Best in Your Bathing Suit
If you loved your suit last year, chances are it’s a bit faded & stretched out. Yes, it’s cruel that the wardrobe item we hate to shop for is the one that needs replacing most often!
Good news! No matter what body concerns you believe you have, there is the perfect suit designed to help you look your best.
Things to Keep in Mind
- Lycra firms & lifts
- Sheet panels reveal while they conceal
- Colors & patterns direct the eye to your best features
- The waist is vital to enhancing your shape
- Most importantly, FIT IS EVERYTHING!
Minimize the Negative & Accentuate the Positive
- No waist: try belted suits or a high-waisted two piece.
- Small bust: tops that push up & pad or with details like ruffles work great. Also try textured fabrics (crochet, sequin, knit).
- Ample bust: wide straps & high necklines offer support
- Full thighs: avoid high-cut legs or emphasize shoulders
- Bountiful bottom: try a suit with an inverted triangle, so the sides ease slightly up & out
- Generous middle: look for a princess bustline
- Pear shape: Go for bright colors on top & darker on the bottom
Bathing Suits by Type
In 2023 bathing suit “rules” are no more. Choose what makes you feel your best! This is just a guide to get you started.
- One-piece halter will help shoulders look broader.
- A tank suit is ideal for many body types.
- Skirted-suit works for great for those with larger thighs or butt. Also perfect if you are lacking these awesome attributes.
- Strapless suits show off nice arm & shoulders.
- Bikinis are great for EVERYONE & don’t let anyone tell you differently.
- Two-piece halter with boy shorts, gives bikini vibes with more coverage.
- One-piece racer with an elongated body will do the same for you, elongate. Perfect for swim sports since the straps stay up.
BONUS
How to Wash Your Swimsuits to Prevent Fading and Stretching (New York Times)
Rinse before and after you swim
Rinsing in fresh water immediately after emerging from the ocean or pool is a no-brainer—it helps to remove some of the chemicals, salt, and sand that your suit has been exposed to until you can give it a proper wash. Less well-known is the importance of rinsing off before diving in. When you rinse first, the construction of filaments in the material will be filled with fresh water, and therefore will wick less of the chlorinated or salt water.
Wash promptly with a mild detergent—after every wear
Don’t leave a wet swimsuit balled up in a plastic bag or buried at the bottom of the hamper. Not only does this stress the fabric, it also encourages mildew growth and gives funky odors more time to set in. To keep your swimwear looking, functioning, and smelling its best, wash your suit according to the care instructions on the label as promptly as possible after every wear.
While hand washing inside-out is the most gentle method, most suits can be safely machine-washed on a delicate cycle. If you opt for the machine, place suits with bra cups or strappy designs in a mesh laundry bag to help maintain cup shape and keep straps from tangling.
Air-dry flat
Unless your machine has a no-heat option (air fluff), steer clear of the dryer—heat is damaging to the stretchy synthetic fabrics.
Don’t lay your suit in the sun. Sunlight will cause your suit to fade faster. Instead, remove excess water by rolling your suit in a towel, then lay it flat in a well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight.
Tackle stains (and check your sunscreen)
The polymers in swimwear fabrics have a bad habit of retaining oil-based stains. If you spill anything oil-based, like sunblock, onto the material, it clings to it. Any oily stains on your suit, pretreat the areas with liquid detergent and wash with the warmest water that the garment can tolerate.
If you live in an area with hard tap water, you may also have noticed mysterious yellow or brown stains appearing on your swimsuits when they emerge from the wash. That’s because avobenzone—a common ingredient in chemical sunscreens—reacts with the iron in hard water to create rust (yes, rust!). Your best bet is to prevent these stains before they happen by opting for a sunscreen that doesn’t contain avobenzone.
When it comes to odors, prevention is the best cure
Washing your suit promptly should keep the most offensive odors at bay. To mask more persistent smells, like chlorine use a mildly fragranced detergent.
Popular home remedies like rinsing with diluted vinegar or baking soda are safe and gentle enough to use. Anything acidic or citrusy can reduce odors, and vinegar is the mildest acid available in any household.
Avoid pilling and abrasion
Noticing little fuzzies on the backside of your suit? Synthetic fibers will pill, no matter what. They are very strong and hold onto their pills, so it’s more noticeable than pilling on natural fibers.
A fabric shaver will lead to even more pilling because you’re thinning out the material. The only way to avoid pilling is to avoid abrasion. Skip sitting on scratchy cement pool decks and rocky beaches if you can. If you’re sitting, use a towel, cushion, beach blanket or chair.
STAY FASHIONABLE 🥰
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