A brave new purchase! - YouLookFab Forum

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Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

A brave new purchase!

Sal

Veteran

I recently holidayed on the Gold Coast, and did a small amount of shopping.

Cococat and I did some browsing and had coffee together, and I purchased some blue/grey linen cropped trousers from Uniqlo (I cannot find them online but will show them soon). We don't have Uniqlo here so it was fun to see their stock.

I also purchased a sheer gauzy white swimsuit coverup - which I will also wear with shorts or pants on hot long days in the sun.

Coco recommended I try a swimwear boutique called Sunburn and the service was outstanding. I ended up with a bikini which is the first time since the years started with a 19 that I have bought one. I even chose the smaller of the two pants options - the assistant and I both felt they looked better. It is Milea brand (an offshoot of Seafolly) and it is ink mini rib fabric.

So at 46 I am wearing a skimpier bikini than I have worn since my 20s!! I've decided why the heck not? I won't be confused with the model shown in the bikini below, but I don't think that matters since I have a day job.

Has anyone else made a brave purchase in their middle years/prime?

PS I won't do a WIW now but who knows in the future LOL.

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Shopping

28 replies

Latest reply was from Cerinda

Sisi

Veteran

Right, why the heck not? From your pictures I think you have nothing to fear from a bikini. And that one looks pretty and comfortable.

Sisi

Veteran

Oh, and to answer your question, bikinis are the only "brave" garment I wear despite not middle years but weight gain.

Style Fan

Veteran

I love the bikini you bought. You will rock it. I have always worn bikinis and two piece bath suits. I don't think I am being brave. Just being a pear. My weight gain is mostly in my hips and thighs. One piece bathing suits don't fit.

Staysfit

Veteran

I also wear bikinis now in my 50's but only wore one pieces in my 20's when I was a lifeguard. Maybe it was about practicality back then, but was also about confidence. I have much more of it now than I did in the past. I often wonder what my life would be like if I went back and lived it again with the knowledge and confidence I have now. We never get that opportunity, so we need to live each day with purpose, joy and whatever abilities we have at the moment.

Congratulations on your new purchase! Enjoy!

Lucy

Veteran

Yep, i'm 44 and in the past 2 years my husband has talked me into bikinis. I don't look like a woman who goes to the gym everyday (I don't!!) but I think I look good enough for a woman whose body has seen some scars and surgeries etc ...

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Yay, Sally! So glad you did that! Fun purchase indeed.

For me, going out in gym clothes feels a bit "brave" -- my shorts are shorter than those I would usually wear, for sure. And if I could find a boutique with that type of service for a suit, I think I'd be wearing a two piece also, at least if I had a beach vacation planned.

Carla

Veteran

Good for you! I'm another bikini wearer (in my 50's). Though I wear a one piece for laps in the pool, two pieces are really more practical/comfortable on the beach.

viva

Veteran

Good for you, Sally. And that style is gorgeous. i'm sure you will look wonderful in it. I find bikinis very comfortable and actually much more flattering than one-pieces even though I am more exposed.

Cococat

Veteran

Well, I have had the pleasure of meeting you first hand and I know that you will look fantastic in that bikini!

I'm so pleased that you had great customer service at Sunburn. That's been my experience there too.

I don't wear a bikini but I recently bought a Seafolly one piece where the whole middle section is mesh. It's more revealing than I usually wear.

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Helen11

Veteran

Good to hear you had great service, and found a bikini that fits well. I have also only started wearing a bikini in my 40s, post- kids. I usually have to cover up with a rashie, so a bikini is much more comfortable underneath. I wear it on its own when on holidays and no one I know will see me!
I hope you have lots of warm summer swimming weather ahead.

shedev

Veteran

Pretty, enjoy your bikini.

El Cee

Veteran

Fabulous bikini -- I am sure that you wear it well. Congrats on all your new purchases. Hope you had a delightful holiday.

Astrid

Veteran

That's good for you! The bikini looks nice. I wore a bikini last summer in Croatia and felt alright with it, mostly because almost every woman was wearing one. The only onepiece suits I could see on the beach usually were worn by my mum and sister. That said, the pictures afterwards made me cringe a bit, I couldn't help myself. I'm thinking of giving the one piece another try, maybe.

Tanya

Veteran

What a lovely bikini! I am very glad you got it, enjoy wearing it. We all need a little treat here and there.

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

Yay for bikinis. I got convinced to buy one for the first time in as long as you did, by talking to Fabbers. And surprisingly it does look better than one pieces. So I am sure you look great also! Trying new things is good.

Sara L.

Veteran

That suit looks good - lots of support and coverage on top. I find high rise bottoms don't work for me as they cut right across my middle where I'm at my thickest and squishiest. The mid-type rise like the one you show is more flattering to my body. I'm in my 40's and always wear bikinis to the beach. It's more practical and comfortable for me. I'm never going to look like a bikini model but I think I look ok.

Anonymous

Sexay!
I'm sure you look fabulous.
I agree with you that skimpier is often better. I look best in a skimpy bottom with string ties even though there is definitely a lot of girth in that region! I don't know why this is so, but it is.

I personally don't look that great in a bikini top - maybe the length of my torso or the straightness of it...not sure.

I'm sure there is a whole other set of proportion rules around swimwear!

Sal

Veteran

Thanks all, just flying out, will reply in more detail after the management meeting

Anonymous

That's a gorgeous bikini Sally. I always wear a style like that myself. In fact I've always worn bikinis. Welcome back to the club!

April

Veteran

No swimsuit bravery here, but that's not really about aging since the last time I wore a two-piece suit I was twelve or fourteen. It's just not my style.

My over-the-knee boots feel a bit brave. (Not entirely sure why, since they're more "covered up" than regular boots.) My destroyed jeans didn't feel at all brave until I saw someone a few years younger than I asking if she was seemed old for destroyed denim (gulp).

Things that feel brave to me are mainly things with some drama to them. Like I have Angie's Zara Sherlock Holmes cape with the faux fur collar and it always feels glamorous and brave because it's a little "look at me," and because I worry that I'm too short for it. But I summon my courage because I love it so.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

GO TEAM BIKINI. I wear one too - and I'm 46. Bet you look fabulous and confidant, Sally. ROCK ON.

Anonymous

At 70 no bikini for me but I do wear a two piece tankini. My bravest purchase is either a pair of over the knee boots or leather pants.

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

This post really makes me smile. You have a great sense of humor, and I'm ALL FOR your brave purchase! Way to go. I can't think of a purchase I've made in recent years that I would compare to yours.

BrieN

Veteran

That looks like a very well made bikini -- nice purchase! I enjoyed your write up.

I am re-evaluating swimwear in general, as with other things I have had to re-consider since joining YLF. I am likely going to try a bikini next spring, as I think it might flatter my type of figure.

Other brave purchases.... I have a coat that is very 70's glamour and (as April mentioned) it feels very "look at me" but I love wearing it.

Maneera

(website)

Veteran

Why the heck not??? You go girl!!!

I love the bikini. I've wanted one for AGES now, but I don't have any choices here in India (no one sells bikinis for the full figured, let alone by cup size). It's on my WISH list for when I travel to a country with better swimsuit shopping options! Until then....a one piece will have to suffice!

I love swimsuit coverups too. They're also great to wear with leggings & a cami when lounging at home. I recently got these two and I LOVE them.

Your style & your hair are looking fabulous right now, Sally. I bet you ROCK your new purchases!

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Sal

Veteran

Thank you all.

There is an Australian facebooker/blogger/writer called Constance Hall - she is bold and funny and brave and brash, and while she writes mostly from a perspective of a new mother, I like her body acceptance attitude. I am pleased there are many of us who are still wearing bikinis in the 40 plus bracket. Of course one pieces are wonderful too, or board shorts and a rash shirt, or a burkini. Anything that allows you to participate in activities in the way you like.

A few general comments - I think bikinis do provide more support for the bust area than a one piece, and for some shapes are more flattering and comfortable. Body length is a key reason for this.

I also have a one piece Speedo suit for kayaking, boogie boarding and lengths in the pool. I also have a halterneck maillot style suit which is nice but needs adjustment in the waves.

April - I would also feel daring/dashing in over the knee boots.

And Joy - leather pants also have the air of being brave. I have a hankering for a jumpsuit (long not shorts) and I would feel similarly about this.

Firecracker - I am pleased I made you laugh!!

Cococat - those are lovely!

Smittie - I think torso length has a lot to do with it. My sister is a pretty pear shape and she prefers a pants style with a tie at the side, it balances her out better.

Thanks Maneera, Angie, Viva, Staysfit, Sara, Sisi, Diane, Ummlila, Tanya,Stylefan , RunCarla, Suz, El Cee, Astrid, Lucy and Brie.

kerlyn

Veteran

You'll rock that bikini for sure, Sally! In my mid-forties, I'm back to 2 piece swimsuits also. I never thought I'd go that direction, but I'm finding them more flattering!

Cerinda

Veteran

Sally, you're inspiring! You will rock it!