I'm traumatized - YouLookFab Forum

Suz

Janet, if it will make you feel any better...I went out to today to try some on. And I couldn't even bring myself to do it!! You are braver than I. I will have to return another day.

You are gorgeous and have a fab figure and are fit. It's not you. It's the clothes.

11 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

PS -- I showed some of your Antarctic photos to friends who recently did the Arctic trip that you did last time. They were completely wowed -- as well they should be.

11 years ago

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Why is it wrong for women to wear long board shorts and rash guards? Or to rephrase - what will happen when I show up the pool dressed that way?

11 years ago

carter

Veteran

Oh, Janet. As recently as five years ago I was feeling pretty fab in a bikini. Now, I could probably rock a wet suit as long as only the fish saw me. You look wonderful. Don't let a little strip of spandex defeat you!

11 years ago

rabbit

Veteran

I do basically what shevia suggests.

11 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I have also adopted the board shorts/ rash guard outfit, but it doesn't work for actual swimming so well. It's good for MOTG playing around in the water with kids/ friends.

11 years ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Aw, you're sweet, Suz, but it's not only the clothes. As active as I am, my body never looks toned. It sucks.

Swimsuits for serious swimming are really tough to fit on a body that does not look like an athlete's. The least offensive one was a TYR that at least managed not to pinch at the leg openings (this is one of my biggest problems with swimsuits, and sizing up just leads to a too-long torso and baggy butt) -- and it mashed my boobs completely down. Maybe not such a bad thing because, yay, support?

Clothes are so much easier.

11 years ago

kellygirl

Veteran

Oh Janet, you have a gorgeous figure! The swimsuits are failing you. You will find the right one. Fwiw, I tried on a bunch and then decided just to keep my old suit and cover it with a rash guard.

Eta: Oh, those kind of suits. Those can be horrific.

11 years ago

cciele

Veteran

Oh no Janet! I know the feeling. I think trying on swimsuits is one of the greatest dressing room (even in your own home) headaches a woman can experience!

I do like a rash guard -- they are cute and give good sun protection.

But I've noticed in some places, most women wear bikinis. Women of all sizes, shapes, and ages. This has made me accept my body a bit more and I have ventured out in a bikini -- very limited venturing, but still. One step at a time...

11 years ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Rash guards and board shorts are awesome but not so much for lap swimming.

I haven't gone near my bikinis yet this year. Hubs is talking about a beach vacation at some point, so I need to psych myself up for that.

11 years ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

PS You all are the best. Thanks for commiserating and making me feel better. I guess it's a rare woman who loves swimsuit shopping, huh?

11 years ago

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

Agree with Suz -- it's not you, it's the clothes.

Plus -- a good spray tan, cover-up and/or sarong go a long way.

11 years ago

catgirl

Veteran

This is why I bought four of the $9 swimsuits that I found in Florida. And they were only JFE. Never again will I deal with the misery that is swimsuit hunting. Hugs.

11 years ago

Sarah A

Veteran

How frustrating!

Love the board shorts rash combo for outdoor fun, but yes not for actually swimming laps. I have and like the Finals Funkies (&Funnies). I am sure they are a spin off to the Dolphin Uglies as a poly based long wearing suit, but because the Doplhin cuts dont do me any favors I prefer the Finals. Some are 90% poly and some 80%.. the 90% wear better. I get tons of compliments on the fun patterns. I usually wear a 36 and ordered 38s based upon the reviews and am happy with the fit.

http://www.swimoutlet.com/the-.....es-c1173//

11 years ago

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

Last time I went swimsuit shopping, I dragged Amy along. We had lunch and wine beforehand. That allowed us to laugh at the really bad ones. For the record I need boob support.

11 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Janet, all you need to do is model your cozzie for hubs and he'll be all over you. And if you model it for YLF - we won't stop telling you how killer fab you look in that suit. xo

11 years ago

TraceyLiz65

(website)

Veteran

This truly is the worst for most women. Perhaps you should do it in reverse and have that glass or two of wine first.

11 years ago

MsMary

Veteran

Just remember all those pictures they have on Pinterest about How to Have a Beach Body: 1. Have a body. 2. Go to the beach.

11 years ago

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

Janet, I am sure you are too hard on yourself. You are a gorgeous woman, curves and all!
Swimsuit shopping is hard - there is not much for disguising what you think is not looking as good as you hoped - but i am sure it is not as bad as you think it is.
In any case a glass (or two) of wine will not hurt - and then maybe try them on again and who knows what can happen...:-)

11 years ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I know, MaryK, right?

I am reminding myself that these are lap swimming suits, so they don't have to be THE most flattering suits ever. But it is nice to feel and look halfway presentable when I go do laps at the gym too.

11 years ago

Caro in Oz

Veteran

Sharing your pain Janet - I buy 2 of the same suit when I find one just so it will be twice as long before I need to go through the process again. Agreeing with the others it is the clothes or the swim suits to be precise

11 years ago

Thistle

Veteran

What MaryK said!! And I so know the pain of swimsuit shopping, especially when I have to shop by bra size

Wine first next time!

11 years ago

sarah

Veteran

I think that lap suits are the HARDEST, at least at my age. First of all, why are they all cut so darn low in the back? It is SO unflattering and reveals everything that shouldn't be. Second, my newly developed sagginess in the chest is accentuated in lap suits in the worst way. I've actually take to lap swimming in my Lands End suit that has some support, because otherwise I look awful, and it's pretty comfortable. I do have one Speedo suit with a bit more coverage in the back that does ok.

I got it a few years ago, but it's a bit like this one:

http://www.zappos.com/speedo-c.....tical-navy

Good luck, I totally get where you are coming from.

11 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I totally agree about lap suits. And listen -- if you think YOU are squished down to nothing, imagine how it looks on a flat-chested person. If I could persuade myself that I looked "gamine" or "sweetly boyish" or something, that would be one thing. But no. I look like a middle-aged woman with a flat chest and ugly knees wearing an extremely unflattering suit!!!

I am actually considering a Speedo "recreational" suit for real swimming. I didn't try it yet. (Shudder). But it has some boob support and some ruching in the front. I couldn't find it on the website yet but if I try it this week I will show you/ let you know.

ETA: Zappos has it: http://www.zappos.com/speedo-s.....ndigo-blue

11 years ago

Anonymous

Sorry to hear nothing worked out for you. I don't think many people look good in fitness style suits. Have you thought about the unitard suits or a shortie wet suit? The shortie wets suits are nice because they have a zipper. They also have some cute wet suit style swim suits. I'm thinking about this one.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004Z.....#038;colii

11 years ago

Aziraphale

Veteran

I like Tracey's idea. Wine first, try on suits second.

Seriously, though, I think we pretty much ALL feel your pain. What IS it about women's bathing suits? They pinch and squeeze, making flesh look fleshier, or else they stretch and sag. So annoying. I've studied an awful lot of bodies over the years (life drawing classes), and I've come to the conclusion that women of all shapes and sizes look better naked than in a bathing suit.

As it happens, I need a new suit myself. I have two reasonably flattering bikinis for the beach, but I always feel like a complete berk wearing a bikini to the swim pool with my kids. I think this time I'm going to go for the bust-squashing Speedo style, and I'm going to try not to care.

11 years ago

rae

(website)

Veteran

Well, if you feel that way and you are a runner, then what hope is there for me?? I'm sure you look great and you just need to find the right suit. Not that that's easy. I usually buy mismatched overstock separates and blame it on selection... o_0

11 years ago

Carla

Veteran

Just got back from masters swimming an hour and a half ago! Still have the goggle eyes to prove it. Speedo endurance with the fly back is my choice. Have two that I alternate between. They last forever. I just close my eyes and put the suit on, then the cap, then the goggles.

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11 years ago

Kristin SF

Veteran

For some reason, my lap suits from TYR and Speedo are like sausage casings. I always figured they were designed that way to make you more hydrodynamic - faster swimming, right?

I size up and struggle to pull them on for the first few months, then they always stretch out nicely. Eventually.

Have you also looked at Athleta? They have nice bikinis that were actually pretty flattering, and I used 2 as a lap suit (surprisingly) all last summer.

Good luck - and size up!

11 years ago

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