Tankini and different bottoms - swim skirt and board shorts, from Lands End. I just replaced my old top with two new ones - a stripe and a polka dot. The bottoms are plain navy. I took the old top and both bottoms to Hawaii and they were great. The inter lining came loose in the old top, in the cups, and looked and felt funky. The new ones are really cute! I also have a striped rash guard and polka dot coverup dress, all in navy. I wore the rashguard when we went snorkeling. I didn't use the coverup at all in Hawaii: I forgot to pack it!!

in the past 3 years I've transitioned over to tankinis, the coverage of a 1 piece with the easy of dressing of a 2piece, from Athleta. I like that i can mix and match sizes, colors and coverage. IMO these suits are exceptionally well designed, the tops have multiple straps which allow you to adjust and customize the fit. the finds below are from LY and the year before, but they tend to bring back similar styles every year, but with new patterns. I like having the option of the rash guard, which to me feel like an extension of the suit, but i really really like the Wick-It cover up. its super lightweight, long enough to wear on the boardwalk, and it's made with UPF 50 fabric.

Swim? What is swim? Like you, I avoid beaches and pools. Now I could use something for our hot tub and would prefer a tankini or even a bikini. The old suit I have is a Tommy Bahama tankini with a shirt skirted bottom. The top covers my middle, a must to cover the huge bruises from insulin injections there. I would buy another suit like this one.

I LOVE beach holidays and swimming. But then I am USED to the sun (it's already 43 deg C here already). I try to avoid peak afternoon hours when swimming and that's enough for me to not get sunburnt. Sadly, I don't live anywhere near the ocean, so all this is for *vacations*. When I swim at the pool, it's usually in the evenings.

I prefer a one-piece. I have several of them because I love beach holidays and prefer to change into a dry swimsuit post lunch (so need 2 swimsuits per day when I'm traveling). I *want* to try a bikini but that's not possible until some brand starts making swimwear by cupsize!

Maybe we just have to agree to differ I actually LOVE yoga clothes. Rashguards are different material--smooth, non-absorbent, quick drying. I am NOT PICKY about clothing, though. I choose a bikini as they provide better support than the one-pieces I've had in the past. I wipe out HARD when I do water sports and the modesty afforded by a rash guard appeals to me to help keep the top in place and covered-up. I spray everything else with sport sun screen and reapply often. Title 9 has the types of styles which interest me because they are sports oriented.

I do a rash guard over bikini. I burn easily, and the rash guard protects my top half. Angie is right that it does nothing for sun protection on the legs. But for me, applying sunblock to my legs is so much easier than doing back/chest/shoulders/arms! With the rash guard I don't have to ask anyone to "do my back"!

Angie - I don't require much support up top but the jcrew halter does have padded inserts (contrary to some of the reviews) so it does give modesty and just slight support. For those truly needing support, this particular halter style would not be a good bet.

We have a trip to Crete planned for late summer that will include beach time, so I guess I am going to need a new swimsuit. I am totally over the Lands End suit I've had for years. I am unhappy with my inner thighs these days so I am looking at a boy shorts option. Maybe a two piece! We'll see...

I have a love/hate relationship with the sun, so I completely understand your commitment not to take beach holidays anymore, Angie. I enjoy being still in the sun (lying on a blanket, for example) for an hour, maximum; then I feel antsy and as if my skin is burning up. However, I love to walk on the beach and to sightsee in tropical areas, so I don't think I am giving up the sun entirely. And, as it happens, DH loves heat and sun; he won the vacation lottery this year and we are going on a cruise in July, so there.

I am a devotee of JCrew swimwear (big surprise). I find they fit my small chest very well and provide a great balance of style and coverage. I like the solid colors and simple styling. I will be going on year 3 with the one-piece below, and year 2 of the bikini (it rotates with another two-piece from JCrew that is more than 4 years old). Since I don't like to shop for swimwear (who does, really?) I love that their styles don't really ever go out of style.

You know what? I stopped trying to buy cute fashionable bathing suits quite a few years back, and I wear a plain black speedo racing suit now. It's what I wore as a kid, and eventually I realized that it's the only thing I'm comfortable swimming in -- no falling down straps, no uncomfortable wedgie, everything stays put. A black speedo means business. It's all I need, because when I go to the pool, I mean business. I go to swim! If I go to the beach, which isn't all that often, it's to goof around in the water, not to show off my body or lie around in the sun. In fact I've never liked sunbathing, and anyway I wear the kind of sunblock that almost totally prevents tanning, so I don't have to worry about the wide straps giving me unattractive tan lines.

Try Swimsuits For All! They have a wide variety. I love their one piece swimsuits or their tankinis with shorts. I burn very easily so I try to cover up as much as possible but they have bikinis for those who like to show some skin as well.

No surf and sun for me. I have given up having a bath suit. BUT the last was a tankini. I used to wear that camping - lakes and streams. A tankini is useful for camping if you can take the sun - you can wear the top like a regular top...

Angie - you're correct that the rash guard doesn't protect my bottom half from the sun but my shoulders, back, and chest are what sunburn the most often. I'm usually standing in the pool or ocean with my kids so my legs are underwater. When snorkeling my legs are submerged as well.

We use our pool most often in the evenings after work and school, when the sun is low, so I don't worry about covering up then and just wear a regular bikini. I attached a photo of our typical umbrella village when we go to Mexico. The ocean is so warm there that we spend a lot of time playing in the water, so I need shoulder/back/chest coverage. I also bring lots and lots of sunscreen and I'm constantly spraying myself and the kids. The kids all have swim shirts as well.

To swim laps, I use a Speedo swimsuit that I bought at Dick's Sporting Goods two summers ago (they price-matched with Amazon, which was nice). It's due for replacement.

My favorite swim theme is 'Bond girl', and I have several suits in rotation for poolside/beach

1) The Vodkatini by Freya (Picture Number 1). I love it so much, I duplicated it, against the inevitable sunscreen marks, fading, and/or ketchup from cookouts. This style is several years old; their current Bondi style is similar

2) A vintage hot pink St. John bikini with gold trim.

3) A purple reversible bikini by Becca

4) A black one-piece with a black mesh waist and a pink belt.

5) A black halter-style with a zip front

6) A vintage embroidered, flamenco-themed one-piece halter by Gottex, which has a matching sarong.

7) For this summer, I purchased a new floral one-piece by Desigual, on eBay. (Picture #2)

Depending on how my other swimsuits hold up this summer, I might or might not purchase another Freya bikini. I wear a 30-32F and the suit I have is very comfortable and supportive - and nothing moves while I wear it. I'm particularly drawn to their Sundance and Bondi styles.

I used to have a white bikini that I adored, until time, wear, and sunscreen stains finally killed it a few years ago. A new white bikini is my HEWI.

Angie- I am not a fan of wet rash guards. Yuck. I wind up not spending much time in the water. Hope Uniqlo makes a bit of a difference.

It is my umbrella that gets the work out and it sit under it virtually fully covered. I blew my sunburn wad as a young teen and have no cards left to play.

Bathing suits aren't my favorite type of clothing but I don't care...the beach is my happy place

Up until 2 years ago I frequently wore bathing suits as we had a boat and spent many weekends on the water. This year, we are going to St. John for vacation (leaving April 29) and I am taking 3 suits- 2 of them are 1 piece suits in similar bandeau styles (one red, one black) and the other is a tankini in a textured fabric in a pretty shade of aqua from Lands End. Since beach days might include going for lunch or other stops, I like suits that are fairly simple in style, so that I can easily wear a dress or shorts/top over them. I also take a pair of board shorts in my beach bag as they are nice to slip on when walking or playing on the beach.

The Lands End suit is new this season as is the black one which is LaBlanca brand from Nordstrom.

I forgot to add the finds

I still have that adorable Betsey Johnson retro style, cream and black print swimdress with the plunging V neckline - do you remember it?

It's the same silhouette as this: http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/ma.....gory-perso

IT"S ANCIENT! But I love it so I haven't updated.

Angie, my swimsuit is almost exactly like yours, except that it's green. I also have a tankini and a long-sleeved Coolibar SPF 50 swim shirt.

I live in lake country - in fact Manitoba has more lakes than any other province in Canada. Everyone either has a cottage ,or goes to the beach in the summer (we are an hour's drive from one of the best beaches in North America ,as rated by Conde Nast Traveller - bonus fact ) , and I grew up with both a cottage to go to and a pool in my backyard. If I had one swimsuit I had 10. Pretty much a requirement Like Vivian, I do like getting some sun , it makes me feel better and is supremely relaxing, but with my skin type, I can't do that as much as I used to , and I actually think I didn't wear a swimsuit at all last year for the first time in 54 years. . I haven't worn a bikini in 10 years and am in awe of those of you who do. I'm not anywhere near in good enough shape to show the world that much of me:) I'm a committed Miracle Suit wearer - or something similar ; you know the type: ruching around the midsection, black or navy ,and proper lining/padding up front I love the new retro looks in swim wear, and will admire them on others .

For a brief winter get-away and the occasional invitation to a friend's cottage, I have two bikinis that I can mix and match.  They are pretty old, but I take good care of them, so they are in good shape.  The designer is Rebecca Virtue, and I believe Nordstrom carries her line, because I talked bikinis with the SA in lingerie.  She had been with Bikini Village for 17 years before getting hired on by the Nordstrom's in Toronto.  Body Glove is a line that 'get's' a woman's body too.

For laps I wear a serious but dull Speedo Endurance with 'fly back' straps. For open water swimming, a 'Seventeen' wetsuit.

My favorite serious lap swim suit is the first Find below, my favorite casual "swimming with friends" one is the second one. I have a couple other one-piece suits too. Since we have a pool in our backyard, it's really important for me to have a good swim capsule. In summer, I can easily swim a half mile or more a day if I get in the groove.

My favorite bikini is hard to find now, which is bumming me out because it's a few years old and the white portions are starting to get stained from sunscreen. We generally get a beach vacation once a year, so it's really important to me to have a bikini that feels fab. My husband likes this one too. It's like the one in this photo, but in shades of blue and turquoise with white and black. It is as flattering as a bikini can be on my middle-aged bod, and somehow the slightly sporty vibe really works for me -- maybe it helps counteract the very curvy nature of my actual body shape.

If anyone finds me another one of these suits, I will be eternally grateful!

I wish I could spend all of my time by, on and in the water. I'm a true water sign (Cancer) and grew up sailing on and swimming in Lake Ontario.

Bathing suit shopping is not a favourite but i do it for a favourite summer activity. Most of my suits have been from Lands End in recent years. I've transitioned from one piece to two piece (bikini top and swim skirt) to get more support for the girls. I tried tankinis but couldn't get the sizing right. I'm a size 10/12 but my underbust measurement (bra band size is 34) translates to about a size 8. With a bikini top I just have to fit the girls not the rest of my torso. I like swim skirts for a bit more coverage.

I love swimming at the beach or in the lake, or in a pool on a hot day.

I wear either a bikini (one season old), a one piece ruched swimsuit, or a navy speedo - I also have a rash shirt.

I also wear lots and lots of sunscreen and cover ups.

I pretty much just wear the bikini or swimsuit for swimming, when we go back to our cottage I take it off, rinse it and dry it, and put it on again if I swim again.

Sun here is fierce - so I try to avoid the middle of the day. But a little bit of sun is good for my soul.

After mostly wearing one pieces I enjoyed the bikini this summer - it provided excellent bust support, was more flattering in some ways, and seemed to stay in one place. The photo is not me LOL

On the rare occasion that I'm at the beach (i honestly can't remember the last time I went to a swimming pool) and want to wear something other than shorts and a t-shirt, I wear the Esther Williams bathing beauty one piece suit in black. It's very retro looking, and the best-fitting suit I've ever owned. Here's a link to it: https://www.amazon.com/Esther-.....s+swimwear

Ordinarily, though, if I'm at the beach, I try to stay as covered up as I possibly can, so a typical outfit includes shorts (on the longer side), a t-shirt, a hat with a brim, and big sunglasses. I also wear SPF 70 and avoid being out on the beach between 10 and 4. I'm very fair skinned and don't want to take any chances with getting burned...or worse.

We don't do beach vacations, really, but we do go to hot springs and sometimes exercise (or just relax in the hot tub) in the pool at the gym. I wear a pretty simple, ruched, black tankini. I'm liking some of the floral options this year, though.

I have 2 one-pieces. One is solid black, and the other is mainly black with a smaller amount of cobalt and turquoise. Both are very simple and timeless in style. I have had them for years, and they still serve me well. Actually, I don't swim very much, and I share your concerns regarding sun damages. This year, however, my family has invited me to join them for a two weeks vacation at the sea. I will be careful, of course, and there will be a lot of other possibilities than swimming and beaching. Nevertheless, now I am interested in a new one-piece, preferably in cobalt or hot pink and in a retro style. Nice to see yours, Angie and Inge!

Yay swimming!! I don't sunbath, but I do swim for fitness and relaxation. TYR fits my long torso very well - and I like to have an ample supply of suits in rotation. The red and blue suits pictured below are a really nice colour for my skin tone - hey you might as well go for flattery:-)
I rarely swim outdoors - but if I do, I've got a lovely pleated b/w polka dot skirt and white linen shirt that I use as a cover up.

I totally stay out of the sun. Totally.

But we have a pool, and I am supposed to be swimming daily (once we open it for the season) to rebuild muscle that I've recently lost due to illness-related weight loss.

Imagine how excited I was to go on Zappos today and see swimsuits with sleeves. I ordered these two today and will post when they arrive about fit and practicality:

http://www.zappos.com/p/next-b.....ct/8801962

http://www.zappos.com/p/next-b.....48/color/3

I'm in transition, so I'm following intently. However, I'm defeated from last years swimsuit shopping, so I might just keep what I have. Skirted swimsuits, and a not for public bottom with sports bra top.