A fashion designer’s tips for finding the perfect swimsuitit 

By Diana Eden, Contributor, Travel Over 80

Who decided that bathing suits had to be brief, tight, and miserably uncomfortable? 

Of course, when I was young with a lithe body, I was perfectly happy to have my bathing suits brief and tight, and I don’t remember them being uncomfortable.

In ancient times, swimming was done naked. I’m not advocating a return to those times for swimming in public, nor am I advocating a return to nineteenth-century fashion where women’s bathing suits consisted of a dress, drawers, and black stockings, usually made of wool! These did not encourage free movement, only an obsessive dedication to “modesty.” (Men, by the way, were allowed to swim naked in separate quarters in the UK until 1860, when nude swimming was made illegal).

Even the name “swimsuit” was not introduced until 1921 when suits were made of knitted material that absorbed a lot of water and thus elongated and sagged. Not a pretty sight! They must have smelled like wet sheep.

Fortunately, Lastex yarn was invented in 1931, and bathing suits have been increasingly stretchy ever since.

In 1946 the bikini was invented, though, throughout the 1950s, it was considered improper for the navel to show. In the 60s, all bikini parts shrank to barely cover the essentials. They remain so, to various degrees, attractive to the younger set or those living in certain European countries or Brazil.

However, with the improvement of stretch fabrics, bathing suits got tighter and tighter, with “flattening” panels inside, making them a mighty struggle to get on, a nightmare to lower when nature calls, and a challenge to remove when thoroughly wet.

As an older woman who no longer wishes to show her middle section, I have a rule. NO one-piece bathing suits, for the reasons noted above. I have no desire to squish myself into the smallest size I can to replicate how I looked 50 years ago. Two-piece bathing suits allow easier access, and you can alternate tops and bottoms. I have a collection of swim bottoms, some boy shorts, and some little mini skirts, and then I add tops (or “tankinis,” as they like to be called.) I look for ones that are just a bit floaty and end at the hip or top of the thigh. 

In Europe, it is not unusual to see older women on the beach topless and quite comfortable in their own skin. Women should not have to be self-conscious about their bodies, but let’s face it, we are. Men do not seem to have that same issue, and at the beach or pool, they routinely display sagging chests and protruding bellies. I recently spoke to a woman who is self-conscious about showing her legs and has not ventured into a pool in years for that reason. 

Help is on the way.

Tips for Finding the Perfect Swimsuit

Fully covered swimwear has become popular for those wishing to avoid the sun’s damaging rays. Coolibar.com is a company that has developed the most technical, elegant sun protection you wear. In fact, they are the first sun protective clothing company to receive The Skin Cancer Foundation’s Seal of Recommendation.

Four tips to enjoy your suit

1. Pack your swimsuit flat

Pack your bathing suit pieces completely flat to take up less space. If your suit has a built-in bra or molded cups you can stack other bras into the cup area or use the curved space for storing socks or undies!

2. How to dry out a damp bathing suit

If your checkout time is upon you and swimwear is still damp, find a large plastic bag (like the laundry bag your hotel or cruise line provides,) cut a small hole in the bottom about the size of a 50 cent coin, put your suit in, and then aim the hairdryer into the bag. Costumers on films do this all the time for a quick dry when out on location.

3. Cut out tankini liners

If your loose flowy tankini has an inside “compression” lining that is tight, just cut it out. I do it all the time! Once you are in the water, no one can really see what’s going on.

4. How to wrap your pareo

When you wrap your pareo around you at the bust level, like a wrap-around dress, take one corner of the left bottom corner and tuck it into the top of your shorts on the right. This is a trick a local in Moorea taught me to keep it closed and yourself covered.

If you have a private pool, well you can choose whether to return to classical times….or not.

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