Swimsuit Saga’s

It’s the first day of Summer! Hopefully this will soon mean warm, balmy nights. Cool drinks on the deck. Seafood. Mangoes. Sun filled afternoons and frolicking on the beach in my new hot pink triangle bikini…..

Oh wait. Hang on. I think I may have gotten most of that right – except the bit about the (ahem) string bikini. There’s no denying it however, bikini or not, with summer comes swimsuit season and either shopping for a new one or dusting off last year’s cossie to get out there amongst the waves.

I was interviewed for a story in last week’s Sunday M Magazine in The Age about the often, not so pleasant experience, that women endure when shopping for new bathers. These beautiful women above, sadly relayed stories of shopping for swimwear that “ranged from “terrifying” to “pretty stressful”… (and) some complained of “love handles” they loathed or thighs they “felt sick” about having to expose in public.” Unfortunately, none of this comes as that great a surprise to me particularly at a time of year when it is usual for more of our bodies to be on ’display.’ 

There is no denying that shopping for swimmers can be a stressful experience. The fact you have to get stripped down to your knickers in a tiny cubicle, are surrounded by three way mirrors and often dealing with an overzealous young sales assistant can all add up to a shopping nightmare. The part about then having to bare almost all in said swimmers in public can, for many women, induce a great deal of anxiety, body loathing and plummeting self esteem. There’s not many places to hide or cover up our perceived body ‘flaw’s when wearing a swimsuit which is why, very sadly, many women choose either not to wear bathers in public or hide behind a towel or excuse to not do so.

Well – I think it’s high time that we embraced our love handles, big boobs, small boobs, wobbly thighs, chicken legs, nobly knees and all other parts of our beautiful bodies and get out there in our swimmers this summer. It saddens me to think that there are women missing out on the joy of swimming, surfing, paddling and boogie boarding because of concerns they have about how they look in a swimsuit. 

You will look beautiful in your bathers no matter what your shape or size. Don’t hide yourself away because of some ridiculous societal stance that claims only certain sized women are beach worthy babes. You’re a babe too and I hear your swimmers calling…..have a swimmingly fun time.