OMG!!! Swim Suit shopping… my worst nightmare. I’ve avoided it for several years now. Guess I will have to spend another year avoiding pool parties or anything else where I have to show up in public in a bathing suit. Mine are so worn out
@VeryHappy I may never forgive you for what is sure to show up in my feed after I clicked on your link! 
Have you looked at the Hapari website? I’ve had very good luck with their suits, and there are a lot of options…Here is a “swim skirt”…https://www.hapari.com/p/turquoise-straight-cover-up-skirt
@conmama I really like the look of certain monokinis and with the right cut/style I don’t think it’s nonsensical for you to have one in your swimsuit rotation. A swimsuit like this one would be really cute and ok for a middle aged woman with the right body shape:
@conmama I really like the look of certain monokinis and with the right cut/style I don’t think it’s nonsensical for you to have one in your swimsuit rotation. A swimsuit like this one would be really cute and ok for a middle aged woman with the right body shape:
Sorry, it does not look good. Imagine swimming a 100 free in that?! No thanks. I want my butt and chest covered at all times.
Speaking of clothing that tries too hard, I am not a fan of Lulu bras with multitude of thin straps or yoga clothing that looks too busy. Call me a clothing minimalist, but I am not a fan of things that take forever to put on or that require holding my breath for them to not fall off. I will pass on any fake bikini. 
Now that’s the problem with shopping for a swimsuit in Playboy - they’re either too big (falling off) or too small (not covering enough). None of them ever fit the models!
Skirted bottom:
https://www.tommybahama.com/en/Paisley-Paradise-Bandeau-Bikini-Top/p/TSW44023T-5862
Nice bra sized top:
https://www.tommybahama.com/en/Paisley-Paradise-Underwire-Bikini-Top/p/TSW44021T-5862
No funky straps, and everything stays put.
I’ve been on weight watchers for a few weeks. So the other night, to celebrate the latest snow storm, I went online to buy bathing suits. I went down a size, figuring that my pants are already too big and I still have lots of time before summer.
Since my mastectomy in 2008, the style that works best for me is a wraparound top, commonly known as “surplice.” That means that my smaller right breast and the larger left are in two different pieces of material, so the right cup doesn’t look like it’s swimming in a too-big cup. And I can’t wear an underwire, just in case that wire breaks free and I pop through my implant.
I found two I loved at Kohls (BOGO) total $130. I found two I loved at Macys (30% off), but that total was $214https://www.macys.com/shop/product/miraclesuit-oceanus-flamenco-palm-print-shirred-allover-slimming-one-piece-swimsuit?ID=5280167&CategoryID=8699#fn=SWIM_STYLE%3DOne%20Piece%26SIZE%3D%26sp%3D1%26spc%3D1176%26ruleId%3D105%26kws%3Dwomen’s%20swimsuits%26searchPass%3DexactMultiMatch%26slotId%3D54 is one .Lands End (BOGO) didn’t carry the style I like. So I bought the ones at Kohls. My hope is that I’ll have to exchange them for smaller ones when the season starts, but we’ll see.
@calsmom, I saw one similar at Macys online, a bit mor generous in the butt area, too. These suits are very attractive and different. I think they are made to be worn to just be pretty in, and that’s ok. I don’t always want to jump in the pool or ocean. I still am thinking of mine, haven’t ditched the idea yet. I’ve just been proud of buying things I feel I can really use and not mindless buying since our February Freeze.
@bjkmom …that’s a beautiful pattern and color!
Here are the ones I bought from Kohls:
https://www.kohls.com/product/prd-3104467/womens-great-lengths-tummy-slimmer-ruffle-one-piece-swimsuit.jsp?prdPV=64
And this one in the bright floral:
https://www.kohls.com/product/prd-3106968/womens-trimshaper-megan-tummy-slimming-pleated-one-piece-swimsuit.jsp?color=Black White&prdPV=1
I know these two suits will look pretty decent on me-- especially if I’m able to drop a bit more weight. But even as is, I knew the style I was looking for. That made interrnet bathing suit shopping possible. So, for example, even a tankini isn’t possible for me-- I need a one piece to provide support for that 59 year old left breast.
I love that suit in post #43 (and #44!) I think it’s attractive.
The Tommy swimsuit line definitely has great patterns and colors. Those skirts to me though are too skimpy for what I want - really, hardly more than a bikini bottom.
I would wear something like this:
http://athleta.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=1105337&pcid=1105337&vid=1&pid=210004002
http://athleta.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=1105337&pcid=1105337&vid=1&pid=153276152
Also, these are adorable for beach walking, boat, etc. - the available size is too small for me!
https://www.6pm.com/p/tommy-bahama-shibori-splash-5-boardshort-plunge-blue/product/8871466/color/683742
Or this one piece!
https://www.6pm.com/p/tommy-bahama-shibori-splash-shirred-bandeau-one-piece-swimsuit-plunge-blue/product/8871462/color/683742
I’ve never had a bathing suit body, even when I was younger. I’m long-waisted, so most one-piece suits are too short. I have no boobs, so I don’t do plunging. Now I have love handles and pouches, so I need tummy control. Too high cut and my thighs look fat. I’m leaning more to burkini than bikini. Last year, I got this top and a skirt bottom.
https://www.soma.com/store/product/Magicsuit+Papillon+Rita+Tankini+Swim+Top/570163443
It’s the first two-piece I’ve had in decades, but I like it. Easier to use the restroom, and the top can be worn as an item of clothing if necessary. I don’t worry much about chlorine, since I rarely actually get into the water.
ETA: I love that they use the word “camouflage” in the description!
Everyone has a body. Just put a bathing suit on it, and voila - a bathing suit body.
^Thanks, @BunsenBurner, I needed that.
I think I need a burkini also. My worst part is my flabby upper arms. No bathing suit covers up that I’m just resigned to wearing a cute cover up and just taking it off when I go swimming
I supposed y’all are sporting tight abs. For me I need some rouching in the middle. Last year Tommy Bahama had a few cute ones.
I have a pool, live on the water with a boat - a bunch of bathing suits are a necessity. The only people I wear my suits in front of are my family and on vacation. But I agree cute coverups are a must for me.
I’m looking at this for sun protection on the boat when it’s still a little cool in the breeze. https://www.lillypulitzer.com/product/shop-prints/joy-ride/upf-50-skipper-printed-popover/pc/9/c/739/9388.uts?swatchName=Deep+Indigo+Joy+Ride
@Wellspring, you may already know this, but you can greatly increase the chlorine resistance of your Speedo by rinsing, then spraying with vitamin C water (neutralizes the chlorine) and re-rinsing after every swim. I make my spray by using a tsp of pharmaceutical grade ascorbic acid powder to 6-8 oz water in a spray bottle. It’s great for preventing eczema and other chlorine irritation as well.
I swim in a Dolphin Ugli suit in a heavily chemical YMCA pool and using the spray saves my skin and gives me an extra 6 months on my suits.
Raising hand for “DO NOT HAVE TIGHT ABS!” But there are other assets!!
It has always made me sad that people “give up” on being on a beach, in the sun, at a pool or lake or ocean because they are held back by a piece of clothing. As they say, “life is too short - and the water/beach/boat/pool is too fun!!”
We’ve changed people’s lives on this message board with exercise, weight loss, Instant Pots, bags of crap out of our house, good buys, etc. - come on, let us help everyone get comfortable with the idea of a bathing suit or actually finding something that they might feel comfortable with! (don’t be shy! Ask for ideas!)
Changing people’s quality of sun/water life, one bathing suit at a time. <3
I bought my last swimsuit online at swimsuits for all. My daughter told me about them. They have a large selection and a lot of mix and match separates where you can buy the tops and bottoms separately, in different sizes etc. I am a long torsoed person also and one pieces tend not to be comfortable. I like that I can choose the type of bottom and type of top I like. I ended up with shorts style for the bottom and a tankini top that I really liked. They will be my go to for swimsuits in the future.