Swimsuit woes

[resonant]

Just finished ordering a couple of swimsuits for the kidlet, which was an exercise in frustration -- it's very difficult to find appropriate swimwear for someone who's already shaped like an adult at thirteen.

It seems to me that the available swimsuits make one of three statements:

Type 1: "I am a hoochie mama. I wasn't actually planning on swimming; I'm just going to recline here while you undress me with your eyes. If you bring me champagne, it's going to have to have a straw in it, because if I raise my arms, these straps are going to break."

Type 2: "I am a middle-aged matron. Would you like to see my swim cap with the little flowers on it?"

Type 3: "I can afford to spend seventy dollars for a swimsuit for someone who's still young enough to enjoy scooching around the bottom of the pool on their belly."

I no longer have a problem ordering for myself, because I actually am a middle-aged woman (though my swim cap doesn't have flowers on it) and have lowered my standards to "will stay on for actual swimming and won't disintegrate in the chlorine for at least a year."

I ended up at kmart.com (the online store, because the three-dimensional store only had Type 1 swimsuits, many of which had both fringe and sparkly studding) with a couple of suits that look athletic and practical in the itty bitty preview photos. I just hope they don't fall apart right away.

p.s. is there such a thing as a service on the internet that I can instruct, "Keep an eye on this product, and send me an e-mail if it goes on sale"?


edited 2019 to retroactively correct the kidlet's gender pronouns

Comments

[james]

One thing I found that helped a lot in appropriate swimsuit wear, was adding a pair of bike shorts. That way you only have to find a suit that is appropriate for the top half. (Heck, bike shorts and a sports bra! No suit!)

[azurelunatic]

There's http://camelcamelcamel.com, but that's specifically for Amazon.

Mama's description, from when I had about the same problem, was "That's for a 20-something who is husband-hunting."

It was a one-piece suit, even, just cut a bit high in the hip, and low in the top and back, with a really awesome pink-and-black-triangles design.

[out_there]

I agree completely re: the categories of swimsuits. Last year, I went for the ridiculously expensive option (more than I've spent on swimwear for the last ten years combined) but it's an awesome 50s style bikini with enough coverage that I'm actually happy to wear it in public and even though I don't swim much, the top tends to get worn as a summer top when it's hot so I'll get my money's worth over the next three years.

But, yeah, finding appropriate swimwear for someone who might grow out of within 12 months can't be easy.

[myalexandria]

For several years now, my swimsuit has consisted of a pair of board shorts and a bikini top. I determined that what was making me feel uncomfortable and, er, immodest, was not the idea of my midriff showing, but rather the whole bikini-line issue. This outfit would probably not do for swim team (I think girls have to wear one-pieces, don't they?) but it rocks for hanging around the beach.

[resonant]

Like her mother, she's a little too big around the middle for a two-piece; we tried it once and she just felt too self-conscious to enjoy herself. Pity -- it sounds really comfortable.

[resonant]

Cool -- I'll check that out.

Your rejected swimsuit sounds kind of cool. And lacking in things like little golden keys dangling between the boobs.

[resonant]

That sounds adorable! I bought the matronly textured alleged-to-last-forever one from One Hanes Place, which has lasted a year with no chlorine damage, so I don't really mind how ugly it is.

[resonant]

I'm amazed at how many people here are comfortable with their bellies showing -- the kidlet and I are both stomachy and don't feel comfortable that uncovered. Oddly, I don't even care very much about the bikini line. (She may; I haven't asked her.)

[azurelunatic]

Yes.

It was also approximately 1993.

Service suggestion

[harrellj.livejournal.com]

Find one site that actually lists 10 different services for alerts: http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/10-alert-notifier-websites-track-stuff/. Looks like there's a couple there that might work out for what you're wanting.

[florahart]

So, here's what I go with on those rare occasions I intend to be in water: I take a nylon-ish running skirt (which is actually shorts but with an extremely short skirt around it?) and a plain ordinary one-piece suit in some kind of coordinating color. Put on the suit and clip the straps together in back if you want/need (I do--I personally use the kind of hairbands that have beads on them, but one could use a device designed for bra straps). Put on the running skirt over. Voila.

[panisdead]

Yeah, I love Land's End suits, but they're pretty category three, especially for someone who might grow out of them in a couple months. (I got three years out of mine, though).

Re: Service suggestion

[harrellj.livejournal.com]

Found, not find. In sympathy, I had the same problem, but had the added fun of having my top and bottom not match in terms of sizes. Bikinis were about the only thing I could wear (probably a good thing I lived in Florida at the time, many more choices for swimsuits down there than here in Ohio).

[twistedchick]

Although I've done well with Land's End (their fitness suits with style 1 legs are a basic old-style tank), I've lately been going to a local branch of an online swim supplier, Aardvark Swimwear. It might be worthwhile to see if there's one where you are. They have the skimpy suits for teams, okay, but they also have a sale rack where I got two excellent suits in my size, a tank and a tankini, for $30.

[via_ostiense]

For suits that function for swimming and aren't basically lingerie for the poolside, I like to go to sports stores. They carry one pieces that aren't terribly fashionable but aren't dowdy either, and a plain suit from tyr or speedo is about $43. They also sometimes have tankinis that are more fashionable and cover the stomach.

[james]

I currently own a swim top from Hanes - here and it is AWESOME for hiding a stomach. And since it's a separate, it lets me pair it with any kind of bottom I want (swim bottom or bike shorts).

[sara]

I've ordered in the past from swimoutlet.com. They have good rates on suits, a massive selection, and I've had very good luck buying their "grab bag" suits -- I really don't care what color my suits are, I want something polyester, X back, one piece, and available in my size (the local sporting goods places don't carry anything bigger than a 36, the fuckers.)

[erika]

I use the Tracktor, but that's only for amazon. Still, if you're looking for something that works with amazon, I can vouch for them: used them for two years, no spam, integrates with Google Chrome via an extension.

[indywind]

I think of letting my belly fat out in public as a little quiet body-positive activism, resisting the message that I *should* be uncomfortable with my non-ideal parts.

The thing called a "tankini" top may be useful for people who aren't comfortable showing so much skin, or else one of those supportive lined tank tops meant for sports wear. plus choice of bikin, skort,or bikeshort bottoms.

titlenine.com does good functional swim and sportswear for femme people. They're definitely in the expensive category, but sometimes have sales that bring the sale merch down to affordable prices, especially considering how well it lasts. I have a pair of lined shorts that I use for swim, biking, running, hot yoga, yard work... had them for about 3 years and they look like new.

[melusina]

Ugh - SO much empathy. Daughter is 12, but looks about 25 and we have this exact problem. I found her a reasonably appropriate suit at Target and Lands End also appears to have some that are neither hoochie mama-esque or matronly.

[norah]

eBay is your friend. Size kidlets in Lands End, then http://www.ebay.com/sch/Womens-Clothing-/15724/i.html?_nkw=lands+end+swim. eBay can be set to look for only things in a certain size or price range and can also be set to email you alerts when it finds them (though I find this annoying).

I buy many "category 3" things in my life off eBay.

[emeraldsword]

I buy swimsuits designed for people who do sports. They tend to be sensible colours and not showing cleavage (which is lucky as I have none and a load of ribs isn't a great look). I haven't found them to be any more expensive than the other sorts and you're rather limited to black or blue as a colour choice but they don't fall apart too quickly and they don't show any flesh (and also do not have gold keys, wtf?!!)