All my life I’ve had to buy swimwear according to what fits rather than what I like. When I was in my teenage years that meant compromising on style – I would buy a size 12 or 14 brief and a 16 or 18 top just to fit my boobs in, and even that was made difficult by most shops selling bikinis as sets not separates.
Thankfully, underwear and swimwear companies clocked on to the fact that not all women were a ‘Perfect 10’ and DD+ ranges became easier to find, which also meant dressing for the beach became much more fun. Despite the endless possibilities these inclusive brands offer, I have always gone for a classic swimwear – the ones I remember most fondly are a red polka dot frilly bikini in my twenties and a plain black bikini and plain black one-piece in my early thirties. These days I still love the polka dots, I still love the black, but I’m also feeling a bit ore of a casual vibe with classically nautical navy blue.
This bikini by Fantasie is ideal for my current lifestyle. The bra sizing ensures everything is kept firmly in place (even if I’m chasing a wild two-year-old over the rocks), the navy blue is casual but an equally chic alternative to black, and the stripes add an element of fun for a stressed-out, risk-assessing mum of two young kids. It’s been a while since I wore a bikini brief but, with the assistance of Every Mother and Trinny’s advice on tie-side bikinis being flattering on curvier bottoms, hips and thighs, I actually felt really comfortable. Even on our local beach.
In a nutshell, I’m drawn to classic swimwear for two reasons: a) the designs tend to suit my taste and my body and b) a timeless seaside aesthetic never goes out of style.
You look absolutely amazing.