Bathings Suits I Don't Hate

Other bloggers might have titled this, "My Favorite Bathing Suits!" but let's be real, I hate them. I hate shopping for them. I hate that dread of pulling dozens of suits just to find one that you don't feel like a fat whale in. Or, worse, to not find one at all. I've had both happen. So, for me, Bathing Suits I Don't Hate is just a more fitting title.

As much as I hate buying bathing suits, I end up buying a new one, or part of one, every year. This year, I had to buy a new one because I needed to size down. I have suits that fit on the bottom, but now the smaller ones don't fit on top.

For years, Target was one of my go-to stores for bathing suits. They are decent quality and not ridiculously expensive. I stopped shopping there for suits, though, when I, um, outgrew the tops. This year, they have a new brand called Shade and Shore that has cra cup sizing. And all the girls over a C-cup rejoiced! I picked up this cute halter top. No added padding, and it ties in the back so your band size can be adjustable if needed.

Shade and Shore Halter Bikini Top

This is the first year in a long time that I actually feel comfortable in a bikini. Am I the smallest? Nope. But do I hate how I look? Nope. And I'm good with that! I was actually pretty surprised when I tried this on and liked it. I'm pairing it with some of my older bottoms that are hot pink and another pair that is black with a fold-down band with bright colors.

If you aren't a fan of the bikini, then you should try my favorite tankini top. Anne Cole became my go-to bathing suit brand when my boobs didn't fit in the Target bathing suits and I needed bra cup sizing.

Anne Cole Bandeau Tankini Top

I literally have this top in two sizes I love it that much. It's ruched on the sides, which helps camouflage any areas you aren't too comfortable with and the sweetheart neckline is super flattering. It comes with a detachable strap that you can wear to make it into a halter. This top also comes in a ton of different colors and prints, not just this one.  Sometimes, you can find them cheaper on Zulily. Or just wait for a sale at Macy's.

Athleta now also carries bra top swimsuits. I haven't tried their suits yet, but those that have love them!

The bottoms to this tankini are also some of my favorites. The bikini bottoms with the fold-down band I mentioned above are like these.

Anne Cole Foldover Bikini Bottoms

In case you can't tell, I'm weird and don't buy bathing suits together. I don't love Target's bottoms and Anne Cole is expensive and I can't afford to buy both the tops and bottoms together. I'm also a big fan of buying black or navy bottoms and lots of fun tops. Victoria's Secret had my favorite bikini bottoms, but then they stopped selling bathing suits. Weirdos. Old Navy was my second favorite and is back to the top spot in the world of bathing suit bottoms. They have great plain bikini bottoms and they aren't expensive.

Old Navy Bikini Bottoms

There is nothing super exciting about them. They aren't fancy, but they are great basics. 

In my many years of body-hating-swim-suit-shopping, this is what I have learned about bathing suit shopping when you aren't small:

• Less is more. I'm not saying wear a string bikini, but I'm also saying that a regular bikini bottom is going to more flattering on you than high waisted bottoms (at least in my experience)
• Straps are your friend. This is more for girls with bigger girls. That mess gets heavy. Also, straps reduce the possibility of your girls exiting the top during waves. That is all.
• If you have a larger bottom/thighs, dark solid colors are your friends. I have gigantic thunder thighs. I can tone them and they have actually gotten smaller, but they're still thunder thighs. Thanks, Dad. A dark, solid bottom is going to draw less attention to that area. I like to wear dark solid bottoms with bright tops. Brings the eye up to your face, away from problem areas. You can also reverse it if you want to detract attention from your top and you like your bottom half better. 
• Tie closures all day long. They make things adjustable. On your bottoms, they allow to adjust the fit without having to go up a size. Same thing for tops. The bikini top above is great because it has a substantial band, which you need for support, but then has the tie in the back for adjustment.
• Be nice to yourself. It's just a bathing suit. It's not the end of the world. And in the wise, wise words of my mother, "There are going to be people that look better than you and people that look worse. Find the ones that look worse and sit beside them." Just kidding, kind of. Find something that you feel comfortable in and go on with life. The summer is just around the corner and life is too short to not have fun because of a stupid bathing suit.