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PDFBy Kate Matelan
When the weather heats up and you hop in your beach chair for the sand and surf, it’s only fitting that you throw on a swimsuit, right? With scars, muscle atrophy or the infamous quad belly, showing off your bod in a swimsuit takes a whole lot of one thing: confidence. Looking good in a bathing suit — no matter the style or coverage — is really mind over matter; if you feel good, you’ll look good.
Sure, you want your suit to fit and cover what it needs to cover — no Janet Jackson Super Bowl moments, please. Yet your bather shouldn’t have to hide your 10-inch zipper scars, 20-plus degrees of curvature or a not-so-tight tummy. It’s part of who you are! And for many of us, we’re totally comfortable with it. Don’t give up the summertime fun at the beach or pool this year — grab that swimsuit and show off what your momma gave ya.
How It Should Fit
Although coverage is the name of the game, you don’t need to cover every inch of your body; you just need to cover the “areas” not meant for the general public. Ladies, cover up the top and bottom halves completely. Don’t try squeezing into something too small; pushing around might cause it to ride up and show off more than your confidence! Guys, make sure your shorts won’t slip off your waist, no matter how cute that person beside you may be.
Check out how it closes and think about how you can take it on and off. Most suits for women will tie at the neck and back, so there might not be another option in the closure department. Just make sure you can get someone to tie it extra tight and then you can slip it over your head every time after that. Halter styles look great on women with toned upper bodies. Bandeau tops work for women who are not too top heavy and usually don’t have any closures. If you want a one-piece bather and might be past your bikini days, feel free to find one with an interesting cut out or one that has some shapewear built into it to enhance your curves.
Go for color, print and whatever else you like! It’s summer and that means you can play it up with neon colors or tropical patterns. But if black is your color, feel free to find a solid style that compliments you.
How You Should Feel
Getting the right fit is great, but feeling fabulous in your suit and with your body is really the key to acing the suit scorecard. You have to believe that you look good and be comfortable with everything your body has to offer. Do I wish my massive shoulders were a little smaller? No, they’re a part of me. They’re how I get around. Do I wish I wasn’t covered in scars? No, they’re a part of me. They’re what have gotten me here today. It’s that ‘tude that gives me the gumption to put on my skimpy bikini and wheel around in my flashy beach chair.
No matter what your body looks like, you deserve
to feel good about yourself. But at the end of the day, how you feel all starts with you. Becoming comfortable in your own skin does take time. To help get the confidence you need to flaunt your swimsuit, put on your bather and wheel in front of a full-length mirror. Take it all in! Don’t rip on yourself for the parts of your body that aren’t “perfect” or “like everyone else.” Embrace what you’ve got and don’t suck in that atrophied stomach or ignore that visible scar. Remember that your body is all yours — you have to own it.
And let’s be real: People at the pool or on the beach are going to stare. They’re going to look at your chair, at you and, yes, that scar from chest to your bikini bottom. Being confident means ignoring the stares and having fun because their glances don’t mean anything. That is, unless you’re single and they pop over to introduce themselves! Either way, you have to love your body, your chair and keep in mind that you’re hot — and deserve to feel that way.
Bring it on, summer.
Samanta Bullock (samantabullock.com) wore a two-piece with confidence
on her Portugal vacation.
Kate’s Top 5 Tips
- Wear your confidence. Confidence looks the best on you — if you don’t bring it, you won’t be feeling or looking your best.
- Move in the suit. Your bather might fit when you’re sitting still, so move around to ensure it doesn’t gravitate to places it shouldn’t.
- Observe from all angles. Get out of your chair (probably at home) and grab a mirror or a friend to confirm your booty isn’t out and about. You don’t get this view from your chair!
- Find the accessories. Too much sun and skin can be a bad combo. Bring along matching cover-ups, hats, sunglasses and SPF to stay protected.
- Sit back and relax. It’s summer! Enjoy the weather and company and don’t worry about how other people look OR who is looking at you.
