STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

laken1 · Hermes

I NEED A WHAT????

nicoley · Coach

This does sound like a really scary situation! I would be panicing just as you are, trust me! But, is it really that necessary for you to wear a bathing suit? I mean I know for me, I do not sit out in the sun or anything like that, as to protect my skin. I avoid the sun at all costs. There are plenty of relaxing things to do in FL without wearing a bathing suit... I guess im just having trouble understanding why its necessary... There must be a way around it :)

laken1 · Hermes

Well, this is my first vacation with them & we could go on potentially cooler vacations (ie, Hawaii) & I have been trying to get a beach vacation for some times. Apparently his dad is a big "sit at the pool & read" kind of vacationer & to be honest he knows I am too - I've always been a sun worshiper (terrible, I know!) and it's no big secret. I just don't want to start out by being the high maintenance new wife that won't get in a swimsuit, ya know? He takes my hubby on vacation every year on a boys trip & I'm trying to turn that into a couples trip because they always go somewhere cool. I just hate to go against the general plan on day one. Does that make sense?

blubirde · Chanel

I have the magic cure for you. Are you ready? Long wrap-around cover up (if you can't find one, go to a fabric store and make one) and tankini top. You are completely covered up and it's still a fun and sexy look.

This is my secret every summer because there is no way in HELL I would let another person see my thighs in direct sunlight. That's just scary.

If I know there will be swimming, I wear some swim shorts under the cover up (or bring them with me and put them on right before pool/water time).

How about one of these?

With one of these?

laken1 · Hermes

Thanks chick! I'm actually going to bring myself to try on my tankini that I bought for Vegas the last time I had to do this & see what happens. And today Target had some type of boho skirt for very cheap, so I figure that will be a good cover up. But I'm definately going to look for something......

Also, I did just look at a month forcast on Destin & it appears that the highs are in the low 60s - too cool for swimsuits, right? Can someone in florida tell me what it's like there?

ejc423 · Coach

I couldn't let this post die without resurrecting the following:

I really think exhibit C is the best option because it has those slimming princess seams.

lynnie · Chanel

j crew usually has cute basic suits. you'd probably have to order though.

kisa · Dooney & Bourke

I got a really cute swimsuit by ralph lauren from bluefly about a month ago. It was a deep V one piece, and the style was really flattering. Kinda like this one, 54.99 on Bluefly.

Sunshinegirl · Kate Spade

Laken,

I live in south florida where it is pretty cool today and Destin is on the tip of the panhandle and i can pretty much guarantee that it is going to be too cool to swim or sit on the beach in a bathing suit. The gulf of Mex will be cold no doubt.

Try and have fun!

Chic · Marc Jacobs

I have been to Destin at this time of year and it will be cold...no swimsuit necessary...HTH!!! But if you want one jsut in case I would go with solid black and in a 2 piece tankini. I find them more flattering than one pieces. Have fun!!!

flknight24 · Dooney & Bourke

Sunshinegirl wrote:

Laken, I live in south florida where it is pretty cool today and Destin is on the tip of the panhandle and i can pretty much guarantee that it is going to be too cool to swim or sit on the beach in a bathing suit. The gulf of Mex will be cold no doubt. Try and have fun!

Yep, I'm here in sunny Fla. too and it's very cool (55-60 degrees) and I'm in the central part of the state. It will be even cooler in the Panhandle. You might have 70 - 75 degrees days if there's a warm front but it's not the sort of weather you want to swim in. If you still feel like you want to take a bathing suit with you I highly recommend J. Crew. Also, once you figure out your size at J. Crew you never have to go bathing suit shopping again. When you need a new one you can just order the suit you want in your size. It's great.

shopgirl82 · Chanel

my family has a house in destin and we never lay out at this time of the year. i would bring a bathing suit for back-up, but i don't think you'll need it unless there's a hot tub.

mikacat · Coach

Laken- I would totally skip the swimsuit situation, especially if you are uncomfortable being in one, why waste the money or time looking for one? It would be too chilly anyway. Just wear some other cute casual outfit, have a cocktail, be your charming self, laugh at your hubby freezing his balls off and smile a lot.

laken1 · Hermes

Well, I tried J Crew but the very first measurement, boobs, didn't work so I didn't torture myself looking any further than that. Although I love the look of their suits & will look there after I'm skinny again. I ended up ordering this completely terrible plain maw maw suit in black from Lands End - simply because the one piece I had was too high cut & not at all flattering, so I know this will be "conservative". And if I don't need it, which I don't believe I will, I will send it back & get my $60+ back. UGH.

Thanks for the tip & sympathy & especially to the FL girls letting me know that it's too cool anyway. That was my hope, but I'd like to be prepared just in case. I'll let you know what happens.

Kel · Coach

I agree with the rest of the FL girls. Right now I am in the middle of the state and I am freezing. I actually have the heat on. So more north, I can assure you it will not be beach weather.

LA Gal · Kenneth Cole

laken, not sure if you're still looking, but i was at target on sunday and noticed that they had a decent selection of bathing suits. check out the merona brand suits - they had some really cute tankinis and they were really inexpensive.

i'm also like you about bathing suits (who isn't) so i almost always end up wearing flowy gauze/cotton-y pants (do you have any casual gaucho style pants?) and a beater. if i feel comfortable enough, i'll take off the tank top but leave the pants on. and especially if it won't be very warm in FL, you can probably get away with the pants and tank all day.

theotherjess · Chanel

Hey laken, I'm in FL and right now it's the warmest it's been all week at 70/75. It def. won't be that warm the whole time though, especially in the panhandle. If I were you, I would get a cute slimming suit and then just layer a beater/gauchos or beater/loose skirt for laying by the pool. That way you will look like a trooper but won't actually have to go in the water (I don't know if that made sense, but it did in my head!). I'm sure whatever you put together will look great--you have awesome style!

sage · Dooney & Bourke

I go to a beach for two weeks every summer with my SO. We have been doing this for almost 7 years. And I have had a swimsuit on maybe 4 times. 14 days times 7 years, that is a lot of time at the beach where I was not wearing a bathing suit. This year I bought a tankini suit, with boy shorts. I had always thought you had to have perfect thighs to wear boy shorts but I am proof positive this is not the case. I feel okay in this suit. Not hot or sexy, but okay. And that is about a million times better than I have ever felt in any bathing suit. But really, I agree with mikacat. Because I have been there.
Also I read somewhere that the tankini deal is more flattering than a one piece. It makes sense in a way, cause you do have a little shirt deal instead of fabric stretched across your body in a continuous line. KWIM? In any event, have great time!!

DC Shopper · Dooney & Bourke

hey laken, it sounds like you won't need a bathing suit anyway, but for future reference, I highly recommend http://www.aerinrose.com/home.asp. I have a boobage issue myself and these suits come in a range of sizes and are supportive, sexy, and are of high quality. They are expensive but worth it.

Also, I have a curvy figure and prefer bikinis over tankinis b/c tankinis stop short at my worst spot - the belly. If feel Homer Simpson-esque in them.

Anyway, here are some pics from the website: