My Hipster Swim Collection

I like to fancy myself ready for a beach getaway at a moment's notice.

If I’m at the beach it’s almost always with my teenagers 1) when I’m visiting my in laws in the summer in Delaware or 2) when I’m visiting my parents in Florida. These are not glamorous locations requiring luxury swimwear and Pippa Holt inspired kaftans but I never want to find myself shopping for a swimsuit. True story: I was in Saks Fifth Avenue in Boston on business trip this past February and, for once in my life, I did have an actual upcoming wedding to attend in a tropical location and thought I might just see what fabulous newness was on offer for the upcoming season and try on some things in person for a change. (I believe this season of fashion is called “resort” and I’ll be damned if I’ve ever had reason to shop a “resort” collection in February until that very moment.) It was then and there that I learned that the Prudential Center Saks does not stock bathing suits. “Ever?” I said. “Ever,” the sales associate said with a shake of her head.

Is there anything worse than doing hours of online research, scrolling through reviews looking for a reviewer that is your age and size, cross referencing via google and you tube, and finally, frantically ordering hundreds of dollars worth of bathing suits in various sizes thinking “These small bits of fabric must be this expensive because the fabric is magical, I’ll just invest in one great suit and wear it forever and the the cost per wear will be justified, plus I’ll just return whatever doesn’t fit” (adds to cart in two sizes). Only later do you realize there is only a seven day return period and you’ve missed it or that you can only do a return for store credit? For all of these reasons and more, I am a hoarder of bathing suits. They are stuffed in large bags under my bed, and I try on my entire collection just about every time I need to pack for a beach or beach adjacent trip or event. A minimalist I am not.

Since I’ve done the research, read the reviews, tried on just about every major brand out there, let me offer a few reflections. First, there are several brands of swim that are heavily marketed to me on instagram and the influencers seem to love that just do not work on my body. As a nearly fifty year old woman, I should know that I do not look like the instagram influencers but I fall for it every time.

Summersalt - I’ve tried and tried just about all of their styles. The reviews are fantastic! They make ordering and returning very easy! Sadly, these suits are not even remotely flattering on me.

Hunza G - All of the influencers love these suits! I should have trusted my instinct on the whole “one size fits most”, but I was influenced and I took the bait. Hell to the no.

Marysia - These are the some of the most beautiful suits I’ve ever seen in non- traditional, soft swim fabric and stunning colors. They cost more than my first car and and so it was actually a relief to learn that they are not even remotely flattering on me. The relief was short lived when I realized that I hadn’t read the fine print and that they have a really short return window and the fact that returns are for store credit only. I missed this detail in a last minute, frenzied search when I placed a large order “just to try.”

I know you’re on the edge of your seat at this point wondering what am I wearing this summer? Here are the three suits I am wearing on a decidedly unfancy public beach in Delaware with my family this week:

J.Crew 1993 underwire bikini top: When it’s good it’s good. Love that this top is sized by bra size in classic, solid colors, several of which are on sale at the moment.

J. Crew Hipster Full Coverage bikini bottom: Bear with me here. I’ve tried and I own and embarrassing number of bathing suit bottoms (in sizes ranging from medium to extra large). It has taken me years to learn that a mid rise two piece bottom is best on me and that mid rise bottoms are next to impossible to find. I’m 5’4” and high rise bottoms seem to make everything worse, low rise are terrifying, and mid rise is presentable. Side note: “Hipster” seems to be a key descriptor of a the rise that looks best of me: is there a less appealing word out there? The term reminds of of the style of cotton Hanes underwear my mom used to buy for me as a kid and seems to be the girl version of “husky.” It’s obviously the antithesis of “bikini” which is maybe the point? At this moment, some may suggest that a one piece suit might be better given the difficulty of finding a properly fitting “bottom.” I agree! But somehow, flattering one pieces are even harder for me to find. Anyway! I realize that these look quite low on the model but they are decidedly mid rise (just a smidge under the belly button) on me.

La Blanca Island Goddess Shirred Band Hipster Bottom - Can’t beat the name. I discovered these in person in a boutique on the boardwalk in Rehoboth, Delaware - they are much better in person than they appear on the website - slightly higher than the J.Crew option and you can sort of wiggle the ruching to the height that you want. Another perfectly mid-rise bottom on me.

Melissa Odabash Brussels Bikini Top and Bottom - These are the prettiest swimsuits. Heavy duty fabric, lovely pastel colors if you are into that sort of thing, and classic styles. The Brussels top and bottom has the perfect amount of coverage for me and I love that there are so many colors to choose from. I’ve purchased everything in my collection from the brand’s sale page which is empty now but full of goodies once summer is over and once you know your size and preferred style, there are usually lots of options on The Real Real and Thread Up as well.

Molly Moorkamp Palma One Piece - the print I have is sold out in most sizes, but there are many solid colors available at the moment. MM is harder to find on resale because nearly everything is made to order in small batches; there are two currently available on Poshmark. This is a beautiful, classic suit that fits me really well. It’s the only one piece that’s currently in rotation for me. I think of it is as my “dressy, grown up lady” swimsuit - i.e. it’s way too nice for a family beach outing but I wear it anyway, ignoring my teenagers when they ask “Mom, why are you so dressed up”?

Happy 4th and thanks for reading!

XOXO,

Tara

*Disclosure: No affiliate/commission links here - just joyful clothing that I own, love, and wear in real life.