How long has it been since you shopped for a swimsuit?
Shopping for a swimsuit in your 50’s is not for the faint of heart. Â Well, I take that back. Â Any age. Â I’ve heard women screeching over trying on swimsuits my whole life. Â I personally do not enjoy taking small pieces of stretchy fabric and heading to the dressing room where hideous bright fluorescent lighting shines down on my pasty white Winter skin that’s been covered up for a few months, highlighting every single flaw. Ugh, it’s not fun, is it? I don’t know any woman who enjoys shopping for swimsuits. Â But, sometimes we have to do it, just get out there and try on a few swimsuits. Â In fact, this post is a little bit scary for me to share, but I cropped these pics just so and thought y’all would enjoy a post about shopping for swimsuits.
Those bikini days are WAY over for me and when I entered my 50’s I started wearing tankinis, which I really like. Those are the 2 piece suits that cover the stomach. Â I also like one pieces, but the tankinis are comfortable and not as hard to get in and out of. Â Showing the belly days are long gone for me. Â Some things don’t need to be shown in public anymore.
I usually look at TJ Maxx and have successfully found swimsuits there over the years. Â They are last season’s suits, but that doesn’t matter to me, because the cost savings is huge. Â I really don’t want to spend $100 on a swimsuit, so I’ll look for quality name brands and good fabrics at a lower price point.
I decided to add a couple of new swimsuits to my summer wardrobe and began the hunt. Â I don’t like to order swimsuits online, because I think this is one thing that needs to be tried on in advance, so I went to a few stores that were close. Â I know I could always go to one of the big department stores to look, but those are usually full price and I don’t like full price.
I browsed through the racks at TJ Maxx and found one winner, a Vince Camuto one piece in a pretty leopard print and it was $30. Â Winner!
This one is cut straight across the front and back with a neck strap that can be added on.
I cropped this strategically, so y’all could see it on and I love the shirring on these types of swimsuits. They really give a lean look and accent the waistline. There is a soft molded cup in these which is really comfortable too. Â I have a couple that are made like this in the top.
I found the suit online at Bonanza, if you’re interest. Â Not an affiliate link.
Next, I went to Kohls and saw their selections. Â I’m really liking the two pieces with the bottom skirt attached. Â Have you seen these? They’ve been out for awhile, but I’ve never bought one. Â I like that it covers just a bit more on the upper thigh. Â It has a normal bottom piece underneath the skirt, but the skirt hides more. Â They have a choice of several tops that can be interchanged with the bottoms. Â I only saw black and gray bottoms, but lots of choices in tops at Kohls.
Printed Racerback Tankini from Kohls (affiliate link)
Solid Skirt Bottoms (affiliate link)
These are priced separately so you can buy whatever size you want on the top and bottom. Â My 2 pieces on sale came to just over $50.
I chose this happy leaf print with fun summer colors to mix with the black bottoms.
These are quick snaps from the dressing room and it’s a little blown out, but I loved that this style has a racer back and I think this suit would be great for a day at the beach, covering up a bit more while walking around.
So, what type swimsuits are you wearing these days. Â Things change as we get older, don’t they? Â My perky younger self enjoyed the 2 pieces, but these days, I like to be a bit more covered up!
Last year I bought a swim dress from Zappos, I had to get it out lately and try it on. It’s shirred at princess seams in the front so the middle front is shirred and the sides are smooth, hard to explain but it disguises the belly very well. It has attached panties but it doesn’t look like a top with an attached skirt. The straps are adjustable and they used little gold buckles at the adjustment sites. Yes, it cost $100 but I actually feel good in it, and at 63, that’s worth the money. I used to love tanks and got them from Lands End, they make long torso swimsuits. To me, tankinis really float, even after they get wet. I have never cared for 2 piece swimsuits, always felt overexposed. As a skinny teenager, I dove off the high diving board and the bottoms were pulled right off of me. That was really exposing. You look wonderful in both of those.
Nancy, that sounds like a pretty suit and yes, sometimes splurging is in order. My swimsuits last a long time.
I cannot remember the last time I wore a swimsuit. I really like the first one you showed.
Both suits look great on you, Rhoda! I bought a tankini last summer and enjoyed wearing it. I almost always choose swimsuits with the skirt because I like that the skirt covers my upper thighs. I do have one suit that doesn’t have a skirt but it came with a cute waist wrap that covers up the thigh area. I’m with you, though, I don’t like shopping for swimsuits!
Great Choices!!! I am a 65 year old, live on the lake and have several swim suits. Tankini is my favorite. I wear with either a skirt or shorts. I have a long torso so a one piece definitely does not work for me. Enjoy your Blog!!
One tip I found many years ago is to avoid black bottoms or skirt if you are really fair skinned. It makes you look whiter and points out imperfections even more so. Getting a tan(real or not so real) helps tremendously with the overall look! And the brighter the bottoms the darker and more toned your legs look!
I think the both look fantastic!
Great post!! I am due for new swimsuit this year and was dreading the hunt but now I know where to begin. Yes, it true, once you pass 50 the rules change!
I wear two piece suits because I have a short waist and they tend to look better on me. It’s also easier to find the tops in bra sizes, which I need. That said, I rarely wear them anyplace but my backyard pool and when I do have to wear them in public, I usually trade the smaller bottoms for a Lands’ End swim mini and a tank cover up over the top. Lands’ End has great suits and usually pretty good sales, too. I’ve really lucked out at the Tommy Bahama outlet twice–their suits are so expensive ($98 for just the top!) but they carry bra sizes instead of just SML…I found 2 different ones in my size that were 75% off. And matching bottoms Sold! (after that kind of luck, I should’ve bought lottery tickets!)
Keepin’ it tight, Rhoda!!! And the beginning of this post made me laugh, we’re all in this together!
Rhoda, your back looks GREAT! You are proof that working with weights is the way to go! Happy Swimming!
Thank you, Susan, I totally think weights are key to aging well. Really helps stay strong & toned!
I love the suits you picked out! Look great! I gota basic black tankini style last year for beach trip. YOu have to use self tanner before you go so flaws are a bit less obvious…trick from one of my girl friends, ha! I usually don’t get firm firm until July if I get firm then. Seems like by July you have lost inches and firmed up things so being out in a swimsuit is easier & less self conscious. I always have a swimsuit wrap handy 🙂 Enjoy your new swimsuits!
Thank you for doing this, Rhoda. Even articles on bathing suits for the over 50 crowd feature 20-year-old models! You look great and can wear either suit with confidence. The latest advice I’m reading (probably from the same 25-year-old fashion editors who told us to stop wearing panty hose) is to avoid tankinis, which I don’t get. I don’t wear bathing suits a lot, and they are expensive. With a tankini, I can get more bang for my buck by wearing the top with shorts and jeans. I will disagree with you on one point. I always buy online, and haven’t gone BS shopping in a regular store in 10 years. Once you figure out the correct size and style, it’s pretty easy, and trying on suits in the privacy of my own home is worth the occasional price of the return shipping. Even people who don’t like shopping online should check out the suits on QVC. They have a great selection of suits and swim dresses for “real women.”