The Bikini: Do You Or Don’t You?

This was a subject of interest this week as I joined friends for a sunny break in Italy. Some did and some didn’t wear a bikini.

I don’t because I am forever waiting; I think I have been waiting for 20 years. It suddenly occurred to me, after chatting with my friends, what am I actually waiting for? There is no better time than today. Do I really believe the two-piece will look better next year, rather than this year? If I want to wear one, and I do – especially the vintage high-waisted style- then now is as good as later.

Working on and waiting for perfection is a mug’s game. We are too hard on ourselves or at least I am.

We will never be perfect and nor will we ever look as we want, especially in a swimsuit. I’m not discussing the “should she wear a bikini” subject – this is all too subjective – rather I am thinking about wearing what we want if it is what we want. There is a difference. 

My friends wore bikinis and looked fabulous, not because of their shapes and sizes but because of their confidence. Truthfully I didn’t notice; my only thought, they looked wonderful. Their confidence, their joy in the sea and sunshine made what style of swimsuit they had on an irrelevance. This is how it should be. I became aware too much time is lost debating what we should and shouldn’t do. Within reason, we must go for it.

My favourite swimsuit is the vintage style two-piece, where the pants hit somewhere just under or on the waist; I find it flattering and the extra width and support a comfort. A tiny string Brazilian style bikini is probably a jump too far for my renewed confidence. I like the way this style elongates the legs, is comfortable and the top allows for a little more tanning. Tanning is not really my thing but nevertheless, I still want to look the part even in the shade and swim easily when I do.

What type of swimsuit we wear is personal and the relationship we have with our body is unique. The thought I came home with is, there is no time like NOW. We were all reflecting on photographs of ourselves ten years ago – what we thought awkward or unattractive then is, of course, perfectly ok now.

If there is something to strike your fancy, like wearing a vintage style bikini, then let’s. What the body may lack in physical perfection our confidence will provide and nobody, I mean nobody judges us as harshly as we judge ourselves. The lumps and bumps, the more-than-we-like is nothing when our bright smile and lively personalities take over. Remember how much we loved seeing Helen Mirren in her red bikini?

The holiday chat gave me pause to consider. xv