The warmer weather is here and this is right about the time that all the swim wear comes out and I start thinking about my vacation. When it comes to bathing suits, I'm trying something new this summer. I don't often do swim suit posts, because they make me feel self conscious. Wearing a swimsuit, there's nowhere to hide. All a person's body flaws are on display, and in my case then captured in photos and put out there for all the internet to criticize and oh, how the internet loves to criticize. In spite of all the work I've done in the past few months, the quarantine weight isn't really transforming into rock hard muscle like I had hoped. It's pretty much just sticking around and I'm less ready for swimsuit season than ever before. Nevertheless, here it is and I'd like to take a beach vacation this year so I have to have something to wear.
I don't mind showing a little skin if it's a flattering suit, and typically I try to choose swim wear that is flattering to my shape. I've found some really great vintage style sets, that made me feel less self conscious and more comfortable at the beach or pool, but this year the suit I bought is a bit of a disaster. I thought it would be nice because it had more coverage and had a vintage look, but it's awful. Now, I'm going to show you a few photos, but I want you to understand that correctly posed, anything can look better. In reality, this suit makes me look wider where I'm already wide, narrower where I'm already narrow and is loaded with spillage and overhang. It's real bad.
I feel I need to iterate at this point that while I have put on a few pounds, it's really not my weight, it's my shape. This swimsuit is cute, it's just all wrong for my shape. And whether the scale goes up or down this suit just doesn't suit me. One does not have to be a certain size or weight to find cute, figure flattering swimwear. No matter what size or shape you are, the right swimsuit is out there.
So, since this bathing suit is a total disaster, I thought I'd go in a different direction. Inspired by my daughters, who last year begged me to buy them full body one piece swimsuits--more like wetsuits--that covered more than any of my swimsuits ever did when I was younger. But that's how they felt comfortable, so that's what we bought. I wish those had been an option when I was a teen. I would definitely have worn one. Sadly, I went through my awkward teenage years at a time when swim suits weren't even sold in separate pieces. So, when I needed a Med bottom and a Small top, I just had to either buy two bathing suits (too expensive, out of the question!) or have half of my body fit very horribly into the size I chose.
A lot has changed since then and I'm thankful that retailers wised up and started selling swim wear as separates (although I don't appreciate the way that many now charge per piece what they used to charge for the set). This year, one of my daughters asked me to take this swim wear a step farther. Some of the girls at her school were buying "modesty swimsuits" and she wanted to try. After some internet research, we found a shop that sold exactly what she was looking for and I decided to try one too. Maybe, I thought, it will ease some of the apprehension. So, this is what we bought:
I'd never heard of Modli before a few weeks ago, now I'm wondering where they've been all my life. Modli sells modest, full coverage swimwear, from tunic tops, to swim shorts. I opted to go all-in on the modesty this year and got a three quarter sleeve swim top and a knee length swim skort. Yes, it's a skort, so there are leggings under there. The suit arrived within two weeks of placing my order, which is awesome because my girl has a swim party coming up and that's why she was so intent on getting a suit. I ordered my regular size, but I was skeptical of how this would fit and how well I'd be able to move in it. I wondered if I should have sized up since I don't want my legs to be immovable under a tight skirt.
No worry necessary; everything fit perfectly and the skirt has enough volume that I can move and swim quite comfortably. Plus, I can step out of the water, dry off a little and be perfectly fine to go shopping or to a restaurant without having to change or add the layer of swim cover since this suit doesn't violate dress codes.
I should mention that while some of Modli's
tops do have a built-in bra, this one and several others do not.
Modli carries
swim bras should you need it and with this style top that I'm wearing, you will need some kind of bra. A sports bra will likely do if you don't want to buy anything extra.
There's no rule that says you have to show a lot of skin at the beach, especially if that's not only not who you are, but it makes you self conscious or uncomfortable. Don't be afraid to be you and wear things that express who you are and that make you feel your very best.
I'm so glad that my daughters were brave enough to break the mold, to say I'm going wear what makes me feel good. I stand in awe of their bravery and individuality all the time. They're teaching me so much. And I'm so glad that we found Modli together so that they can express their modesty and their style.
I'm not in any way being sponsored by this company, but I do like what they've got going on. With lots of length, prints, colors, and styles, there's so much to choose from at Modli so you can customize your style while expressing your modesty. Plus, right now you can save 10% off your purchase with the code ENJOY10. Shopping Info: Margaux Swim Top in Barbados Blue, Long Swim Skort in Dark Jade from Modli
