Mom Jeans? Try the Mom Bathing Suit
At some point this season, if we haven’t already, we moms will walk into the bathing suit section of a major department store in search of attractive swimwear that’s also stretchable enough to cover every itty-bitty problem area on our aging, child-bearing bodies. We’ll pore through the bikinis and tankinis, the one-pieces and the cover-ups, and
eventually find ourselves drawn to the inevitable: the ultimate mom bathing suit.
That’s right. You know you’re officially a mother when you opt for the skirted suit, the one that hides more backside and upper thigh than any other model and, coincidentally, may be the exact same bathing suit you remember your mother wearing when she carted you to the beach and pool every summer.
For the record, I am not busting on this suit.
As a matter of fact, I went the skirt route on one occasion a full eight years before becoming a mother. One motivation? I loathe my thighs. But I also happened to think this particular suit — which was sort of similar to the one pictured above — had a certain vintage, retro charm. It smacked of something vaguely saucy and Bettie Page-ish. At least that’s what part of my brain said. The other part said, “You’re now going to hit the beach looking like a 65-year-old. Well done. Well done.”
Let’s be real. Unless we’re Angelina Jolie, most moms reach a point where their awareness of the extra flab, belly pooches and cellulite they’ve accumulated convinces them they can no longer pull off the bikini. When it comes to bathing suits, we just want to be comfortable and covered enough to join our toddlers in the pool without suffering from acute embarrassment. That’s why the skirted model is so damn appealing. It’s sorta cute and fun, but also relatively modest. Honestly, if they made a water-friendly version of black pants, a T-shirt and a flattering blazer, I would totally wear that instead. Until that happens, though, the skirted suit may be the only way to go.
This item over at the DC Metro Moms Blog feels my pain, although she bemoans the fact that she wore a tankini while lounging at a pool in Miami alongside many, many young women rocking bikinis. (My condolences.) And this piece posted last summer on Mommy Myth Buster contends that the skirted suit actually isn’t that flattering, which is a valid point but doesn’t address one important issue: cellulite. Sorry, the only way to deal with that is to cover it up as quickly as possible, by any means necessary.
But what do you think? Are skirted bathing suits really the swimwear equivalent of mom jeans? And have you ever purchased one because you too believed it would mask your flaws?
Image: TravelSmith.com
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Tags: bathing suits, bathing suits with skirts, body image, Jen Chaney, mom bathing suit, mom jeans, skirted bathing suits, summer, swimwear
25 Comments
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Mom Jeans? Try the Mom Bathing Suit | Strollerderby « Maternity Fashion commented on Jun 20 09 at 4:07 amelohveeee1012 commented on Jun 18 09 at 10:28 ami get the tops of bathing suits (tankini), or a one piece and wear board shorts. that happened way before i was a mom and even that summer that i was in surprisingly good shape. I just never liked to be that exposed. i was also a tom boy growing up, so it just seemed to work better for me. And it continues to work well now that i really need to cover up.
Looking back at pictures of myself, I kick myself for not showing off when i had the chance. Now i am stuck with the board shorts whether i like them or not.
Manjari commented on Jun 18 09 at 10:33 amI need a maternity bathing suit that doesn’t look like a maternity bathing suit. Because I’m not pregnant.
Manjari commented on Jun 18 09 at 10:33 amAnd where did you get that picture? I might have to get that one.
mandy commented on Jun 18 09 at 10:35 amI was so excited to take our baby to her first pool trip this summer on the very first day the pool opened. It was not until the night before that I realized I had nothing to wear other than a maternity suit. Sitting at the pool in my maternity suit, I suggested (half jokingly) to my husband that I get a swim skirt. I was surprised and a little hurt when he said that he thought that was a good idea.
So, I rushed to the store before the next weekend pool trip to get my swim skirt. I was not very excited about them when I looked at them in the store. But, once I tried them on, I felt a little cute. My husband agreed and I bought the swim skirt.
The next weekend at the pool I noticed that almost every mom was in the swim skirt; tall moms, short moms, fat moms, skinny moms, hip moms, and nerdy moms. My neighborhood pool looked like a page out of a lands’s end catalog. I realized that I have just graduated to a new demographic.
I definitely feel more confident in my new swim skirt and I have ordered two more. I feel a new mom-freedom that I can sit with my baby without holding my breath the whole time. I can bend over and crouch as needed. I certainly would never recommend crouching in a bikini.
Add that to the retro-looking styles out there and I am sold. I have gone skirted and there is no looking back.
leahsmom commented on Jun 18 09 at 10:52 amIt always makes me so sad to hear about people hating their bodies. As someone with two chronic conditions, I have to say, I am grateful every day to my body for moving, living, breathing, and (when it’s true) letting me get by without bearing too much pain. I love my body and am thankful to it for what it does for me and my family! So I will never, ever say I hate it or any part of it for any reason - even when it means I can’t move due to pain or I’m exhausted from trouble with my blood sugar.
Buy whatever bathing suits make you happy - but I am happy in anything that allows me to get into the water and feel good at what my body can do. My body isn’t public art; I don’t need a referendum on how ugly others think I am because my body has gone through hard things and come out alive and functional. I wish more people could think like me and instead of hating the bodies that house them and make their lives possible, celebrate those bodies for what they are.
Lisa commented on Jun 18 09 at 10:54 amI wear board shorts with a kind of tankini top. It’s kind of sporty-looking, and covers up enough to make me feel comfortable. Like others have said, it makes me feel more confident.
Mommy Myth Buster commented on Jun 18 09 at 10:54 amThing is, I’ve never met a skirted bathing suit with a skirt long enough to cover my cellulite. Cling to it? Certainly. Gently skim the top of it so as to accentuate it? Definitely! But hide it? Not unless it was a full skirted prom dress. Hence my conclusion that to have cellulite is human. I decided to just get over myself. Nobody is the least bit interested in my cellulite. Instead I’m rockin’ those Latina curves in a normal bathing suit all over that water park. My biggest challenge now is remembering to shave my legs.
P.S. Thanks for the pingback to http://www.mommymythbuster.com
SE commented on Jun 18 09 at 11:09 amI wear a Speedo–the “moderate cut” kind (ack!). I’ve liked them ever since I was on swim team as a teenager and have always owned at least one, although there was a time I also wore skimpy bikinis. No more! Flattering? Who can say, but at least they don’t shift around. I usually wear board shorts or a men’s shirt over the suit, but take them off before I swim. Our 5yo daughter also prefers Speedo-cut suits.
PlumbLucky commented on Jun 18 09 at 11:24 amI either do the speedo moderate or the tankini-top and board short combo. Never have done the bikini, just found it worthless for swimming (and that is what I do when I go to the pool as strange as that sounds!). Bottoms always fell down, tops always rode up.
GP commented on Jun 18 09 at 11:56 amI need to lose about 15 pounds but I wear a bikini and I don’t care. Bah!
Alyson commented on Jun 18 09 at 12:01 pmI also do the board short thing. Just feels more youthful than the Monet inspired, side-gathered skirt suit.
Manjari commented on Jun 18 09 at 12:58 pmMandy, where do you get your swim skirts from? Lands End? I’m looking for something very soon, because we are going to the beach next month. (and Jen, if you can tell me about the suit pictured I’d be grateful!)
Just wondering, did someone say she hated her body? I didn’t click through, so maybe I missed that part. I don’t know if trying to dress in a flattering way necessarily equals body-hate, but I personally DO have some issues with my looks. After having twins, My arms and legs (and even butt!) are back to normal, but my stomach area is still huge. Even after losing all of the body weight, it looks like I am still pregnant. It does bother me when someone asks me when I’m due. Not everyone can be perfect and well-adjusted.
Manjari commented on Jun 18 09 at 12:59 pmOops! I meant losing all of the baby weight, not “body weight!”
GP commented on Jun 18 09 at 1:07 pmRe body image and getting in shape…that Babble guest-blogger, Karen Bridson, did a book a few years ago called “The secrets of skinny chicks…” I learned about it when I clicked through her info…I read the book and it is really good as far as her messages about body image AND inspiration to get in shape…I recommend it
Knitty commented on Jun 18 09 at 2:32 pmThanks for the giggles, Mommy Myth Buster. And thank you too, leahsmom. We can all use that sort of reminder.
I’ve never worn a “regular” swimming suit, 2-piece or otherwise. I thought I was fat when I weighed 120 pounds (I’m 5′9) and wore a horrible skirted thing. Now I’d like to reach back and smack my 20-something self.
Sheri commented on Jun 18 09 at 2:35 pmI’ve done the tankini and the swim skirt…my secret, whip off the cover up and get in the pool pronto!!!
ChiLaura commented on Jun 18 09 at 3:06 pmmandy, funny. Mommy Myth Buster, hilarious. I actually laughed out loud. So true! I go for the tankini when I’m not pregnant, as I don’t like my belly stretch marks. When I am pregnant, I’m much more prone to wear a halter bikini top — at least I have an excuse for the extra stomach! Like MMB, though, I’ve given up on hiding the cellulite; I just wear a modest bikini bottom. I don’t love it, but it’s life. I find board shorts to be uncomfortable, and boy shorts only accentuate all my least favorite areas. My husband still thinks I’m hot, so I’m alright. =)
meg commented on Jun 18 09 at 10:22 pmi’m 8 months pregnant and tomorrow morning i’m heading for the pool in a string bikini. that’s just how i roll.
the grumbles commented on Jun 19 09 at 10:43 amMeg, I’m with you. I’m off to the pool tonight 7.5 months pregnant in my string bikini. I’m not wasting money on another swim suit at this point and at least I have an excuse for my huge belly. Once you’re in the water who really cares!
Jaybird commented on Jun 19 09 at 1:42 pmI wear board or boy shorts mainly to avoid frequent shaving “down there.” Therefore it is not “masking my flaws” but rather “giving myself a break!”
Mandy commented on Jun 19 09 at 3:00 pmManjari - I did get one from Land’s end. But my favorite one came from Kohl’s.
Marj commented on Jun 21 09 at 11:55 pmI don’t swim much, but the last one I bought was skirted. I felt comfortable and covered up. I’m pale, modest, and needed to lose about 40 lbs. Did I mention pear-shaped, so boy shorts look really bad on my butt? Yeah. Mom suit, whatever. I will also wear what makes me comfortable, plus I kinda dig a little retro vibe too.
http://www.stopstaring.com is my favorite site for drooling.
Betty from http://www.cheapbathingsuitsforteens.com commented on Jul 06 09 at 12:23 amSometimes it is better to just let it all hang out. Afterall, why be embarrased about our bodies? The world can be so superficial!
poetess commented on Oct 08 09 at 5:27 pmMom jeans aren’t meant to hide any problems and they’re just butt ugly. The suit shown is cute and modest. But even for me it’s not enough. I’ve never been a Mom, but because of a weight problem and surgery I have flabby cellulite thighs and a hideous stomach, so for me even that suit’s not enough. I think I’ll just avoid suits where I can. Who needs to swim? If God meant me to swim he would have made me a walrus. So sadly, unless I lose 25 lbs and get surgery and weekly cellulite treatments I’ll just avoid the beach. Why put myself through it?
