Despite the Seattle rain, I’m determined that summer is almost here. In an attempt to will the sun out with my mind, I’ve been thinking a lot about swimsuits lately: the current styles, the retro trends, the way they make us feel, the intense amount of Photoshopping involved in showing them off, and how that all relates to personal body image. Before I share my own thoughts, though – and they’re not all sunshine and girl power – I thought I’d ask all of you what you think.
And what better way to do so than a poll?
Loading ... Loading ...If I missed something, or if you’d like to elaborate (please do!) you can do so in the comments. The biggest question on my mind is this:
If you were to be completely honest with yourself, what would you say is the reason you chose your current swimsuit?
How much of that choice was based on style, or trends, or the media, or your personal body image, or *gasp* what others might think?
Full disclosure: this was a really tough question for me to answer, personally…and I’m hoping it was tough for some of you, too.
Using an RSS reader? Go to TheDemoiselles.com to take the poll!
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[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by The Demoiselles, Jennifer Nicole. Jennifer Nicole said: Please take my poll! New at @TheDemoiselles: The Science of Swim http://bit.ly/beKMwC [...]
Tweets that mention The Science of Swim | The Demoiselles -- Topsy.com added these pithy words on Jun 05 10 at 12:20 pmI currently own a bikini (generic halter style from Target) and a one piece Speedo for exercising. I owned a tankini once in my life in early teen years because I was self-conscious of my belly, but soon learned tankini just means “squish any chub into a ring around your middle”…so I have been rockin’ the bikini’s since forever.
I chose my current two piece because of the wide halter top. I’m a bit gifted up top and it’s the only way to hold the girls in place. My one piece is simply a practical piece used for swimming laps 
.-= Michelle´s last blog ..Green means GO! =-.
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Michelle added these pithy words on
Jun 04 10 at
12:32 pm
Last year I got more in shape than I’ve been in years and I bought a new suit to replace my old tankini which had gotten too big. The old tankini that covered more than most one pieces. But I decided that even without a flat toned tummy, this was likley the most fit time of my life and at some point of my life I want to remember wearng a bikini when I felt like I looked good. I got a brown polka dot retro style bikini. The color and design is definitely me, still good coverage on the top – no tiny triangles – and strings ties on the bottom so I can loosen it in case I put on a few lbs and want to avoid “muffin topping”. The harder question for me right now is if I’ll feel as confident in it this year when I know I’m not nearly as toned. I hope so.
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Jenny added these pithy words on
Jun 04 10 at
12:37 pm
I went with “shorts” since that was the closest. Whenever I wear a one-piece, I always feel too restricted and a bit like a sausage. I’ve found that for me, the best option is a tankini top and boyshorts. With this combo, I can buy both pieces just a little loose and tighten them where it counts. This way, I don’t feel like my swim suit is either clinging to my cellulite for dear life, nor do I feel like I’m about to pop out at any moment. If I’m feeling particularly daring or if I’m lying flat in the sun/wading in cool ocean water, I can roll up the bottom to feel the sunshine or the movement of the waves, respectively.
I’m certain that I’ll get to a point where I’ll be back in a bikini (it actually happened one year!) but until then I’m comfortable with feeling comfortable.
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Emily added these pithy words on
Jun 04 10 at
2:47 pm
I wear a tankini with a skirted bottom. My thighs (especially my upper thighs) are the part of my body I’m most self consious about, so I like that the skirt helps cover me up. It also makes me feel cute.
I’m not a bikini girl because I’m a modest dresser, and a bikini isn’t modest enough for me, but I don’t mind if others wear them (as long as they fit well & cover what is supposed to be covered.)
I’m the mom to 3 boys who love the water, I’m a former swim club member (I was never very competitive though I did compete) and I was blessed with a mother that didn’t communicate body images to me, so I mostly grew up body-issue free (I have thanked her profusely for this). I wouldn’t dream of staying out of the pool in the summer or whenever my boys want to go swim. Even when I was 30 lbs heavier, or even 9 months pg.
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Christine added these pithy words on
Jun 04 10 at
2:54 pm
hallo! you know the story with my not being able to wear a bra? well, bikinis are the same, hence ‘i’m not fit enough to wear a bikini’ also my belly is huge and often bloated, which a one-piece or a tank top disguises. also, wearing a bikini would make me feel weird because it would feel like i’m out in my underwear. i know it’s context-appropriate on the beach, but it would make me feel super self-conscious.
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Gauri added these pithy words on
Jun 04 10 at
4:49 pm
Please take my poll! New at @TheDemoiselles: The Science of Swim http://bit.ly/beKMwC
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Jennifer Nicole added these pithy words on
Jun 04 10 at
5:07 pm
My swimsuit is a retro style one piece. Part of my reasoning is that I don’t feel comfortable wearing a bikini, but not for body issue reasons – 34DDDD boobs are *not* conducive to tiny tops, and I’m worried about things falling off in bikinis (it happened once, true story! NEVER AGAIN.) A small part of it is that I recently got some stretch marks (they literally popped up overnight, so infuriating) across the tattoo on my left hip and stretch marks by themselves don’t make me insecure, but stretch marks on my tattoos do *sigh* I’m happy with my swimsuit though, and I look pretty hot in it if I do say so myself.
.-= Michelle´s last blog ..Sandman and American Gods: Problematic Portrayals – Part Two =-.
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Michelle added these pithy words on
Jun 04 10 at
9:05 pm
To be honest, I dislike the way most 1 pieces look on me. At the same time, I’ve always been very self-conscious about the idea of wearing a bikini. It’s a mixture of feeling generally out of shape and wanting a little more coverage in general.
.-= Cals´s last blog ..This is someone’s story (but, I wish it wasn’t) =-.
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Cals added these pithy words on
Jun 05 10 at
7:14 pm
I wear shorts or the bikini bottom with the skirt on top because I just prefer shorts and a tankini top. I hate how the bikini bottom can ride up so I like to have some coverage.
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thefatandskinny added these pithy words on
Jun 06 10 at
10:45 pm
I wear a bikini and I hate them. I avoid wearing swimsuits when I can because I hate feeling so exposed. But it’s almost required on such hot days. I was recently at the (public Chicago) beach and saw a girl in a thong. A THONG. My inner 70-year-old-old-money-lady came out and I was shocked. To me, there is no reason to show that much skin. I guess I don’t understand how it’s not ok to walk around in a bra and panties, but swimsuits are fine.
But I still wear my string bikini. Why? Because I forgot (and now subsequently lost) the one I bought at Target last year, and I really don’t want to spend more money on a new one. Swimsuits are expensive and frankly, I don’t swim enough to justify that expense!
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Brienna added these pithy words on
Jun 07 10 at
1:59 pm
Can my other reason be that I never go anywhere suitable for bikini wearing? Not ’cause I am scared to but ’cause I live in the UK and never go on sunny holidays.
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Beth added these pithy words on
Jun 08 10 at
7:12 am
I hate any type of swim suit. period. however, because its the only thing thats cute these days…i wear a bikini with a halter top and tie bottoms. the halter top makes my small boobs look ok…and the tie bottom doesnt squish my fabulous love handles. then i also wear shorts over my bottoms because god forbid someone would truly notice my thunder thighs. However, i hate wearing a bikini because i look down at my belly and go iiiickkk and try to sit a way that my tummy looks flatter. damn u summer! plus i live in arizona, so wearing swimsuits is a must almost year round.
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Monica added these pithy words on
Jun 15 10 at
12:54 am
