Swimsuit Horrorshow

I'm going to be completely honest, I've always hated bathing suits.  With so much skin showing, it is very hard to hide flaws, real or perceived.  Lumpy thighs, tummy pooches, and any other 'imperfections' are on display for everyone to stare at.  Even at my fittest and most 'confident', I was never comfortable in any form of a suit, and I tried many styles over the years.

Tankinis, bikinis, one pieces - they all created issues, in my mind.  I openly admit I have struggled for years with body image issues and bathing suits are my number one enemy.  I turned down invitations to pool parties, beach outings, and even stepped down from the diving team after trying on our official 'uniforms'.

Regardless of my discomfort, I somehow built up a large supply of bathing suit pieces.  When I discovered skirt bottoms, I may or may not have splurged on 6 or 7 different tankini tops to match.  I figured with my hips and upper thighs covered, I'd be perfectly content. 

Unfortunately, time, injury, and my illness (and the medications to treat it) contributed to a bit of a weight increase.  My abs, the one area I was always 'okay' with, turned into a tummy pooch.  One of those frustrating pooches that refuse to budge even after months of daily cardio and abdominal routines. 

I figured my days of wearing swimming attire were thoroughly squashed.  That is, until two weeks ago, when M informed me we'd be visiting the Hot Springs on our vacation in a few weeks.  I knew I had to find something to wear or miss out on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to truly enjoy them.

To my chagrin, I actually found a new style that I am completely in love with.  They're hip-minimizing one-piece dress suits from Croft and Barrow.  They're essentially a short, stretchy dress with a bathing suit underneath.  I tried a few on and fell head-over-heels in love with the design - Fit for You Hip Minimizer Swimdress from Croft and Barrow.

What I'll be wearing on vacation

There are a lot of options in various colors and styles.  I am not comfortable buying clothes online, so my options were limited in-store, but if you're comfortable buying online, your choices are pretty endless.

Other styles from Croft and Barrow:

I realize the swimdress is not for everyone.  They're not necessarily super stylish and I don't know if any celebrities have stepped up to endorse the style (I could be wrong).  Many people love their tankinis, bikinis, and other swim wear and I encourage everyone to wear what they are most comfortable with.  It is just nice to see designers create styles that even the most self-conscious person could feel comfortable wearing without having to resort to shorts and a t-shirt!