2 Comfy Swim Brands: a Hit and a Miss
It's mostly about boobs sorry
For me, swimsuit shopping has always been terrible, but it’s gotten more specifically terrible since I had kids and my body got…weird? Okay I don’t really believe any body is “weird” but I just mean my boobs are a little skiwompas (sp?) and need more help than they used to.
Since my chest gave its life for my children, I’ve bought and disliked countless swimsuits. One-pieces make me feel like a little girl in a leotard (though after Meg’s last post I am tempted to try Andie). Tankinis are so exceedingly unflattering I don’t know why I fell for them in the 2010’s? So much awful ruching, so many that hit right at your love handles and proceed to immediately roll upward. No thanks.
I’ve frequently wished there was a swimsuit that fit more like athletic wear — performance fabric that held me in and made me feel sporty.
Enter Left On Friday
Then a few summers ago I started getting inundated with Insta ads for a brand called Left on Friday, and I wondered if this might be it. They looked cute and simple and close to athletic wear, but initially I thought they were too revealing and expensive for my taste.
So instead, I went to Target.com and bought two sensible one-pieces, resigned to being in my sensible one-piece era. After an hour in each of them I discovered they are both so uncomfortable I might as well throw them in the trash. I decided to splurge on a LOF suit and see what all the fuss was about.
I first bought the Sunday top and the High Tide bottom. I got both in black because I knew there was no boob lining and I wanted to minimize nip exposure. I thought I would wear the suit only on grown up vacations with just my husband, since I’m taking so many of those lolol.
I put it on and guys, nothing has ever been more comfortable. There are no seams, it’s like magic. I don’t know how they made this? It’s less bum coverage than I’ve maybe ever worn, and it shows a few inches of my blindingly white midriff and I don’t care.
I don’t care so much that I started wearing it to family functions. Like yes, maybe my 17-year-old nephew would prefer to see his aunt in a motherly one-piece but I’m ready to choose my own comfort over a man’s!
During their end of summer sale last year, I snagged another two-piece — the same High Tide bottoms but this time with the Double Scoop top because I do want a bit more support/coverage than my first one. I feel so held in, though I have to say the added support makes it slightly less comfortable than my first top.
I also decided to invest in some Cakes nipple covers so I don’t have to worry about the nips. (I’m so sorry to keep saying nips. Is there a better alternative? RT? THO? What are the kids calling it these days?) Initially I was so annoyed at having to purchase my own boob coverage, but I have to tell you I like it better than the built in bra that usually comes in a suit. Cakes have no lines and they can’t get crumpled up when I get lazy and wash the suit in the washing machine. They are so comfy I always forget I have them on until I take off my suit and after a two-second delay (they’re made of nice, sticky silicone) they go flopping onto the floor.
All in, this swimsuit cost more than maybe any suit I’ve ever had. But it feels worth it because I love how I feel in it. It’s sporty and comfy and functional. I don’t think I’ve worn another suit since I got it — it’s just My Swimsuit now.
If you want to try LOF, they now have more tops with higher coverage, and some “big boob” options they didn’t have when I first came across them.
I think the branding is so cute (“Have a nice swim!” I will, thanks!) and fun fact — they designed the 2024 Canadian Women’s Olympic Volleyball Team uniforms. So sporty! Just like us.
But also, YouSwim
Okay now for the miss. Maybe this is weird to include, but it was SO CLOSE to a hit and I like so much about this brand that I wanted to share in case anyone else wants to try it out.
I actually heard of it from someone in our group chat, so thanks to y’all for having great taste. The concept of YouSwim is they have two sizes of swimsuits. Size I (sizes 2-12) and Size II (sizes 14-24). I was confused until someone explained they’re basically made of a spandex version of those popcorn shirts from the early 2000s.
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The idea is that the suit stretches with your body as it naturally changes. Their tagline is “find your ebb and flow,” which I’m obsessed with.
I ordered two to try, this cute twisty two piece and a simple one piece.
When I first put them on I was convinced I’d give my life savings to keep both because they were so, so comfy. But after a half hour wearing them around my house I felt like there wasn’t quite enough boob support to feel fully comfortable. I tried my Cakes but the fabric had so much give that it didn’t quite work.
These suits felt so well made and I think if you have perky boobs, or are more willing to embrace skiwompas (sp?) boobs than me, you will love them.
I’m bummed they didn’t work out, but also am curious enough that I might order another fit in the future. If I did, I think I’d get this one.
My favorite recent Amazon buy
One of my sisters recently turned 40, and my other sister gave her this Gold Bond Retinol Overnight Lotion as a ‘welcome to the 40’s club’ gift.
I got curious (and am scared of 40) so I ordered some and guys I swear it has made the back of my hands look less cross-hatched. I’m self-conscious about how self-conscious I’ve been on here about my growing wrinkles, but this feels like maybe a good, cheap hack for an area you can’t get Botox. (Right? Or are we doing hand-lifts now?)
I have yet to try it on my face because that seems like the opposite of what I was taught? But for my arms and hands it feels like I’m noticing a difference, which makes me feel powerful and hot.
That’s it for now! I hope summer finds you in a swimsuit more days than not and ideally reading this.
rebbie