The Bathing Suit Lament

I've just received an e-vite to a pool party. Nice. Good friends will be there along with lots of Sangria and munchies. This will be an afternoon of fun and frolic, right?

Not! For in order to partake of all this merriment, I will now have to purchase, and wear, a bathing suit.

It seems to me that bathing suit designers have banded together recently in a conspiracy to make their garments as challenging to wear as possible. Unlike the folks at chains like Chico's and Talbots where the "more mature" woman is clothed in easy-to-wear yet modern-while-not-overly-youthful styles, the swim suit industry insists on catering to the tall, slim youthful woman. I've even noticed catalogues that offer beach attire with built in body armor to "make you look 10 pounds slimmer". Ah, yet another punch in the stomach (or hips or thighs) directed at letting me know that looking 10 pounds heavier is not an option this beach season.

When I was younger, slimmer, with firm upper arms and legs the bathing suits had cute little skirts. Adorable and appropriately modest. No matter that my slim thighs were being hidden. I knew they were there and that was quite good enough.

Now, however, that I'm in my jiggly arm and Venetian-blind leg mode the styles have become diametrically opposed to my figure's needs. No way will I wear a thong. The slim thighs that were once hidden beneath a swim suit's skirt have morphed into cellulite laden upper legs. Yet the sanctuary of that extra little piece of fabric extending from the bottom of the suit is nowhere to be found in today's fashion world.

The saving grace is that I've discovered I'm not alone in my chagrin at having to prance around in public in a bathing suit. There are many others out there – perhaps you, too? – who would rather be found under the beach umbrella fully clothed. "Oh, I always wear a long skirt and bulky sweater at the beach. Can't be too careful in the sun, you know." Did you know that there are actually some very slim and tall women who dislike being seen in a bathing suit? Truly there are.

So, there we are, a large proportion of the female population all bemoaning their "fate" at having to be seen in a bathing suit. What do you think might happen if we all bit the bullet and just forged ahead and wore them? And didn't worry about others judging out figure flaws? And realized that they probably don't do that anyway because they're too absorbed with their own insecurities? Do you think then that we might all have a much better time wearing whatever suit we chose and just enjoying the sun and the surf?

I'm about to find out; for I shall now take myself to the mall to purchase that bathing suit I need for my friend's pool party. And when the big day arrives and I extricate myself from my long-sleeved, long-skirted cover up and make a grand appearance in my bathing suit, I suspect no one will make mention of my aged and not-so-perfect body. And how liberating that will be!

C.J. Golden, motivational speaker and author of TAO OF THE DEFIANT WOMAN, the award winning TAO-GIRLS RULE!, and the recently published REFLECTIONS FROM BEYOND, travels the country inspiring all with her dynamic spirit and vision. Visit her at www.taogirl.com and www.reflectionsfrombeyond.com.

R
Submitted by Ridgefield, CT

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