The Swim Talk
this post is sponsored by TARGET
bikini (TARGET), hat (Nordstrom ONLY $22), shades (Ray Ban), bag (TARGET), shirt (Jcrew see SIMILAR), necklace (Maya Brenner)
With Memorial Day coming up this weekend, it is the official kick off of bathing suit season. Now look, I know this time is more or less dreadful in part for most of us because we have to bring the pasty white bods out from hiding and hope and pray our workout/diet routines will finally have paid off. Here's the deal---I hope I'm not speaking out of turn, but I can speak on behalf of the ladies in my life, we are ALWAYS going to have an area(s) that is the pain in our side...or in my case--my hind and my hips. They're big, they're curvy, they're not as proportionate to my flat chest as I'd hope for but you know what---they're not going anywhere....They're mine--suckers are here to stay. The hips birthed the babes, the chest fed the babes, and the booty, well it's just where the cupcakes go and I'm not about to give those babies up. And it's taken me 30+ years to embrace the robust nature of them but I finally have. Finally. And the moment I accepted that I'm going to work towards the best version of myself and own it, was the moment I stopped dreading tossing on a suit. And my wish is that we can all get there---just own it, gang. Because here's the deal, I've got two little ladies that watch my every move and my hope for them is they love themselves inside and out. Throughout all of the challenges that life and snarky kids will throw their way, I want them to have the utmost confidence in who they are mind, BODY, and soul. So while the pool is indeed motivation to get my hind in gear, my two daughters really drive my mindset towards being comfy in my skin.
I think the key to getting ourselves confident in a bathing suit is finding the right suit for our shapes. Accentuating the positives, right? This is why I love Target's options. There are A. a ton of possibilities to mix and match, B. amazing price points so you can snag a few different sets, and C. the prints and colors are spot on. Take this tribal one I'm sporting piped in black. I've long been a lover of the athletic top--I'm not going to try to pretend I have a big chest so I nix the underwire, padding option---I'm comfy in this. I feel like I'm wearing a sports bra...I can move, I can swim, I can chase the babes, and I can have a margarita poolside in this bad boy. The bottoms have just the right amount of detailed elements but don't accentuate and draw too much attention to my curve---win/win, right? I also think it's critical to be honest with yourself---you may love a bandeau but if you're too busty, that sucker ain't gonna work. On the flip side, I look like a little boy named Timmy when I try to sport a bandeau too, so I forgo that option. If your tummy is a point of contention, one pieces are making huge strides and are so dang slimming so maybe give them a go. Bottom line, TRY A TON ON, and bring a friend who is going to be honest....like brutally honest. Don't bring a "Yes Man" to the dressing room--bad bad move.
Here's another tip for upping your bathing suit game---the styling of your look. It's not just about the suit itself but the accessories that accompany and amplify the look. Think hats, beach bags, bright sandals, necklaces, shades....these are all easy add ons that will take your beach/poolside look to the next level. I'm personally a big fan of oversized men's shirts...they're subtly sexy, comfy, and cover you as much or as little as you want---they're also effortless and we all own them so it's an easy way to up the ante. Also, I typically find myself making stops for dinner and/or drinks after the pool so by simply tying this blouse in a knot and tossing on jeans or shorts, I'm good to go for an early evening out!
I'm not just spouting off at the mouth with these tips...it's truly how I approach bikini season. I've learned to perfect the swimsuit shopping game and I highly encourage us all to have fun with it. I mean, we've just made it through an extremely nasty winter and deserve some dang fun in the sun, you know? Have fun trying on your own suits and finding that perfect combo that will exude confidence. Be honest about what's holding you back from having some pool/beachside swag. Allow Target to get y'all geared up to have a summer for the books!
photos courtesy of Kristin Tatem
