Swimwear Shopping 101

nizi

Let’s not mince it. Shopping for a swimming costume is hell. And, judging from the amount of girls I see walking out of change rooms with hands full of rejected bikinis and frowns all over their faces, I’d say I’m not alone with that thought.

I headed into DJs the other night, ready to face the anxiety-producing department they like to call ‘women’s swimwear’. Actually, I went to support a friend (unfortunately, she didn’t feel any of the above-mentioned swimwear supported her.) But my lucky break came when one of the swimming costumes I handed her was thrown over the top of the change room as rejected cossie number 7,832.

I picked it up, held it against me and thought, ‘what the hell’. I was in and out of the cossie and ready at the register in a flash. And, on reflection, there are a few simple tricks I’ve learnt from my first-ever successful bikini shop. So simple I’d done most of them without noticing…

Spray tanning is essential. If I had my way, I’d have a pro-tan before every journey to the beach. If that’s not possible, at least get one before your annual cossie-shop. I honestly don’t know why I’d ever gone without one. My freshly-sprayed mate even managed to find her first new bikini in six years. It also didn’t hurt that I’d done my hair.

Dress sensibly. If it takes an hour to unbuckle your shoe, you’ll only be more frustrated in your first try. Dressing for easy ins and outs is a must. Also, wear appropriate underwear! It’s much easier to get a grip on what you’ll look like on the beach without frills and lace poking through your swimwear possibilities.

Try to ignore the 360-fluroescent-mirror view. Nobody can see you from every angle at one time, so what’s the point in dwelling on how you look all over? The down lights in the change room are far fiercer than the diffused rays of the sun. Chances are if you look alright under a spotlight, you’ll look even better on the sand.

While all of these little tricks played their part, credit must be paid to the swimsuit itself. Opting for dark colouring is an easy way to make sure you don’t stand out like a hyper-coloured beach ball. Someone with a modest chest region, like me, should go for something with ruffles, patterning or strategic gathering on top. It adds an extra somethin’-somethin’. And, choosing a one piece over a too-tight two-piece pulls icky bits into shape like an underwater corset.

Goodbye inherent-need-to-suck-in-stomach and hello hold-me-in-tight onesie!