Make a Splash This Swimsuit Season

Last week marked the beginning of summer, and with it came the warm Southern California weather I’ve been waiting for.  I’m so excited about our summer plans…park days, beach days, trips to amusement parks and water parks…and a huge trip at the end of the summer.  With all of the “water” activities we have planned, I have come to realize that the swimsuit is inevitable.  Now…my body is definitely not ready to be sporting anything more than a muumuu.

Fortunately Lands End has you (and I) covered…literally.  I have NEVER truly enjoyed swimsuit shopping.  Like most women, I’m self-conscious about showing that much of my body to complete strangers. But, I enjoy the beach and the pool and going to water parks with my family.  So…I grin and bear it and don the dreaded swimsuit.

Lands End conducted a survey of over 1,000 women and 8 out of 10 women (83 percent) admitted to wearing the wrong size swimsuit (you can include me in that statistic).  The result?  Saggy bottoms, too much cleavage, muffin top, and inadequate derriere coverage.  Swimsuit design has changed in the last several years.  Lands End offers high performance fabrics, a wide ranges of sizes and suits to flatter every body type including mix and match, one-piece, tankinis, bikinis, and even mastectomy suits.

Given the fact that there are over 150 items in their swimwear section, I was a bit overwhelmed.  Fortunately, you have the option of searching by size, color, bra type, body shape, anxiety zones, and control. My biggest problem right now is my baby belly that still persists, despite the fact that my daughter is 6 months old. So I searched for a swimsuit that would minimize my tummy-waist.  That narrowed my search down to 17…perfect!  I ended up choosing this tank swimsuit in Imperial Navy.

This swimsuit features a single-shoulder strap which is slimming, control lining to trim the waistline, shirred fabric across the torso to conceal and flatter, a supportive soft cup bra, and hardware at the strap to draw eyes up, away from the waistline.

The suit is made from quality fabrics (nylon/spandex) and withstood the washing machine on the gentle cycle (even though the suit should have been handwashed).  I like the way it wears…the control fabric doesn’t feel constrictive or unnatural.  And overall, I really feel like it slims me in the waist/tummy area.  I would (and am planning on) wear the suit in public and not feel self-conscious about it.

Lands End offers much in the way of support and advice for women searching for a swimsuit that fits properly and looks good.  At any time during your online shopping experience, you can chat online or via phone with a customer service representative who will assist you with finding an appropriate swimsuit. You can also use their Mix, Match, Relax interface on their website which will assist in choosing a swim collection (top, bottom, accessory).

Right now you’ll save 40% on select swimwear styles when you shop online.

No compensation was received for this post.  A product sample was provided to facilitate this review.

Summer Swimsuit Style From SlimPerfect (Plus a Giveaway)

This giveaway is now closed.  Thanks for stopping by.  The winner is jerrica puckett.  Congrats!

Summer is here and for some of us (ahem), the thought of wearing a swimsuit can cause distress.  I am actually nearing the point where I’ll be compelled to buy a muumuu maternity swimsuit.  When I was younger…in my teen and college years…wearing a swimsuit intimidated me.  I’ve never been completely comfortable with my body so I’ve always opted for modest swimwear.  Now that I’m a mom (a pregnant mom, at that), I’m even more modest and conservative in my attire.

If you’re looking for modest but stylish swimwear that won’t leave you trying to “cover up,” check out SlimPerfect’s collection.  As we age and have children, our bodies change.  SlimPerfect is a suitable (hehe) alternative to cover-ups.  Here is a little more information about the company from the site:

All SlimPerfect Swimwear & Activewear provides more coverage and “tames” the bulges without moving them to other areas like other leading brands and was made to create the illusion of an hourglass figure.

I had the option of choosing a piece from their collection, not knowing I was pregnant.  I chose the Black Tankini with the Black SlimSkirt.  I’m now going on 14 weeks pregnant, so I made sure to wear and photograph this suit as soon as I received it (which was at approximately a month ago, around week 10).  My clothes were already starting to feel tight at that time, however, I felt like the size I ordered was correct (which was one size up from what I normally wear).  This is just my opinion, but I feel like the suits run a bit small, so be sure to check the site for guidance on sizing.

As far as how the suit looks and feels…I definitely found the suit to be slimming but not restrictive.  The black definitely adds a slimming effect.  My stomach was already starting to “pop out” a bit at 10 weeks, but I think that if I was not pregnant, it would have been a bit more flattering around the midsection.  Highlights of this suit include removable gel-filled bra cups to enhance the bust (which I removed because I definitely don’t need them) and a tummy tamer (which I will definitely need after baby number 2).  The goal of this suit is to give you a longer, leaner look (which I need since I’m 5 feet tall!).  It provides adequate coverage for all areas of concern and I still find it flattering and comfortable to wear.

If you’re not sure which suit is right for you, check out the short questionnaire which will help you find the suit that best compliments your body type.  Right now SlimPerfect has many of their styles on sale.  Their prices are actually reasonable when you consider the cost of conventional swimwear.  You can also enter to win a swimsuit on the site.  BTW…if you think you are the perfect woman to model SlimPerfect swimwear, you must check out this contest which ends on July 10, 2009 at 10 PM PST.  I can’t enter because my preggie self does not have it in me!

Win It! One of you will win a $100 gift certificate to SlimPerfect.  Simply head on over to the site and take a look around.  Come back here and leave me a comment with the style of suit you’d choose.  Comments will close on July 20, 2009 at 10 PM PST. One comment per person, please (unless you do the extra credit). US residents only. Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn.

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