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postpartum friendly swimsuits {promise}

11 August 2015

While it's impossible to ignore the fact that everyone is in total back-to-school mode (rightly so .... it's almost that time!) ... I'm in, "maybe I should stop avoiding the water" mode because we've got several more months of warm weather in our neck of the palm trees. I can hide behind the fact that generally Bosco needs to be held/fed/worn/bounced whenever we go swimming but Simon is perfectly capable of doing all of those things and the kids always ask me to swim and as many a blog post has pointed out ... our kids don't care how we look in a swimsuit .... but they do want us to swim. So! Martyrdom be mine ... I've started to search for a swimsuit that fits and isn't my trusty Target maternity suit. I was oh so pleasantly surprised when I polled the FB page last weekend and there were over 70 super helpful responses to wade through. I can't help a good pun like that, I'm half sorry. So, sor.

So, maybe you're not currently postpartum but you're pregnant and due in the spring and will be postpartum next summer or maybe you just like flattering swimsuits or maybe you don't care and you've already clicked away. But, I wanted to share the wealth of Facebook knowledge. I'm merely playing scribe. Or plagiarizer. Or thief. One of the three.

A lot of people suggested a lot of the suits over on Shana's awesome guide .... so you might just want to skip over there for a more succinct guide! You just might!

Or you can settle for the kindergarten version.

Let's dive in.
1 // this suit {recommended by Jenna, seconded by many!} found on both Anthro's website and little bit cheaper over on Amazon (Prime, bb) - I ordered it, got it, loved it! But, after reading a million reviews I ordered two sizes up from my regular size but should've just gone one size up (mainly because of the top being a little loose -- the rest fit juuuuust fine -- so hopefully the new one fits fine too!) so I'm exchanging it which is a breeze with Prime, thankfully.

2 // Two people told me about this one and I do love it but I like the idea of a teeny tiny bit more thigh coverage for my particular body type. But I did order these bottoms on clearance to go with this nursing friendly rash guard.

3 // Macy's suit I ordered but it hasn't come yet and I just spotted this one and might love it more. Shooooot (they had a 20% off promo code on their main page when I ordered, it was SAVE ... hopefully it's still going on!)

4 // most of the one pieces from here - but I feel like if I had sleeves ... I wouldn't mind a non-shorts bottom? Logic forever right here. They have the prettiest cover-ups too but ... another post. And while we're at it ... their sunglasses are all the best. I'll take them all.

5 // Lands End is a TREASURE TROVE of forgiving suit goodness. You can narrow the selections not just by size but by categories like, "conceal thighs", "create curves", "flatten tummy" .... those LE geniuses. I was particularly a fan of this rash guard and these bottoms. Or might I interest you in a dresskini? They've thought of everything.

6 // this Modcloth suit comes in a ton of colors and got great reviews.

7 // Kortni Jeane - I want every single suit on that site. And I want all the little girl suits for Phoebe and Julia.

8. Albion Fit - they have thee cutest suits. If I thought I could pull of peplum ... I'd be all over this.

And some super honorable mentions:

the Wal-Mart slimming suit of wonders

Rey Swimwear (the Regina especially)

Athleta (lots of ladies liked these!)

L.L. Bean - I think this sarong/suit combo is genius and the cutest of them ALL.

I'm missing some goodies, I know it. Let me have it ... if you're in a generous and knowledgable mood.

32 comments:

  1. I have the Modcloth suit in two colors (the green is gorgeous) and it's the best suit I've ever had! If you get it just be sure to let it dry flat, or the ruched part can get stretched ouy over time like mine did after 2 years (I'm not even mad though). I'm not a mom, just curvy, but I imagine it would be good for nursing, and it has great boob support.

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    1. good to know! a lot of the other suits were kind of "eh" on the reviews for nursing!

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  2. So with the rash guard, do you still wear a swim top of sorts underneath or no?

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  3. Do you still wear a swim top of sorts with the rash guard?
    PS- I feel like I've typed this comment a hundred times so lo siento if it's here x100.

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    1. Oh gosh. Good question! I'll report back when mind comes what the situation is ....

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    2. Yes, you do. :) Any old bikini top will do.

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    3. I wear a rashie over a one piece as well. That way when I'm out of the water I can take it off if I get too hot :)

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  4. I have the jcrew suit. Love it! Covers the mombod wonderfully.

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  5. Lands End - always the best go to suits for mommy's!

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  6. My problem is no matter how conservative the suit (even the swim dresses!) and no matter how tight the ruching, etc., they STILL reveal the cellulite on my thighs! There's just no hiding it! Rashguards have made it acceptable and even trendy to have a swimsuit with sleeves but I have yet to see a swimsuit with pants. Darn it! I had my third baby 4 months ago and have yet to don a bathing suit since his birth. We have a beach wedding next month though so I know I need to find SOMETHING to wear that can pass as a "swimsuit" without looking like a grandma.

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    1. Same! Same. I did see some capri pants swim suit thing over on ll bean but I think that might draw more attention than my white dimpled thighs :)

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    2. I figured out a solution to this since-puberty dilemma this summer: men's trunk bottoms! A cute tankini with good support on top (found a good one at Target with a floaty semi-transparent midsection) and coordinating trunks of the length you desire. Girl "board shorts" with a 2 inch inseam weren't gonna cut it for me! Haven't been this comfy in swimwear in public since I was12 (30 yrs of swimming discomfort was quite enough!

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    3. I never thought about men's trunks but that is an awesome idea!!!

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    4. I have found many options for longer women's board shorts on Amazon, if you want a more feminine cut than men's trunks. There are many different inseam lengths available. I bought a black pair from Hurley with a 9" inseam that I love!

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  7. I haven't had kids, but I do have stretch marks and cellulite...ugh...swimsuits. I remember the days when I looked good in one and couldn't wait to prance out on the beach...oh how a decade changes things!
    I'm a big fan of Lands' End suits, although this time of year it's hard to find matching pieces in the size you need.
    You can also find suits specificially made for mothers to be / nursing moms on Etsy.

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  8. I needed this list a few months ago! Thanks for the ideas though. I will keep this in mind!! :)
    www.sweetlytattered.com

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  9. I've had that ModCloth suit (assuming it's the Esther Williams brand) for EIGHT years now, still going strong, still makes me feel ultra sexy and pin-up-y. Felt spendy at the time, but my cost per wear is now in the PENNIES so who's winning now?

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  10. Ruching is so key! I am postpartum too (15 weeks, does that count?) I figure it does as long as they are not sleeping through the night (which is never!)! I love number 6 and all the retro options! My absolute favorite is La Blanca Sweetheart One-piece. I ordered seven from Bloomingdales at the beginning of summer and the La Blanca was the only one I kept. I think it was way more flattering than those from Michael Kors, DKNY, and Ralph Lauren. Here are my favorites, all on sale! Also, loved your post on "One Upping Alexander" you are a supermama and are certainly stronger than I am--I would have been bawling! #crazywomanalert

    http://www.allthingsbigandsmallblog.com/2015/08/why-i-will-never-wear-momsuit.html

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  11. Have you checked out the rash guards at www.swimzip.com? I can't recommend them enough (babies, toddlers, men and women!)--wore my rash guard non-pregnant and pregnant and nursing! The full zip front makes it so easy for on and off and the tshirt vs long sleeve options!! Seriously love it.

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    1. I agree! I am saving up for one of their swim dresses for next year. Definitely nursing friendly and gives the coverage I'm comfortable with, plus I have seen so many reviews that you can wear them through pregnancy which is awesome. We got our 9 month old a swim zip suit and are so happy with it!

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  12. I am pregnant, so not a postpartum recommendation but I bought one of the Land's End rash guard tunics to wear this summer and I LOVE it. They aren't joking that it is a tunic...it's very long and I ordered a size up to accommodate my belly. I am 25 weeks and I still have plenty of room. I think swim season will end (though I'm in Houston so who knows...) before I outgrow it. I am thinking of buying one or two in a size down for next summer. It is fitted enough to be flattering but I don't think I'll have to worry about it clinging to my post party's tummy and the ties on the side are nice too.

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  13. I have that exact rashguard and swim skirt from Lands End - love them both! I got the Tall size (even though I'm not tall) just to make sure there was extra room for covering the postpartum belly. And yes, you wear a swimsuit top under the rashguard. I just wear an old bikini top.

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  14. These are awesome! My baby turns a year next week and I still love a good amount of ruching in my swimsuit! It hide everything!

    Paige
    http://thehappyflammily.com

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  15. I love the style of #1 and it reminds me a bit of some of Boden's suits- they have some cute (midsection friendly!) styles too. :)

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  16. I have the Wal-Mart slimming suit of wonders, and it is...wonderful (wah wah). My only complaint is that I have to untie it to nurse as opposed to just pulling down. Darn halter top.

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  17. I have the walmart suit of wonder I can attest to it's awesomeness. When they restock colors I'm going to get it in more colors (I have red) and I may try the high waisted bikini version. I've had mine for 3-4 years and it's still going strong.

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  18. This doesn't have to do with swimsuits, but I was curious if you bought the Forever21 black and white floral embroidered top. If you did, what were your thoughts? Thanks!

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    1. Yes! I love it. It runs long which I love (I got a medium) and since it's forever 21 and just let it air dry so it doesn't shrink.

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  19. I waited for a super sale day with J Crew and bought their underwire one-piece and i'm liking it! Purple stripes doing their job hiding whatever is hanging on 9mo post partum.

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  20. Oh Lands' End. I have become an addict in my old age (ahem, 28). Now I understand why my mom always ordered everything from them!

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  21. I love my Rey Swimwear suit!

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  22. Such a great list! I hope you love the Macy's swimsuit as much as I did!

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