Going to be helping look for a swimsuit for a short, middle-aged, overweight lady that wants to take swim lessons at the Y with hopeful intent to start lap-swimming afterward. Full coverage (the more the better) is desired.
What should we know and/or look for?
Also, where to look, since it’s mid-winter?
Thanks for any suggestions!
Athleta has a great selection of swimwear that includes many full coverage options.
http://athleta.gap.com/browse/category.do?cid=46663#
The “Oceanside” swim shorts with a bra-sized tank top is a modest and functional combination. I had these swim shorts on the beach in Costa Rice and all the women were jealous of them. They definitely cover the tops of one’s thighs but are perfectly easy to move in and are cute. Sizing is available up to XL for the bottoms and 40DD for tops
if she’s not picky about designs a number of patterns are on sale.:
http://athleta.gap.com/browse/category.do?cid=49939
Another option is a swim dress.
http://athleta.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=46669&vid=1&pid=903799
While you’re browsing on the Gap labyrinth of websites, click on over to Old Navy and look at the Women’s Plus tab. Right now they have high-waisted swim bottoms, separate swim skirts, and classy-lookin’ retro tankini tops. I just bought myself one of each, since I’m starting down the barrel of my first post-partum vacation. I’m particularly pleased with the high-waisted bottoms and will buy another next time I put in an Old Navy order.
The tops, though, are honestly not the best. You might want to spring more money for an Athleta or Lands End tankini top that has more support than anything Old Navy offers. I kinda wish I had.
Is a one-piece needed for lap swimming or are two-piece used now?
I always thought one-piece was required (based on the swimmers I knew in HS, a very long time ago :p), but almost all of their “performance swim” line seems to be tops & bottoms.
And, alas, it sounds like their sizing will not be a good match. Lots of “tall”, not so much “short”. And not much on the larger end of things.
ETA: just saw the new post, will go looksee. yes, would prefer something that will last. but then again yowch! some of those are seriously pricey for a little piece of material!
Totally about the swim shorts - but they seem to fit the slim hipped girls best, I have skort /tankini that fits well. But I want surf shorts!
Swim teams have a team uniform; its the uniform that’s required, not the one piece per se. And team style swimsuits are not necessarily particularly covering. And work fine for 18 year old girls with no hips, no bust, and 4% bodyfat (ie, competitive HS swimmers), but maybe not so good for older, overweight, busty people just starting an exercise regime. And often they are rather difficult to get into for the less flexible (damn racerbacks). You are more likely to get a well fitting combination with separates, especially in the bust area. IMHO of course. The most important thing about a swimsuit is that the wearer feels comfortable. Something could be as “standard” as anything but if it causes discomfort and thus prevents the wearer from using it, it is not a good choice.
You don’t need special sizing for “short.” I’m 5’2" and the suits fit me fine. Swimsuits are made small and very stretchy. The material just needs to stretch less in that dimension.
I am tall and overweight but I have been swimming regularly for about 6 years and always buy my suits at www.swimsuitsforall.com
I prefer high front suits, which I believe is a category over there.
Here’s a page with coupon codes for the site.
That all makes sense. And apparently it would be easier to find separates to fit.
The reviews on several of the Athleta one-piece suits have complaints from short people that the suits are too long. But not a problem if a one-piece isn’t needed.
I just thought of Academy Sports, since we have those here and could actually go in to the store. That would be more efficient, no waiting for shipping to check fit and comfort (classes start next week).
But their line of swimwear seems to be very minimal and mostly for men. Although this one seems like a possibility. If they have them here.
I like the suits at Lands End. This one has the wrap styling which seems to slenderize more than any other design I’ve tried and they stay stable and in place when swimming. Even while in the surf I didn’t have any issues with it dislodging.
Speedo makes a line of “aquatic fitness” suits, and some of them come in plus sizes. Look for the ones called “moderate” or “conservative”.
[I personally prefer the fit of the TYR racing suits to the Speedos, but I’m flatchested and only slightly overweight.]
Getting some great online suggestions here.
May have to pick up something locally to start with, even if it’s not perfect, to allow time for shopping.
Looks like we have a Lands End locally, too, so that’s a possibility.
Thanks guys!
If she knows exactly what she wants, and has a couple of weeks to plan, she can get one made to order here: www.decentexposures.com for about the same price as retail. For another $30 she can get a swim bra to go under it - an absolute dream fo rthe large woman trying to exercise. there are nto many choices for color/print, but the worksmanship is outstanding. I had mine made with an extra-long skirt and they didn’t charge me extra. I’ve been wearing it for three years now, and it’s just about ready for replacement.
I may consider buying my own material this time and just having them do the work. . .
Junonia was my go-to choice for a number of years, particularly the AquaSport line. They were pretty expensive, but lasted well, and are designed for active plus-sized women. They offer plenty of coverage, and even have a few knee-length suits (although they may be too warm for lap swimming).
Now that I don’t need plus-sizes, I get my suits at Lands’ End (their AquaFitness line) and have been very happy with them, both in terms of price and longevity. I swim a minimum of 4 hours weekly, so I need my suits to last, and the Lands’ End suits do.
I’ve actually found Walmart carries very durable separates, with cute designs, in a wide range of plus sizes. The last suit I bought was a women’s size 22, and they went up to 28 at the time. I haven’t swum in a while, but that suit went through a lot of use with no noticeable degradation for 2 years. Boy-short bottoms (maybe with board shorts on top of it, if the bottoms don’t cover enough) and a tankini top provide great coverage.
I’ve bought a couple of swimsuits from Woman Within and been happy with them. They have a variety of styles, including some styles with shorts or skirts on the bottom. Out of my sample of two, both fit well, and I was able to order by my measurements. AND they deliver pretty quickly, too.
Land’s End has a lot of swimsuits in plus sizes but their clothes in all sizes are geared towards people with hourglass figures. If you’re an apple the lower half will always be too big. This could be a pretty good time of year to look because the department stores stock swim suits for people going on vacation to warm climates.
If your a pale white person in the middle of winter (like me) go for black or a very dark color. Lighter colors only make you look more pale.
Black is always good. 
So it sounds like a trip to Lands End and maybe Academy this weekend, to hopefully pick up something before Tuesday.
Then, depending on how that goes, more perusal of the various websites and some ordering.
Youse guys are awesome!
Thanks much.
Actually, a lot of people really can’t wear black. Really and truly. It doesn’t make them look cool, or slimmer, it makes them look dead. Especially if they are pale.
Even better! The guy at the Y said that a Tshirt/sportsbra/gymshorts combo was OK to start with, since it can be hard to find a swimsuit in January. (We generally don’t get into swimming weather hear until June, so it’s not quite time for swimsuits in the stores yet.)
That takes some of the time-crunch off.
I’m another pale person that looks good in black. Although theoretically I shouldn’t wear it, in fact I get compliments whenever I do. White is horrendous on me, though.