Dare to bare.

It can be no surprise that most shops display their women’s swimwear at the rear of the store. The very thought of walking past bikinis, thongs etc is enough to drive many women straight to the exit and into the nearest bar. The reality corner hidden away, you hope close to a fitting room is filled with costumes containing foam, underwire, tummy panels etc. The painstaking selection over, your purchase, clutched tightly in your sweaty hand you decide to walk home and burn off the extra calories you hope won’t add to the fleshy overfill you just faced in the mirror.

Buying the costume

To avoid

Anything shines or metallic
Smooth fabrics
Bright colours neon colours
Large patterns or graphics
Tie or spaghetti straps
Halter neck
No fussy frills, bows etc
To embrace
Tummy control
Front panels
Lycra and spandex
Fabrics with texture
Colour blocking
subtle padding
Underwire

Classic

Over 50 style with SJP a plain, dark, one piece costume. The neck line is square unfussy and chic.

Both Christie Brinkley (67) and Jamie Lee Curtis (62) dare to bare and again a simple cut, block colour , both have added jewellery to add attention higher up.(All People magazine) — Both Christie Brinkley (67) and Jamie Lee Curtis (62) dare to bare and again a simple cut, block colour, both have added jewellery to add attention higher up.
(All People magazine)

Star style

Even the most confident of us fill on the brink of despair faced with lounging around the pool or walking along the beach in a bathing costume. Our judgmental society is ready to react or even ignore that women of a certain age still like to wear a swimsuit. It may take time to find the right style, but by experimenting, persevering and dressing for where you are now in your life and your current body shape you will be pleasantly surprised how much choice is available.

V neck

Jane Seymour (70)

No wonder she posted this on her Instagram page. Attitude, confidence it’s all here. Red stands out for the right reasons a small lycra detail across the belly, the costume shape lengthens the torso. Fabulous.

over 50 bikini

Should a woman over a certain age stop wearing items of clothing she feels good, comfortable and confident in ..absolutely not. The best advice I have found that works for friends are to buy one size larger than your usual shopping. Then take home a small selection to try at home away from fluorescent lighting and curtain-twitching well-meaning assistance.

the right style

There are so many shapes and styles for my own needs I prefer underwire with a full brief. I shop at stores that offer bikinis in different size top and bottom …a 14 top and 10 bottom. Department stores like John Lewis cover a wide range of choice. Go with a good brand my suits have lasted a long time, kept their shape and still look good.

bikini history

History

Bikini wearing can be traced backas early to the Roman era and although they can be frequently seen on film from the 1930s, it’s birth is commonly dated as July 5th 1946.

Louis reard

Louis Reard introduced the modern bikini in an effort to save on fabric, which had been rationed due to Ww2. The name bikini orinates from Bikini Atoll, where the first post war tests of the atomic bomb were taking place.
Vogue

“The bikini is the most important thing since the atom bomb.”

— Diana Vreeland.

Iconic bikinis.

The popularity of the bikini soared after the French actress Bridget Bardot was photographed on the beach in Cannes during the 1953 Cannes film festival.

Bikini queens

From Ursula Andress, in the 1962 film Dr. No to Rachel Welch in the 1966 release One Million Years BC, the future of the bikini was never questioned again. The 1960s well and truly launched the bikini to cult status, with magazines including Playboy and Sports illustrated featuring up and coming starlets on their covers, the media embraced the body-baring costume while women debated the over-sexualised images …always controversial even 50 years on.

Below images WWD

Over 50 style

Courtney Cox
A navy blue halter neck bikini. The stars slim toned body looks stunning.

Tankini

Sharon Stone at home takes to Instagram in her yellow costume. The Tankini first produced for gym and running are responsible for 18% of the swimwear market.

Queen mermaid

Helen Mirren said the pictures taken of her in the pink bikini would haunt her for the rest of her life. The actress flys the flag for women of all ages and shapes, three different stylish looks and colours.

“it was good lighting and a lucky camera angle”