Swimsuit Shopping for a Mom Bod

I’m not going to lie to you . . .  I can’t say I’ve ever really loved swimsuit shopping. Unless you count the hours I’ve spent scrolling through swimsuits “oohing” and “ahing” at all the cute suits out there, and thinking to myself, “maybe this would look good.” That’s until your dreams are crushed during try-on time, and it looks nothing like what you imagined or saw in the pictures. I can’t be the only one that thinks to myself after a try-on fest, “I really thought this one was going to work out.”

Let’s be real. I’ve never really had the perfect bod. I’ve always been a “smidge” over that god awful BMI number, and yes, ladies, I was built with curves and junk in the trunk. Two babies later and an extra pound here, and some mom bod there, I can’t say shopping for a swimsuit has brought me any more joy or luck. SWIMSUIT SHOPPING SUCKS!

This year, I decided to get a head start on the process because well, I don’t have a ton of time without little munchkins, and I had some events coming up, and a good swimsuit was necessary. I decided to test out my options before I ran out of time, and like usual, was running to the nearest store to find something that made me feel less than great.

Flash forward to a few mail returns and one shopping trip later, and I finally found a swimsuit I really liked. It got me thinking: I can’t be the only woman that feels completely at a loss when searching for a good suit. I’m no expert, but I thought I’d share what finally worked for me, and gave me the confidence and excitement to go on my girls’ trip, and wear a suit that doesn’t make me feel like a “mom.” So here are my tips for swimsuit shopping for a mom bod:

• Do your homework: There’s tons of information out there on what looks good for your body type – look at them. Take some screen shots, or pin to your private Pinterest board styles you like for your body type.
• Shop online: Most moms don’t have time to go to stores, especially for suit shopping. Let’s also be real, I hate the mirrors anywhere, but at least at home, you can serve yourself a glass of wine to ease the frustration. There’s a lot of stores that offer free shipping. Yes, you must pony up some coin to get a few options sent, but YOU CAN RETURN ALL OF THEM.
• Try a personal shopping service: I tried Trunk Club and although, I didn’t get my final swimsuit from them, they sent a ton of swimsuits options based on my preferences and body. You can even tell them how much you’re comfortable buying.
• Grab a bigger size: Most of us want to be a size smaller than we are, but mama, who really cares what the tag says if it fits you better. If ordering online, find a style you really like and order it in two sizes.
• Go by yourself: If you have to run out to a store, go without your kids. We all know they don’t care what you look like in a suit (because they love you no matter what), and they’ll prove it by having less patience than usual, and will open the changing room door on you twenty times.
• Go to the experts: I finally went to the swim suit store, Everything But Water. I told them what I was looking for, some of the “issues” I was having, and they zoomed through the store, pulling different styles and colors for me to try. I never even had to leave the changing room!
• Go with your gut (ha, pun no intended, I think!) If you’ve never worn one pieces, and you feel worse in one, stick to what you like. I’ve never looked good in a one piece – EVER. Not even on swim team in high school. So why did I think just because I’m a mom, I should have to wear one?
• BE NICE TO YOURSELF! We all have flaws that we want to hide, but you’re your biggest critic. We all want to resemble the swimsuit model we saw online, but most of us don’t and THAT’S OKAY. What really matters is that you’re splashing around with your kids at the pool, and enjoying yourself. And if you’re not with your kids, and enjoying a kid-less weekend, know you’ll be on a beach chair that’s in lounge mode, and we all know that does wonders for the mom tummy!

So there you have it! Like I said, I’m not an expert by any means, but hopefully, this lets you know you aren’t alone. We all put on a good face in front of our daughters (and sons) – “It’s what’s inside that matters” etc., etc. But sometimes we’re also human and we have mom moment where we just don’t feel great about how we look in the mirror. You aren’t alone, but treat yourself how you’d treat your daughter. Give yourself a little pep talk before you wiggle into your swimsuit. AND DON’T FORGET THE GLASS OF WINE – everything is a little easier to tolerate with a glass of your ol’ buddy next to you.