Monday 30 April 2007

the only sane woman in the country

Am I really the only sane woman left in Great Britain? Or can someone tell me where I can find two-piece swimwear that doesn't mean that I have to make special dispensation for the fact that *shock horror* I have breasts?

Seriously, I have spent my afternoon trawling my local town with my two older daughters looking for swimwear for all of us. There's some lovely stuff out there, funky patterns, fun details, all that. But we couldn't find a single adult-sized two-piece that didn't have either triangle tops (oh there are plenty of those in the girls' sizes too, and really don't get me started on that little piece of social engineering) or formed cups or halter necks or those really annoying support shelf things, have you tried to take one of those off when it's wet, and you're dealing with a small child? Ridiculous.

A few years ago the shops were filled with tankinis, I had one from River Island that was perfect, plain black long-length top and shorts, little silvery sewn-on badges, no fuss, no stupid 'look at my tits!' malarky. Easy to pull up or down for feeding babies, enough coverage for my ample backside, perfect. But trends change, don't they? Even long-length tops were in short supply today.

All I want is something comfortable, maybe a fun fabric, that doesn't shout 'look, I have breasts!!' and covers my arse. That's all. Oh except that I want something similar for my daughters that doesn't scream soft porn when they're only 10 and 11! Surely it's not too much to ask? Surely I can't be the only mother of pre-teen girls who don't fit the children's sizes any more? Answers on a postcard...

4 comments:

alison said...

Got mine in Bhs last time I bought a tankini. For the girls - sports cossies atm. Poppy has the same Speedo one as me, except hers is hot pink and half the price of mine! Last year she had a nice tankini from Tesco. Haven't started looking this year yet, but the elastic in P's tankini shorts is gone, and although she wears a one piece for swimming (because she likes diving), she likes a two piece for the garden/beach. Let me know if you find anything good!

Anonymous said...

*sigh*
patriarchal crap strikes again ....

Lucy Muncaster said...

Absolutely get you...

If it's specifically to allow K access, have you seen this: http://tinyurl.com/2tmxkj - it's not a two piece, but otherwise it's quite plain and doesn't have the pesky integral bra bits to get in the way.

Tracy Oldfield said...

Thanks all :) Lucy it's not specifically about access for K, I've had a pregnancy/nursing thing with a drop cup doofer for a couple of years. I just want a new cossie... there are quite a few tankinis out there but nothing decent quality without the shelf thing, which I just can't be arsed with, unless I trail to Sheffield to the branch of Decathlon that a friend's had a reccie in for me (thanks Jayne!) Did see a nice one on the M&S website, might order it just to see... If I was playing water polo I'd get the sports 2-piece.