Mamamia Shopping Editor, Jasmine
by JASMINE GARNSWORTHY
Buying swimwear in Spring is my yearly tradition. And it’s no impulse purchase. Oh no it is not.
For me, purchasing swimwear (or ‘togs’ if you’re also from Queensland) is a deeply thought-out, annual ritual. Finding something that fits well, won’t fall off in the surf and is age/shape appropriate, all on a budget requires roughly the same amount of effort as buying a car. Ugh.
Who has time for that. Not you? Me neither. Which is why more and more women are buying swimwear online.
Wait, I know what you’re thinking – that the only thing more daunting than shopping for swimmers is shopping for swimmers online.
But I stand by my suggestion that you buy your swimmers on line this year. And not just because I am the editor of a shopping site. NO REALLY.
Hear me out. It can work and it can fit and you can get it right. It will save you time. It will save you money. And it will mean you get access to a range of design options you wouldn’t get in any single physical place. AND YOU DO NOT HAVE TO TAKE YOUR CLOTHES OFF.
Need more convicing? I spoke with Sirens Swimwear designers, Sally and Margie for their expert advice on the matter.
Here’s what they had to say:
1. What is Spring’s most flattering swimwear style?
When shopping for flattering and feminine swimwear, you can’t go past vintage designs (do you think Rita Hayworth EVER looked less than smashing in her cossie?). We love printed suits – stripes, checks, spots – the louder, the better. We would wear them with heels and a big pair of Jackie O’s, but hey, that’s just us!
2. Top three tricks for buying swimwear online?
What’s fabulous about buying swimwear online is that you can try it on in the comfort of your own home – and you won’t be pushed into buying something you regret. As a rule of thumb, your swimwear size should be the same as your dress size. And if in doubt, always (and we mean always) buy from an online store that will let you return if you change your mind. ALWAYS!
3. How do I care for my new swimsuit to ensure it lasts season after season?
Remember to wash in cold water after you wear (especially when swimming in a chlorinated pool!) and in a ventilated area. If you do this AND choose swimwear cut from high quality lycra it will last for years and years. And years.
Here’s what’s new from Sirens Swimwear on Mamamia Shopping:
Some of the '60s swimwear available now at Mamamia.com.au/shop
What swimwear styles are you loving most for spring?
Comments
37 Comments so far
hi there, i know that this post was last year but im in need of help .. im a size 8 and i have 10-e to f natural boobs… Bikini shopping is a nightmare. if anyone has had an sucess online and which sites and brands that arent ridculously priced i would really appreciate it.
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Love Victoria’s Secret swimwear and yes, you can return it. The lycra quality isn’t great but wil last one or two seasons if washed in cold water.
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I can’t remember the last time I bought swimmers in a store. I particularly like being able to build a collection of mix-n-match swimmers and only buying the piece I need. My favourite pairing is some high-waisted shorts from Fables By Barrie and a Pour Moi bikini top. I mix that pairing (which probably set me back $100-120) with some much cheaper pieces by ASOS.
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I always get sports tankinis. They allow for weird proportions, usually have a bra thing in them, and they’re usually made of resistant fabric, so last for ages.
I find tops I like, and if I don’t like the bottoms, I just swap in black shorty bike pants. They only cost about $70 too.
If you wear a rashie, wear a bikini as undies and bra with it. MUCH cooler than a one piece. I discovered this when teaching swimming in the heat!
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Where do you get the sports tankinis? Love the idea of a rashie with bikini underneath!
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Rebel or Amart or similar. They’re pretty forgiving to buy online too. Rival, speedo, Tyr, all make them. They’re usually easy to mix and match bottoms – speedo Swym range is actually separates.
I am a DD and find they are enough. Maybe not for running up and down the beach, but in the water, they’re great.
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I have been trying to find a one piece swimsuit for the last 4 years with absolutly no luck. At Size 14 and being 6″1″ apparently my torso is two long for any one piece i’ve tried with the top either struggling to cover my nipples or just not even bothering to. Anyone got any recommendations?
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I have the same problem with having a long torso (but to make up for it, have short thighs, boo), although I’m not as tall as you are. I can’t buy one piece bathing suits either, they don’t even remotely fit. I settled for bikini bottom and a long halter neck top part, which shows about five cms of skin at the waist area and has an underwire to deal with support in the breast area. I got it from a factory outlet on Brunswick St in Melbourne.
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I wouldnt buy online… I am inclined to try on about 45 pairs of bathers before I find ones that fit, feel and look right. I wear size 8 swim wear and underwear, but honestly, you can just never tell how anything fits from looking at it. I haven’t got much in the boob department so I have to make sure I have the right support to accentuate what I have. I live in the tropics too, so prefer to find bathers on sale because I’ll get bored of them and buy a new pair next year anyway. It is quite normal for the bathers that attracted me least on the hanger to end up being the ones that look the best on, so there is too much chance of getting it wrong online. Bugger paying return postage to send it back. If I was trying them on instore and then looking for them online to get them cheaper that would be a different story…
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For us slightly larger ladies you can’t beat the Ezibuy Sara range of swimmers. Also my mum – who is tiny – bought some Ezibuy ones and they were great.
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I am always alarmed and shocked by the size of my own arse when I try bathers on.
That is why I do not like bather shopping.
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I chose a fairly conservative 2 piece tankini from the Victoria’s secret site. When it arrived a week later I understood why the postage was so much. There was more boob in the cossie than on me! I put it on and nearly knocked myself out as the padding was humungous! When I dived in it ended up around my belly button and when I got out I had absorbed most of the water! Did not look like that on the website!! Side note: hubby thinks its great and it makes an excellent sitting by the pool cossie.
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I was just thinking the other day while cossie shopping how interesting it is that all swimsuits now come with their own boobs….
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I still love Seafolly. They last for years and I love the fact you can buy separate tops and bottoms. I am also not convinced about the dress size theory, I am a size 8-10 and need a size 10-12 top and a size 14 bottom! I don’t even have a big bottom just rounded not flat and anything smaller rides up. I like to go at sale time at Myers or David Jones, they also have great colours, styles, huge variety. The Sirens range looks great though, may investigate further!
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I hate swimsuit shopping! Because THERE ARE NEVER ANY SWIMSUITS IN MY SIZE. According to most swimsuit brands (I’m looking at you, Billabong, Roxy, etc), thin girls with big boobs = so rare that you shouldn’t bother making swimmers in their size.
DO YOU GUYS KNOW HOW MUCH SEAFOLLY CHARGE FOR ONE TOP? (It’s in the $90 – $110 range.) Seafolly is practically the only place that has readily available swimmers in my size. Finding pretty swimmers that can hold me up and still look good is ridiculously hard and expensive.
Can anyone here relate to this problem? Because I always end up in tears. :’(
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My friend who is skinny with big boobs buys the bust to fit, then has the back bit shortened. If that helps.
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I would do that but my current top from Seafolly is one of the tie halter neck ones that ties on the neck and around the back. It doesn’t give enough support!
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Try Freya- my 10DD bikini top purchased last year is still in fantastic condition (after going to the beach, theme parks etc), was so comfy, supportive and looks great!
And no stray nipples!
I bought mine online…
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I recently found out Freya do some nice tops! And affordable, too. Kind of, If you think $70-$80 for a single top is affordable.
I’ll be going into Storm in a D Cup soon to see if I like any of them and how well they fit!
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I hear you!
I am a 12G. There is never ANYTHING in my size. Anything close costs a fortune!
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Great post Jasmine! xxxxx
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Ok I’ll give the online thing a go but any recommended sites?
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Head to http://www.swimweargalore.com.au. They have quite a good range of designers and decent pricing. I bought a cossie and kaftan last spring for mu honeymoon and was very happy with the whole shopping experience
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http://www.sirensswimwear.com for worlds greatest swimwear that actually fits!
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Groan…you’ve just reminded me I need to go cossie shopping this weekend. I have a holiday coming up and I need a new pair, but I’ve been putting it off for weeks. I bought some last year at the Jets outlet in Sydney (surprisingly there were no tears involved, it was actually quite easy) but I need a second pair and can’t seem to find anything I like.
I was so helpfully informed by a sales assistant in one swimwear store that whilst I’m tall and a size 10, I have a small bust so it will be hard to get tops to fit (I’m a B cup – since when was that ‘small’? I know it’s not huge, but it’s not flat-chested either!). So that was a fabulous experience!
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“As a rule of thumb, your swimwear size should be the same as your dress size.”
I don’t think this is true – I’m a 10-12 in dresses and at least a14-16 in swimwear. Like the ladies below I absolutely hate shopping for swimwear. It leaves me feeling completely depressed and body conscious.
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Sorry but these are the best swimsuits in the world: http://www.modcloth.com/shop/ourdesigners/esther-williams
I am yet to find another halter neck that doesn’t hurt my neck and the side boning means it supports my E-cups. (And covers the post-baby belly, and sits low to cover hip stretch marks). I have the fruity suity and the emerald! There are hundreds of review if you don’t believe me
They are also much cheaper- not sure if I’m allowed to post a link but if someone refers you, you can get $20 off so they’re only $79 as opposed to the $200 that bathers seem to cost in Oz.
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I understand your problem about halter neck and side boning! My 10F breasts NEED underwire and proper straps. Sadly, the only option available for me last year was a $150 halter neck bikini without any firm boning or underwire and my boobs looks so saggy! :’(
I’m looking into Freya – some gorgeous (and more affordable than Seafolly) designs which will be able to support me!
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The referral discount isn’t valid for customers outside the US – it’s hidden in the terms & conditions. I’ve written ModCloth a letter about it – I was really excited to introduce some friends at a discount because I’ve been a happy Mocloth customer for a couple of years.
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I bought a pair of swimmers from Sirens last summer and they are fabulous!! Im an f cup and finding swimmers that fit and are flattering is a nightmare, but these are the nicest I have had in years, my husband encouraged me to get them and he too was pleasantly surprised at how good they looked.
I was able to ask advice from Sirens before I bought and the replies to my emails were really quick and helpful.
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I am sooo happy with my ‘high top’/vintage style bathers.
They really are so flattering.
I also love Funkita swimwear – they will never fall off in the surf and you can even get away with doing laps in a pool with them.
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Surely one should buy swimwear at a shop. If it does not fit you have to send it back. This online shopping is a bit hyped up.
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In a lot of swimwear shops unless you are in your teens or early twenties there is nothing for you, especially if you don’t want to wear a bikini. As for those of us with big busts, there are very few shops that cater for us, most only carry a couple of styles (if any) that are larger than a D cup.
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In Melbourne, Swimwear Galore on Brunswick st is fabulous. Never seen so many shapes, styles, colours and sizes in one place. Seriously, something for everyone, and a large range of bigger bust options. I’ll never shop anywhere else for swimwear.
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All very well Amanda, but Swimwear Galore’s return policy sucks. My mother wanted to return a bikini bottom and swap it for another pair that were $10 cheaper – and the girl there wouldn’t give us a $10 refund! She pretty much made us purchase a bottle of over-priced sunscreen to make up the difference! Really poor!! I then took the sunscreen back to Coles to recoup some of the money.
I will go there again but only to try stuff on – I’ll then find it cheaper from an online store and order from there. I would NEVER purchase anything from them ever again.
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I hate swimwear shopping with a passion. A few years ago I trundled around the city for a couple of days and tried on probably 50 pairs without luck. I am a size 14 and nothing fit properly and I was very despondent. I then found Viva Swim (they are in Perth) and ordered online from there and they fit perfectly. My husband (who had accompanied me on some of the disaster shopping trip) couldn’t believe it.
I have ordered several pairs more since then and had no problems at all with fit. I am still a bit amazed LOL.
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The last 3 times I have attempted to go bather shopping, ended in tears.
My tears. Nothing ever fits. Which in turn has made me horribly self conscience.
Therefor I refuse to shop for one anymore and I haven’t own one in almost 2 years. Which is fine with me as I don’t enjoy swimming at all!
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