Would You Wear a Bikini Even If Overweight?

lisakatz2

I like wearing bikinis. They feel more comfortable to me than a one-piece suit, and I don't think about if or if not people are judging me. I used to weigh 200 pounds and wore a bikini, now I'm 184 and continue to wear a bikini - always, always with an underwire top because I have a large chest. Anybody with me? Do you think overweight women should stay clear of bikinis, or embrace them if they like them?

AnnPT77

I think any women of any weight should wear what they like to wear, as long as they keep it legal (and because I'm a little judge-y, ideally reasonably appropriate to the social context ).

I don't wear bikinis myself: At this stage, I'm post bilateral mastectomies, without reconstruction, so completely flat up top . . . maybe even slightly concave. Bikini type tops on me ride up toward my neck like they do on 3-year-old girls, but it wouldn't look as cute on me at age 68, y'know? Therefore, I wear a one-piece swimsuit.

I don't wear prostheses anymore except for dress-up, now that I'm retired. (I used to wear them at work to be unremarkable in appearance (not a topic for conversation, basically.) Women's dress-up clothes mostly don't fit well without breasts (most gape and hang oddly), so in those cases I do wear prostheses.

Otherwise, I just go around flat. I think that's potentially as judge-able as overweight women wearing bikinis. Surprisingly often, I find that people I've known and seen a number of times (while not hiding in anything more disguising than a t-shirt) haven't even noticed.

Adventurista

3 thoughts come to mind.

I don't care (as in don't bother to notice or think about it.)

For those who do care, still don't care, it is their opinion.

For those who want to impose their opinion to overide and change my opinion... i might consider your point of view, then will again choose my own opinion... and life goes on. What other people do/think is not really anything i want to worry about... just don't really care...

lisakatz2

AnnPT77 wrote: »

I think any women of any weight should wear what they like to wear, as long as they keep it legal (and because I'm a little judge-y, ideally reasonably appropriate to the social context ).

I don't wear bikinis myself: At this stage, I'm post bilateral mastectomies, without reconstruction, so completely flat up top . . . maybe even slightly concave. Bikini type tops on me ride up toward my neck like they do on 3-year-old girls, but it wouldn't look as cute on me at age 68, y'know? Therefore, I wear a one-piece swimsuit.

I don't wear prostheses anymore except for dress-up, now that I'm retired. (I used to wear them at work to be unremarkable in appearance (not a topic for conversation, basically.) Women's dress-up clothes mostly don't fit well without breasts (most gape and hang oddly), so in those cases I do wear prostheses.

Otherwise, I just go around flat. I think that's potentially as judge-able as overweight women wearing bikinis. Surprisingly often, I find that people I've known and seen a number of times (while not hiding in anything more disguising than a t-shirt) haven't even noticed.

I'm so sorry about what you had to go through, Ann.

trixsterjl31

Yes. And i'm a guy. LOL. Joking but I wont judge a guy if they do. Well not out loud anyway.

Here is the thing. Do what is right for you. It is hard feeling like everyone is looking at you and judging you. I hate taking my shift off with my belly and surgical scars. In the end I had to decide that no one maters but my opinion of me. That doesn't mean wear a speedo to church, but if the cloth are appropriate to the situation and you like wearing them. Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead and ignore the haters.

My fiancé is 5' nothing 110 lbs and wears a swim suit that would be acceptable in the middle east. It is what she likes and makes her feel comfortable that is great and heck it works for me that other guys aren't ogling here all day.

MargaretYakoda

Any body is a beach body when you’re at the beach.

megd44

Absolutely. I have noticed that more and more women are wearing bikinis regardless if age and body shape. Wish I had the same confidence to wear them in my late 30s and I do now in my late 50s.

I find they are much more comfortable than a one piece for me. And I also wear swim leggings if I am at the beach or on a boat all day to prevent sunburn.

I am a firm believer in wearing what I want to and feel good/comfortable in when I want to. In appropriate settings (so no jeans at a cocktail dress event.) The articles that tell me what I shouldn't wear after 30, 40, 50 alternately make me laugh/pi** me off.

lisakatz2

megd44 wrote: »

I find they are much more comfortable than a one piece for me. [/quote}

I absolutely agree with you. Not only do I have a big bust but I am also short-waisted with a generous rear end. One-piece suits never give me enough rear coverage and always seem small no matter what the size. With bikinis you can frequently buy separates. I am a 36 triple D on top and a 2XL on the bottom. Bare Necessities is my favorite site to shop for swimsuits. They have a fabulous selection of suits for larger women. If you need a plus size suit Elomi is an excellent brand.

Corina1143

When I weighed more, I wore a one piece to fit in, not draw attention to myself. Now that I'm more comfortable with my weight, I wear what I like. This summer, boy short bottoms and short sleeve Rash guard. I've already ordered my Capri length pants and long sleeve rash guard for early next summer when the water is still cold.
I'm glad for you that you wear what makes you happy!

paperpudding

Me personally - no I would not wear a bikini.

I wear a 2 piece - tankini and mini bike shorts type bottom.

I am not overweight now but that is just the swimsuit I prefer wearing

Other people of whatever weight and whatever age can wear whatever they prefer.

chicbuc

I'm fat an am wearing a bikini this year for the first time. It's not skimpy by any means, but it's not a tankini! I've found that no one notices or cares.

HoneyBadger302

Personally, no. I don't appreciate how I look in one, I would not feel confident, and therefore, I wouldn't. Even when I was around my ideal weight I didn't feel all that confident in one if I ate or drank anything that day ("alien" belly runs in the family).
Currently carrying 15-20-ish extra pounds (which mostly land right around my middle - ugly apple here) and struggling with on and off peri-bloat (which can pack on and additional 5+ pounds of water weight overnight sometimes). I'm lucky to feel confident in loose flowy clothes. I've struggled with some extra weight the past 10 years or so, but the peri-related weight and bloat is killing me. Thankfully treating the peri, which is helping me get back on track in other areas, so I'm hopeful by the new year things are more normal again and my body and physical and mental energies hold steady (so far, great improvements, but only a couple months into treatment).
I wouldn't wear a swimsuit right now to be honest unless I was getting into the water or someplace like a gym. I'd be covering up my middle with a wrap or something the rest of the time.
Doesn't bother me if someone else feels confident to rock what they want to wear - if anything, it's awesome that they/you are confident enough to not care!

SafariGalNYC

I have no judgement in what others wear, be happy, wear what you like.

For me- Depends on how it looks and feels. I have been a range of sizes, I would say at my heaviest - no I wouldn’t have worn a bikini. At my fittest, yes. But it’s so subjective what we feel comfortable in.

nonchalantxo

I think people should wear whatever sparks joy.

If I couldn't resist a cute printed bikini with adorable colours, I'd probably still wear it if my rolls were rolling. I'd wear one when pregnant too.

lisakatz2

chicbuc wrote: »

I'm fat an am wearing a bikini this year for the first time. It's not skimpy by any means, but it's not a tankini! I've found that no one notices or cares.

I dislike tankinis, at least on me. I have lower stomach pooch and tankini tops seem to end just where
my pooch begins, highlighting it.

I agree with you, people don't seem to notice or care if one is overweight and wearing a bikini. I'm all for men wearing speedos too, no matter what weight. Wear what you feel comfortable in - you'll have a better time at the beach or pool.

AdahPotatah2024

Yes, i think they look better! I'm way more comfortable in a bikini being overweight/older as not as many guys ogle me, anyway..no one notices.I always wear the boy short bottoms and full coverage halter tops as I think they're actually more flattering than the one peice on most curvy figures..And then you can always do the boyfriend shirt type cover- ups when you're out of the water.

xbowhunter

Nope no bikinis for me. lol

trixsterjl31

xbowhunter wrote: »

Nope no bikinis for me. lol

It's 2024 brother. No one will judge you.. Well not out loud anyway.

paperpudding

AdahPotatah2024 wrote: »

Yes, i think they look better! I'm way more comfortable in a bikini being overweight/older as not as many guys ogle me, anyway..no one notices.I always wear the boy short bottoms and full coverage halter tops as I think they're actually more flattering than the one peice on most curvy figures..And then you can always do the boyfriend shirt type cover- ups when you're out of the water.

at 61 I doubt any guys are going to ogle me in any form of swimsuit

I' m not quite sure the difference between what you are describing as a bikini and what I described as a tankini - as that sounds like what I wear but not the halter top, mine have the 2 straps tops.

Something like this

donna17albert

No I would not.

trixsterjl31

paperpudding wrote: »

AdahPotatah2024 wrote: »

Yes, i think they look better! I'm way more comfortable in a bikini being overweight/older as not as many guys ogle me, anyway..no one notices.I always wear the boy short bottoms and full coverage halter tops as I think they're actually more flattering than the one peice on most curvy figures..And then you can always do the boyfriend shirt type cover- ups when you're out of the water.

at 61 I doubt any guys are going to ogle me in any form of swimsuit

I' m not quite sure the difference between what you are describing as a bikini and what I described as a tankini - as that sounds like what I wear but not the halter top, mine have the 2 straps tops.

Something like this

I'm also not an expert but that is pretty much a tankini pictured. A bikini is a braw and panties in swimmable material. Also you might be shocked how equal opportunity guy are when it comes to ogling. lol.

paperpudding

yes I agree that is a tankini but Ada said "I always wear the boy short bottoms and full coverage halter tops" when describing her bikini - but that also sounds like a tankini to me.

I guess there is a 'grey area' where a lots of coverage bikini melds into a tankini. 🤷🏻‍♀️

AdahPotatah2024

@paperpudding I like the tankini, too! But I was talking about the halter type top that ties around the neck. I am all for wearing whatever I like and makes me feel good despite what anyone else thinks.
That being said, the bikini is, in my opinion, more flattering for a lot of women when overweight because the eyes are drawn away from the midsection. I'll do my best to copy an example!

SummerSkier

would you wear a bikini if you were over 50? 60" 70?

chicbuc

I'm almost 53, so yes.

AdahPotatah2024

versus (couldn't find exactly what i was talking about, a-halter that ties around the neck)

megd44

@SummerSkier...absolutely. I am 55 and wore several on our 25th anniversary trip in Belize this spring. At 5'5" and currently 146, with a rounder belly than ever. I was not the youngest or thinest in my bikini by far.

IMO, it is all about what each individual is comfortable in. We are judged enough in our lives to add another thing. So wear the tanking, bikini, one piece or whatever.

AdahPotatah2024

I guess all my swimsuits are vintage, haha..this was so difficult to find!

tulips_and_tea

SummerSkier wrote: »

would you wear a bikini if you were over 50? 60" 70?

Absolutely. If it fits well and you feel good in it, who cares about age?

AnnPT77

SummerSkier wrote: »

would you wear a bikini if you were over 50? 60" 70?

I don't really see what age has to do with it. I can understand why someone might be shy about a bikini because of body shape more than I can understand why age would make a difference.

At 68, age or shyness wouldn't constrain me from wearing a bikini. As mentioned earlier, bikini or sports-bra tops ride up (waaaay up) on me because of bilateral mastectomies without reconstruction, i.e., no breasts at all to hold them in place so I can't wear them.

I routinely wear skin-tight leggings and tightly-fit t-shirts or jackets that are completely body-conforming, even at this age, because that's my preference for workouts (and therefore wear them going to a store, coffeeshop or whatever afterward). And yes, when I wear something conforming like that, it's 100% evident that I have no breasts. I'd be comfortable with a bare midriff at the beach or pool.

claireychn074

Sometimes, but my decision is more about comfort and practicality than what I look like. I don’t think I look great in either a full costume or a bikini so I’ll feel conscious to start with in either outfit. But then I am usually going for a swim (if I’m somewhere with nice water 😀) and I find a swimming cossie is more comfortable for front crawl than a bikini.