Bathing suits: Tankini's with skirt bottoms....do these "age" you?

[american_mama]

That is a gorgeous swimsuit and definitely not fuddy duddy. However, I am someone who wears skirt bottoms, so perhaps I'm the wrong judge.

I started wearing skirt bottoms in my late 30's because I needed a two-piece for ease of nursing, and I thought the skirts were more flattering on me, plus they meant I could skip shaving my bikini area. I keep wearing them mostly for the last reason. My sister thinks they age you, I think they don't. I don't even think it matters if you it's a bikini top or not.

eta: I think a tankini is a two-piece with a top that covers your entire tummy. If it's a bikini top with a skirted bottom, I don't think it's a tankini, is it?

[gatorsmom]

I wouldn't say granny suit but I think they are a typical mom suit. But frankly, I LOVE my swim mini with my tankini top and I don't care at all what other people think. DH says it looks cute like I"m wearing a little dress. I have never been more relaxed and confident wearing a swimsuit than I am since I started wearing these. I wish these swim skirts had been around in the 80's when I sprouted saddlebags even before I had decent breasts. It has always seemed really unfair to be that guys can wear loose-fitting swim shorts but women have to wear clinging swimwear.

[kijip]

Originally Posted by daisymommy

It all depends on the suit. There are definitely "old lady" skirted suits, and then there are very sexy stylish young suits from Lands End and LL Bean. I have one from LE, and I personally think it makes my body look world's better than most of the other moms at the pool because it camouflages my tummy and thighs

[Tondi G]

I voted Yes but I think it depends on the style ... some of the skirted bottoms are way less "aged" as other. I suppose it depends on the tankini top too. I agree with the others that a bikini top with a skirted bottom is less "aging".

This is all coming from a true Mom who wears shorts (with a built in bottom) and a tankini top. Not fond of my flabby tummy or my flabby thighs!

[kijip]

The skirted bikini bottom you linked does not look old to me. At all. Very nice. A tankini is not a skirt suit. It is a two piece suit where the top is like a tank top. More like this.

A tankini top that covers the belly + a skirt bottom is going to look older IMO (unless the skirt is very short) So when I voted yes it ages, I was thinking more like this.

I wear tankinis like the speedo type one because I have a freaky long torso and one piece suits are hard to fit on me + post pregnancy, I have serious purple stretch marks. I am not talking a few small low ones, I am talking many, dark and long vertical stretch marks that come 5 or 6 inches above my belly button. People have mistaken them for some sort of injury before. It ain't pretty but thankfully is improving with time. Now that they have faded more, I might be willing to go back to bikini tops once my weight is where it should be. I only do boy shorts, full coverage or retro styled bottoms (no skirts but the short sleek ones you posted are getting me thinking...) because I am not one to need to remove hair in order to swim. If I have to shave to wear it, it is just not in my personal modesty limits even if I am shaved down there.

That said, I am not into looking super young. My smallest suit, even when I had a rocking trim (and stretch mark free) body was more like this. There are definitely reasons, be it body confidence or modesty preferences, for women to choose to wear a suit with a tankini top and a skirt bottom. Whatever gets someone out of their street clothes and into the water and sun having fun with their family is what it is all about.

[liz]

Originally Posted by kijip

There are definitely reasons, be it body confidence or modesty preferences, for women to choose to wear a suit with a tankini top and a skirt bottom. Whatever gets someone out of their street clothes and into the water and sun having fun with their family is what it is all about.

I like this statement. Wear what makes you comfortable and feel good!

[SnuggleBuggles]

I admit, I bought a swim mini 2 years ago on a super sale and kept it. 2 days ago my upper thighs sunburned and I almost wore the skirt the next day to protect my legs. Seemed like a valid reason! Couldn't do it. Just stayed in thx water instead. . It just was never a look I felt good in (skirt and tankini).

[khalloc]

I voted yes. I dont really understand the skirt bottom. Its like screaming out that you dont want people to see your butt, but at the same time it makes you look more closely at their bums to see why they are wearing a skirt bottom.

BUT, I think some skirt bottoms, like the suit you said you have are definitely not old lady bathing suits. But I still think a regular bottom looks better than the skirt.

[pinkmomagain]

I think if I didn't need to wear a skirted bottom, then I wouldn't. But I'm pretty self-conscious of my mommy body and I'm trying to look the best I can so I wear one. I'm sure I am much more self-critical than most, but trust me, you'd rather see me with a skirted bottom than without one. So I really don't care if it "ages" me. And, heck, I'm 45, not 25.

[misshollygolightly]

I agree that a tank + skirt usually looks momish due to all the coverage, but honestly, the skirt you linked to in the OP is, IMO, super-cute and would be fine with a tank.

The main thing, though, is that you've got to wear a swimsuit you're comfortable in. Although in some ways I have the body for a bikini (I'm 29, thin, petite), I'm not usually comfortable in one. I have some faint stretch marks on my tummy, and I'm self-conscious about my bikini area (even after shaving...I'm always worried that I've missed a spot or something). Mostly, though, a teeny bikini is just not AT ALL practical for swimming with my two kids! When I'm with them, I'd much rather err on the side of too much coverage than risk having them pull my swimsuit off while clambering over me!

Anyway, all this to say that I think there's absolutely nothing wrong with a good tankini or swim skirt. I'm a bit hesitant about pairing the two, but the swim suit you linked to looks great to me! I'd wear it in a heartbeat and I'm still in my twenties