Swimsuit Shopping Drama

Fight it as we might, swimsuit season is just around the corner. And with an upcoming trip to Las Vegas on the calendar, I was forced to spend an entire Saturday bathing suit shopping. For those of you, who have not had the privilege of shopping for a swimsuit, let me educate you.

First, it's much like training for a sporting event. Although, you're only required to train for 24 to 48 hours in advance, it is rigorous and will test your willpower and self-esteem. So, I sucked it up and like a good girl, I spent a week clipping bathing suit options out of several InStyle magazines and only ate grapefruit for 24 hours before the event.

But, regardless of my preparation, I was not--nor am I ever--prepared for the nightmare that is the fitting room. As I stood under one set of yellowish-green fluorescent lights after another (at Nordstrom Rack, PacSun, Macy's, Target, Ross, Old Navy, Steve & Barry's), I started to wonder when retailers were ever going to create a wardrobe lounge with soft lighting and comfy surroundings. FYI--a paper littered floor, two clothing hooks, a bench with gum stuck to it and an unidentifiable smell do not qualify.

And please do not get me started on bathing suit sizes. No woman is the same size on top as she is on the bottom (has no one received this memo?!), unless she's a supermodel. The bathing suit size disparities only furthered the pain of the experience, as I had to take multiple sizes of suits into the fitting rooms. Could I really be a small on top and a large on bottom? Please god, no.

But, with the strict requirements of 8 items or less, I was forced to take only two suit styles in at a time. Hence, the reason why it took me all day. What is the point of these item restrictions? Why can't I take 14 different suits into the fitting room? Do retailers really believe that I won't steal if I have 8 items, but I will if I have 14? It makes absolutely no sense to me.

However, at the end of the day, I walked away with a suit that fit well and accentuated the points worth noting. And you won't believe it--after everything, I found my suit at Ross for $12.99.

Yes, I had to hose myself down with sanitizer after leaving and soak the suit in boiling hot water, but for $12.99 and a pool-worthy swimsuit, I considered the day a success (of course Ross was the last place I visited!). Now, we'll just have to see how the suit looks in natural lighting...

What are your swimsuit shopping pet peeves? Know a retailer that has the best fitting rooms (i.e. you walk out feeling better about your body, not worse)? Leave your comments here!

--Heather Strang

Comments

[Best Deals in Canada]

My favorite on-line swimsuit site is swimsuitsforall.com . Swimsuitsforall.com offers women's and plus sizes swimwear in a variety of styles and colors. The mix and match styles allow you to create your own look. It also allows you to find both a bottom and top that fit, instead of finding yourself in the typical situation of liking the way one suit fits in the bottom and one fits in the top.

Swimsuits come in a variety of styles, sizes, prints, and colors. When you purchase from deal-eh.ca you will not be wearing the same suit as everyone else on the beach. You will have a suit that matches your style and size. Suits are available for women, men, and kids. You may choose from two piece, sarong, and more. Every imaginable size and style is available, including chlorine resistant, large cup, and infant suits. A large variety of cute and sexy cover-ups are available.

[Kacie]

By the way, I know how to find soft lighting, a comfortable place to try on clothes and the added benefit of prolonging the swimsuit shopping for days. Just buy a bunch of suits and take them HOME to try them on. That way, you'll have better surroundings AND you'll get the pure joy of making this wonderful experience last and last as you go back and forth to 100 stores.

[Dan Muccia]

We could have solved almost all your issues if you were in Hawaii with a visit to Allure Swimwear. NOW, the buying your swimsuit at Ross, a suit that hundreds of women in scores of stores have all tried and rejected, is not what the swim specialty retailers hope for...and frankly not what we hope you will promote.
Jump in and enjoy the swim, and if you are ever out in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, stop in to see us.
Aloha, Allure Swimwear

[Vilma Barr]

Hi Heather,
So I did my homework and looked up swimwear on Saks 5th Avenue web as I was going into NY and saw 4-5 reasonbly functional suits pictured. I swim in pools, and do not need to parade around in a flouncy number that is not aquadynamic. So when I got out my list in Saks, the flagship store of the whole chain, it was pointed out that.look on the list on the mirror, that's what we have here. But how about this, and this one and this one...oh,they must be for purchase on line!! PURCHASE A SWIMSUIT ON LINE!! OK, forget fashion. Let's go back to the basic Speedo. Only they don't make them any more. The basic tank has gone the way of the dodo bird. Now they go down to there in the back. Why? My lower back will never win plaudits from the Mrs. America judges. And do you know which size category had just the suit I wanted?? YOUTH SIZES!! for heaven's sake. Perfect little tank...high across the back...sensible colors and styling. Bikinis galore...groan...just who are the bathing suit designers designing for?? Haven't they read the statistics...boomers...post-boomers...numbers up...swimwear style choices down.
Vilma Barr