Sexy Swimwear Revolution

Sometimes it's difficult to know what styles are the most flattering for your shape. The good news is that there are swimsuits that can complement ANY body type. The most important thing to realize is that you definitely can, rock any bikini or one piece swimsuit! @georginastokes @simplyjustnutrition @aurenfirenzephotography @sophiaskitchentherapy @lync20 The key thing to keep in mind is: How does the swimsuit make you feel? If you feel self-conscious while wearing it, it completely defeats the purpose. A swimsuit is something you wear when you are out to relax and have fun. If the thought of wearing a swimsuit elevates your anxiety, then you haven't found the right one yet. Finding the best swimsuit for your body type isn't complex. Although it can take time to find the most flattering fit and style. No matter how we're built, we all have a few areas we’re not completely thrilled with. There are areas we've marked with caution tape in our own minds that we would prefer not to highlight. It will be different for each of us. You will have to do a bit of self-assessment to figure out what’s right for you. GENERAL TIPS FOR ALL BODY TYPES to find the best swimsuit for your body shape Sustainable Square Neck Swimsuit with Underwire | Sea Level Australia - to de-emphasize a feature, use solid, darker colors - to create the illusion of a larger bust, use ruffles or frills that create emphasis on that area (shop frill swimsuits) - to emphasize a feature, use bright colors or patterns - for medium to dark complexion skin, consider wearing bright colors. Bright colors on a dark complexion don’t run the risk of looking washed out - to create an illusion of less volume, select swimsuits that use ruching or paneling. These have the ability to disguise larger areas - to highlight a fair or pale complexion, use dark rich tones that contrast with your skin tone One Piece Swimsuit Essentials | Sea Level Australia - to broaden an area, use horizontal stripes or big, bold prints and patterns - to make your legs look longer, choose a swimsuit with high cut leg openings Of utmost importance, always choose a bathing suit based on its purpose. You wouldn't want to wear an Olympic competition swimsuit to a Las Vegas pool party! Research some popular swimsuit designers. This way you can find a swimsuit for your body type that matches your personal style and purpose. DISCOVER YOUR BODY TYPE Women have different body types. Various factors contribute to your body shape. Bust size, hip-width or shoulders, for example, can be broad or narrow. The first thing you want to determine is this - what IS my body type? There are four major body types - Hourglass, Apple, Pear, and Athletic. Hourglass Body Type Your body type has a well-defined waist and your shoulders and hips are similar in width. Society considers this body type sexy, but it can be hard to dress it well. Hourglass Body Shape Tips to find the best swimsuit for an hourglass shape: 3 Piece Bikini Set with Skirt | PQ Swim 1. Avoid wearing mismatched tops and bottoms. This can make an hourglass body look disproportional 2. Color blocking is a great way to accent your curves 3. Underwire swimsuits can offer support for the chest 4. High cut leg swimsuits will lengthen your legs 5. An asymmetrical bathing suit will keep the eyes focused upward Shop swimsuits for Hourglass Apple Body Type Your body type has shoulders and hips that are about the same width. You have both a full bust and a rounded stomach. For this body type, look for a swimsuit that draws the eye away from the midsection to focus on other areas of your body. This will help you to create a balanced look Apple Body Shape Tips to find the best swimsuit for an apple body shape: Ruffle One Piece Swimsuit | Sea Level Australia 1. Both plain and patterned tops can look good on this body type. A dark colored top can help to minimize fullness while a patterned one, such as a tankini, can work to disguise tummy bulge. (read more about tankinis in this blog) 2. A one piece swimsuit, tankini, or bikini works well with this body type 3. Consider wearing a high waisted swimsuit if you have an average to long torso. Avoid this style if you have a short torso 4. If you worry about your midsection, there are swimsuits made for tummy control 5. Choose swimsuits with a slightly cheeky cut to minimize the look of a fuller bottom. A v-neck elongates the torso for a taller, leaner look. Embellishments draw attention to whichever body feature you prefer. Each of these are great ways to highlight your favorite features Read more on the best swimsuits for Apple Shape. Shop swimsuits for Apple Shape Pear Body Type Your body type has wider hips than shoulders. To balance proportions, choose styles that draw attention above the waistline. This keeps the focus on the top half of the body. Pear Body Shape Tummy Control Underwire Tankini Set | Sea Level Australia Tips to find the best swimsuit for a pear body shape: 1. Avoid horizontal stripes, busy prints, and light colors on the bottom half of the body 2. Ruffles worn above the waistline can add balance to a pear shape 3. Consider light printed tops with solid, dark bottoms. This will draw attention to the upper body and make the lower body appear smaller 4. A one piece swimsuit with side cut outs will create an hourglass illusion 5. Diagonal lines are another great way to create balanced proportions Read more on the best swimsuits for Pear Shape. Shop swimsuits for Pear Shape Athletic Body Type Athletic bodies are roughly the same width from shoulders to hips and through the torso. Shopping for an athletic body type sounds easy peasy, right? Think again. Sometimes it's difficult to find a swimsuit that creates curves in places where they don’t exist. Athletic Body Shape Tips to find the best swimsuit for athletic body shape: 1. Look for a swimsuit with frills, embellishments or gathered fabric. This will create the illusion of curves 2. Avoid simple bandeau tops, which can flatten out your curves. Ruffled tops or bikini tops with a banded bottom are the way to go to if you want to create a fuller look Side Cutout One Piece Swimsuit | Agua Bendita 3. A monokini looks great on a small bust with an athletic lower body. Again, it creates the illusion of curves 4. Color blocking and prints can create balance. Wear matching top and bottoms 5. Swimwear with cutouts will create the illusion of an hourglass figure 6. Bikinis with ties on top and bottoms can create the look of wider hips and a larger bust 7. Cheeky bikini bottoms can be flattering on an athletic backside 8. High leg swimsuits can highlight and lengthen the look of athletic legs Shop swimsuits for Athletic Shape If you're still feeling as though your body doesn’t quite fit into any of these categories, no worries. Get in touch with us! We're happy to assist you in finding the perfect swimsuit for your body type. We've made the process super simple. 1. We offer complimentary, one on one style and size consulting services 2. Returns are easy. You won't feel stuck with it if it's not the right one 3. Try on in the comfort of your own home without pushy or prying sales staff You deserve to have a swimsuit worthy of you that you feel confident in. Call or email us today. Sign up to our mailing list and get 10% off your first order.

Have you ever been to the beach and never took off your bathing suit cover up? photo: Averie Woodard Positive body image is something that many of us begin to consider a few months before that long-awaited holiday. As a Certifed Personal Trainer, and Master Coach, I’ve worked with a number of folks who ramp up their work out routine to get ready for their holidays. I often ask: What is the size of your suit? Sheepishly people will say: I’d like to go down a least a size or two so that I feel comfortable laying on the beach! Off we go, changing their routines so that they will lose that 5-10 lbs for comfort. photo: Trust Katsande We all agree, that how we feel should not be based on the number you see on the scale or measuring tape, and for many it is daunting. Success is really based on our attitude. Wouldn’t it be nice if we were able to change our mindset so that we feel comfortable no matter what size? A positive mindset with a “you can do it attitude” will lead to your personal and professional success. photo: Georgina Stokes I’d rather discuss healthy lifestyle choices which lead to building your confidence; an important step in finding comfort in your size and shape. A healthy body weight with a holistic approach to fitness will become your calling card. The next step in getting ready for the holiday is finding a new bathing suit that will allow you to enjoy the beach! Sun Vixen Swimwear takes the guesswork out of shopping for a swimsuit. It is hassle-free, easy and fun! In the comfort of your own home you many not only choose the styles you'd like to try on, but when they arrive you may get comfortable with the style, colour and shape. A great way to focus on your new positive attitude with a hassle-free way of returning what doesn't fit! photo: Charles Who knew! Choose a healthy lifestyle and welcome your new size and shape while showing it off in your new bathing suit! Don’t forget a beach cover up. It builds confidence going to and from the beach! Whether you're going to the pool or laying in the sun take a moment or two and get comfortable with the size of your suit. You’ve got this! Trish Tonaj is a Master Coach Practitioner and Coach Trainer providing keynotes and workshops on Mentorship…breaking barriers, starting new conversations and creating a new definition for success.

Last year I decided to lose weight.  I tried weight loss rewards to inspire my journey.  Here is my story. This is me with my daughter Amanda before starting my weightloss journey As I get older it is harder and harder for me to lose weight and keep it off.  But I finally figured out what works for me. Read on - I hope it helps you too.  In Sept 2018 I was going for a walk with a good friend, Rassamee. She is quite an inspiration to me because she teaches karate and runs triathlons.  She is fit and healthy, which I admire.On this particular September day, Rassamee turned to me partway through our walk and said..."I am going to walk the El Camino trail in Portugal next September."  I knew she had been thinking of doing it ever since we read an inspiring story about someone’s journey at our book club.   Me with my daughter Amanda. This photo was taken before I lost 35 pounds. As you can see me and my daughter are very affectionate 🥰 I then gathered my courage and asked: “Do you want company?” And as any amazing friend would, she responded  with "I was hoping you would say that!"   What was I thinking?!  54, overweight (by a lot), knee problems, foot problems and the goal of walking 20 - 25 km a day for 15 days!?  The El Camino trail that I planned to walk is 240 km (150 miles) long, starting in Porto, Portugal. It takes about 12 days to walk from Porto to Santiago.  To accomplish the goal to walk the Camino with Rassamee I knew I needed to lose weight.  If I was going to challenge myself by walking the 240 kilometer Portuguese Camino trail I definitely needed to lose some pounds. Before I started my weight loss journey, I knew that I not only had to eat well (chicken and green vegetables became my best friend) and increase my stamina but I also needed an incentive to lose weight.   My favourite part of the El Camino trail. A woman offered us a fresh apple from her tree after we hiked up a huge hill I need to be able to visualize myself looking great in Portugal.  I had heard that weight loss rewards work well to keep people motivated.  I quickly decided that when I lost my 50 pounds I would treat myself to a beautiful new bathing suit that I would proudly wear in Portugal.   This is me on the El Camino Trail in Esposende Portugal. I had lost 35 pounds! So began my journey of weight loss, walking, walking and more walking.  I did my best to eat well too, but sometimes that’s difficult. My favourite food was a pizza made of a low-calorie tortilla shell with salsa, chicken, onion, pepper, Brussels sprouts (who knew right?) and zucchini.  I kept at it for months, never losing sight of my swimwear prize incentive for shedding the pounds.  It was my light at the end of a long tunnel of hard work. That's me on the left in Viana do Castelo Portugal. Walking through this historic part of the town is how our day started. Look how skinny my legs look! I would like to add that, I have not had the best success in finding bathing suits over the years.  I walk into the store with the bright lights, skinny sales associates and skimpy bikinis and want to give up before I even start.  But I persevere and try on swimsuit after swimsuit but nothing ever looks good.   After a year of hard work and perseverance, I have lost a significant amount of weight.  Linda under the grapes - Grape Harvesting Season - Pontevedra Spain I am truly proud of myself and inspired to keep going.  The El Camino trail is just a week away and it is finally time to find a swimsuit to treat myself to. My weight loss rewards finale. Enter Sun Vixen swimwear website. I have been following them on Instagram for a year now.  At first glance it seems like something more in line with what my 20-year-old would wear - everyone is super skinny (argh!) and looks amazing.  Could I look good in one of those swimsuits?  Well, there’s only one way to find out.... So, I tried a few bathing suits and to my amazement, I looked good in every one of them!  That never happens to me.  Now how is that for a weight loss reward?! With the built-in Spanx in the Sea Level swimsuits for us mature women who have had kids, the quality fabric and the flattering style, I have never looked so good. Up we go! Linda on the El Camino Trail in Redondela Spain I have to admit buying a swimsuit online is incredibly intimidating for a woman who has always been larger.  But the convenience of having it shipped right to my door, trying it on in the privacy of my own home, and returning what I don’t want was fabulous! And I have never in my life been torn as to which swimsuit looks the best.  It is totally OK to buy a couple of different sizes and styles and return what you don't want.  OK - I know that is hard for some of us to do, but Opal at Sun Vixen Swimwear encourages it because once you buy one of her swimsuits she knows you will go back for more. Here I am at our Airbnb in Madrid wearing my new one piece swimsuit from Sun Vixen SwimwearI will never buy another one piece bathing suit from any place other than Sun Vixen Swimwear!  If you need an incentive to lose some weight, I recommend using a swimsuit to help you. It was just what I needed to give me that push to succeed.PS - I lost 35 of the 50 pounds and still want to lose more...when I do, I see another new Sun Vixen bathing suit on my horizon.   PSS - when I showed "the swimsuit" to my daughter at home she said, "you look amazing - and so skinny" and my husband said "wow" and then was speechless...one of my best days in a long time.  😉

I'm pretty excited! My beautiful friend Opal has sent me some swimsuits for full figured to try on from Sun Vixen Swimwear. I've watched her develop her company for the past couple years and I’ve always been kind of apprehensive about ordering a swimsuit online because I am a very full figured woman and I just always felt like nothing would fit, however, she thinks differently. So, here are the swimsuits for full figured she sent me. I am very excited! They came with a handwritten note and the packaging is beautiful. Sun Vixen Swimwear Packaging Look how pretty this is! I’m also someone that doesn’t usually ever order anything online. I think because I am full figured, I just never think that it’s going to fit, so I’ve never bit the bullet and ordered anything. I’ve also never purchased a swimsuit before that is of good quality. I buy crappy swimsuits. But I never feel comfortable in it either so I’m really looking forward to seeing some swimsuits for full figured from Sun Vixen Swimwear. Here’s swimsuit number 1 (below) - beautiful and it is an amazing fabric. There’s no comparison. I can tell already, before putting it on, that it is going to be comfortable and help keep everything in place. This one is one that Opal saw and thought of me. I’m actually really excited to try this one on. It’s beautiful! And one thing about my body is I do quite like my chest area so this kind of draws attention to that area and takes away from the stomach. I’m really pumped to try this one on. Black One Piece Swimsuit Spliced | Sea Level Australia This next swimsuit (below) is quite plain but sometimes that’s a good way to go. Nice classic lines. Especially when you have young children which I still do and they don’t necessarily want to see mom with cleavage. This is a great swimsuit for them. The material is amazing. Like I said before, you can just tell that this is going to hold everything in place where it should be held. And I really love the color of this. It’s beautiful! Blue One Piece Swimsuit | Sea Level Australia Last but not least, I’ve got to say when I first saw this one piece swimsuit online I was not super keen on the pattern. I’m not much of a pattern girl. But now that I see it in person, the color is so beautiful and there’s so much little pleating on it and in the chest area that I can tell it’s going to be very flattering already. One Piece Swimsuit Navy Twist Front | Sea Level Australia This is the swimsuit (below) I was most excited to try on and I’ve got to say, I love it! It feels so good. The quality is good. It holds everything in. It smooths out my midsection. And like I said before, it draws attention up towards my chest instead of down towards my midsection. I think it looks quite sexy, I must say so myself. Love it! Ruffle One Piece Swimsuit | Sea Level Australia One more thing I wanted to touch on about why I love this swimsuit is the price tag. It is only $130! So that is the same as going into a swimwear store in the mall and there’s no comparison in quality. This swimsuit is beautiful, thick material that you can sit in and still feel comfortable. That is major. Thanks Opal! Thank you for essentially having the confidence in me to say, “No, you will fit in these suits. You can fit in these suits.” Which was my biggest fear probably about trying them on. Thank you! I love it! Subscribe to our email list and Save 10% on your first purchase. Sign Up Here

Here are 5 reasons your swimsuit is so expensive. Ever wonder why some swimsuits seem to be so expensive compared to others? You can find some bathing suits on Amazon for $5 and the other extreme is $350 for one swimsuit. How different can they be? The answer is this: they are a lot different. Like most products, you can buy swimwear on the low-end or high-end. So, what's the difference then? Gold Studded One Piece Swimsuit | Sauvage Here are 5 ways low-end swimsuits differ from high-end ones. You may want to reconsider buying cheap. 1. Fair wage and working conditions Like the clothing industry, the swimwear industry has factories. Workers make swimsuits on assembly lines where they cut, sew and finish each one to the design specs. In order for companies to sell swimwear cheap, the wages they pay to the workers who make them must be low. Often times when the wages are low, it means that the workers don't receive other benefits - like health care. Working conditions in some of these factories tend to be less than ideal. Cheap supply chain makes for a less expensive end product. Remember this anytime you buy something such as clothing or swimwear at a bargain price. 2. Country of origin The country where the swimwear is sown and shipped from has an effect on the price. The same is true for the county where the fabric is from. These 3 reasons affect the price of a swimsuit from another country: photo credit: Hermes Rivera i. Higher labour costs. Some countries pay their workers higher wages. This increases the cost of the product. A swimsuit made in China for example, is usually less expensive than one made in the US. ii. Trade agreements. Signed trade agreement between countries helps keep costs in check. Import duties and fees are much higher from countries without trade agreements. This can add dollars to the cost of your bathing suit. iii. Currency exchange rate. There is a cost to exchanging currencies when buying foreign products. Sometimes this exchange can be significant. For example the cost of one US dollar at the time this post is being written is 1.34 CAD. This exchange cost adds to the price of the swimwear. 3. Fabric Swimwear fabric has stretch. This quality alone makes the fabric more expensive than non-stretch materials. This is why it can be costly to buy a small amount of swimwear fabric. But both cheap and expensive swimsuits have stretchy fabric, so what gives? Yellow One Piece Swimsuit | Bound Australia Stretch fabric on the lower end of the scale is often less dense with a looser weave. This means that it will break down and wear out faster. It also tends to pill after a couple of wears and catch on clothing and other surfaces causing damage to the suit. Not only is the fabric better constructed in an expensive swimsuit, but there tends to be more of it. High-end designer swimwear looks sturdy and holds its shape no matter how many times you wear it. This is because it is always lined so it gives you more support and won't wear down and become see-through. You can actually feel the difference in the fabric of a lower priced swimsuit versus a higher priced one. The texture is much softer and luxurious in a designer made bathing suit. But don't take my word for it! Test: Try on a $5 - $20 swimsuit next to a designer swimsuit worth $150 - $300 to see and feel the difference for yourself. 4. Design Process Have you ever compared the top you bought at Walmart to the one you bought at Aritzia? What was the difference? The difference isn't always obvious right away. When the top is brand new, it looks pretty good. Then you wash it once and it looks a little less fabulous. Wash it a few times and you almost watch your new top disintegrating before your eyes. Why doesn't the one you bought at Aritzia do that? It's because the fabric used in the Aritzia top is much higher quality. Aritzia also puts each of their clothing items through rigorous testing beforehand. They want to make sure what you are buying will stand the test of time. This is why you pay more for their stuff. They want you to be able to have it and use it for a very long time. photo credit: Ashim D'Silva Testing and standards add costs to the end product. A more onerous and thorough supply chain and process makes for a more expensive product. The same is true with swimwear. The fabrics used in high-end, high-quality swimsuits have staying power. You will be able to wear your designer bathing suit for many years provided you take proper care of it. Don't wash it in the washing machine and make sure you use a detergent that's designed for swimwear. Read more about swimsuit care here. 5. Craftsmanship Have you ever noticed that a great swimsuit tends to have some super beautiful details? Beading, macramé, crochet, hand stitching and other fine elements add to the allure of a great suit. They also add to the cost. If you are paying more for a swimsuit, it will be obvious in a lot of subtle ways that all add up to the total aesthetic. Black Lace Bikini | PilyQ Here are 3 things to look for to determine if a swimsuit is designer made or not: i. Hidden seams - designer made swimsuits tend to have hidden seams so the fabric lays flat against the body. This gives the bathing suit a more polished look when worn. ii. Details - top designers will not miss an opportunity to make a statement on any part of the swimsuit. Beading, stitching, sequins, gold and silver accents are things you can expect to find. And they are well secured, unlikely to come off and will not tarnish or rust after swimming. iii. Fabric lays flat and doesn't pull, pinch or bunch. A designer made swimsuit will not look awkward on the body. Let's face it, wearing a swimsuit can sometimes be mentally hard enough. Why feel more exposed and uncomfortable by putting on an ill-fitting, cheap swimsuit? Almafi One Piece Swimsuit | Poema Above all else, no matter what price you paid for your swimsuit, confidence is the key to looking great in any style. When you feel great on the inside, it radiates outwards. Your choice of swimsuits is up to you so choose whatever makes you happy and don't worry about the opinions of others. 10% off your 1st order of designer swimwear, plus free shipping on orders $75+