Old Women’s Swimsuit Edition
Old Women’s Swimsuit Edition features a 70+ woman in a perfect swimsuit for an aging body. DIY the perfect swimsuit for an imperfect body.
We don’t hate the beach just because we are old. We may, however, dread exposing our bodies. It’s even harder for someone like me. (As a teen, I used to go to the beach with friends to poke fun at “jiggly” people…. Now that I’m old, imperfect, and yes, “jiggly” I remember my teenage pranks and hate myself for them.)
Older women – and in the case of women, any woman who believes herself less than attractive – have a very hard time buying swimsuits. Tankinis notwithstanding, swimsuits don’t cover what we’d like to cover. And that’s why so many women miss out on the joys of the beach and summer.
So here is my “Old Women’s Swimsuit Edition”. I wasn’t about to allow my age or my age-related defects to keep me away from the beach. I used to be a fan of two-piece string bikinis, but let’s face it: with the scars on my tummy, that’s out.
I took an old one-piece swimsuit out of my closet, put it on, and started judging it and myself.
Well, the swimsuit was flat-chested. I looked awful in it. I had no boobs, offensively ugly arms, and a butt that simply asked for criticism. What to do? Buy another swimsuit I’d dislike? Let’s face it: there is no such thing as the perfect swimsuit for an imperfect body off the rack.
Instead, I got busy with the swimsuit I already had. (As they say, an enemy you know is better than an enemy you don’t know yet.)
DIY: the makings of a perfect swimsuit for an aging body
No boobs, no deal. I took one of my bras, cut off its straps and the sides that run around the rib cage in the back, and attached the front of the bra to the inside of the swimsuit. Now, it looked proportional, at least.
The ugly arms… Well, I’m a smart shopper who occasionally buys stuff that’s on sale for a good reason, and sometimes without. I happened to own a pair of stretchy, neon-green net pantyhose that I’d never wear. I cut off the legs and attached them to the openings on the swimsuit’s arms. The swimsuit looked better on me.
Still, my butt was way less than attractive… Lucky for me, I believe in the power of “aprons”. I made a little, semi-sheer “apron” with an elastic tie-on band. The “apron” covers my butt, and the ties fall on my abdomen to cover it just in case I overindulge in watermelon.
All in all, I ended up with the perfect swimsuit for an aging body. It’s a pretty cute swimsuit that looks decent and doesn’t expose my aging body’s defects.
Hello beach! Hello summer! Bring on the water, bring on the beach ball, I’m in! Haters welcome. I may look a tad unusual, but not bad, even if I say so myself. Paparazzi welcome! That’s the Old Women’s Swimsuit Edition, that’s how a woman over 70 can look on the beach.
A little DIY goes a long way. I know, you may have different issues, BUT: if I could make myself look good in a swimsuit, so can you! Make the perfect swimsuit for an imperfect body yourself! Don’t make concessions, make compromises! ENJOY YOUR SUMMER!
