Beginning next week, Bridget from Water Water Everywhere will be with us to tell us how to pick the best suit for our figures.

www.waterwatereverywhere.com

Don't be shy women. She knows her stuff and can help us feel and look better by finding the perfect style.

Great news Dotsie!
Thanks!

woooo hoooo, can't wait!

hook me up! I put a swimsuit on for the first time in 10 years this summer when we went to Hawaii. I decided to #@$$ with worrying about how I looked. I just embraced my self, put the darn thing on, and went out.

danita

My body has not seen sunlight (in a swimsuit) for the past 2 years.

Bet, I could put someone's eyes out...my skin's so pale, wrinkled and...

Do you think...there's hope for me???

Dotsie,
I can't wait to hear about this and talk with Bridget . Sounds exciting . I have a black bathing suit I just love.

Excited about an upcoming vacation? A trip to someplace warm? No snow. No ice. Just sun and beach and bathing suits. Not only do you need a new suit, but you deserve one, and not just any suit will do. You need the perfect suit. Fortunately, there is a place to go. Water Water Everywhere is ready to help. They will fit you for the perfect suit…so that you can be the strong, confident woman that you know you are while you soak up the sun.

Bridget Quinn Stickline, Director of Fashion Merchandising for Water Eater Everywhere, will host a Forum right here at BoomerWomenSpeak.com to answer all of your questions about swimwear; nothing is off limits, so ask away from the privacy of your own home. Visit the Water Water Everywhere Forum located under the Fashion section.

Water Water Everywhere offers the sophisticated shopper a year-round selection of beautiful designer women’s swimwear and resortwear. The 2006 collections are proving to be the best ever for those savvy females who mix fashion with function. Designers such as Michael Kors, Ralph Lauren, Gottex, and the Australian line, Jets are presenting merchandise to mirror stylish lifestyles; whether edgy, feminine or sporty.

While shopping at Water Water Everywhere, customers will take pleasure in the dramatic and sophisticated store décor. Spacious dressing rooms feature comfy chairs and cozy changing robes. This, combined with a staff of highly trained “fit stylists”, will create a shopping experience to remember!

Water Water Everywhere is one of the largest year-round specialty swimwear retailers in the country with over 20 locations from Massachusetts to Missouri and North Carolina to New York. Visit us at www.waterwatereverywhere.com.

Welcome Bridget!

Okay, I'll go first...

I'm 47, still wear bathing suits, love the beach and the sun, and am in need of a new bathing suit. Never a two piece again, maybe a tankini that wouldn't dare ride up, or a nice cut one piece.

My biggest issue is cellulite. What do you recommend?

Does fabric make a difference?

Hello to All!

Thank you Dotsie for your kind words!

Now that I am back from a buying trip, I am here to help shed some light on the often dreaded swimwear shopping experience. I am eager to answer your questions about fit, fashion and more so please fire away!

Great question, Dotsie on fabric! Many designers today are offering new technology in fabrications that allow the designers to build control directly into the fabric without that heavy bulking girdle construction. Also remember that the suit should be snug to offer the correct amount of control. I would like to suggest a matte-finish fabric as it conceals all of our little bumps and bulges better than a shiny fabric. Also, try to stick with darker colors… which this year you are in luck as brown is emerging as the new black.

Another point of interest is how one-pieces are back, but with an attitude. The old one-piece tank is a thing of the past. The one-piece needed a reason to exist and designers found it! Styles with interest like hardware, plunging necklines, and dramatics prints have retailed extremely well over the past two seasons. In reaction you should look for great new styling in one-pieces... in stores now.

Again, I am very excited to be here and look forward to hearing from each and every one of you!

Best regards,

Bridget

Do they have floor length suits? I need one to cover my thighs. The rest of my body is fine but those thighs...geesh.

Hi Bridget,

My bathing suit has been around for 3 years now...hardly ever wear it.
This year we will be spending time at the beach, so I want to be a a #10 out there. OK...close to a 10.
Last bathing suit was 2 piece, skirted bottom.
Have the shape of a pear...to much at the bottom.
What's going to draw attention away from the fat legs and thighs?

Help.

They have some wonderful one piece suits Dianne with little skirts that are quite the rage here in swin suit country. I have several of these and even me 'whale bottom' isn't afraid to venture out into the pool...Minnesota is water land and there is water, water everywhere but none in the cities. Does your loft building have a pool?

Wonderful! It's about time I get a
new swimsuit : )

Welcome Bridget! Glad you are here!
I have a boyish figure. Tall, thin, not much in the curve department. I used to wear a bikini when I was young and that helped to break things up but I have awful stretch marks on my stomach now and wouldn't dare wear anything so revealing. What style would you suggest for me?

Ladies, thanks for jumping in. Bridget will be back.

I met her at an open house at Water, Water Everywhere. Fortunately, she lives in my town so I am going to have her fit me in a suit.

I should do it this month so I can tell you all about it.

I wonder if they have any type of stocking to cover the cellulite. Wouldn' that be awesome?

No pool at the loft. I wouldn't go swimming anyway. I could see everyone running and gagging.

Dotsie, when I competed for Mrs AZ they made us wear panty hose with our swim suits. Great way to tuck everything in.

Boy do I wish you could wear panty hose with your swimsuit at the beach!

AMEN!

Ok Girls..I'm thoroughly depressed today...I went out Bathing Suit (UGH, Yuck, Cough , Choke, Gag) shopping today out of necessity...my kids have given my Hubby and me a trip to the Caribbean for our 30th Anniversary..I have been putting off this shopping trip forever...anyway...I did it...and after trying on about 20 suits I reluctantly bought 3...2 black and one brown (which the saleswoman told me is the "new Black" this year...is it just me or are the lights in store dressing rooms unreasonably harsh?? my skin looked Green!!!!I think they should have candle light in bathing suit dressing rooms for goodness sakes...in any event...I bought nice flowy gaucho pants for one suit and long sarongs for the other 2...the thought of walking around in just a bathing suit was a little more than I could bear...hopefully no one will be looking when I slip intto the water and out of the sarong...I intend to leave it right by the edge of the pool....Gravity has become my mortal enemy...everything seems to be heading south!!!

I hear ya...trying on bathing suits ranks right up there with root canals. You don't want to do it, but sometimes you just have to...

JJ

Someone told me that swimsuits should always be
bought two sizes larger than your usual size.
How true is that?

Brenda,
Thanks for your question. I have two different suggestions to address pear shape figures. The first is indeed the skirted bottom. This style is great for camouflaging hip and butt trouble areas.

My second suggestion may surprise you; one of the best ways to even out a pear shaped figure is to go the opposite direction from a skirted style. I often recommend higher leg lines for customers with fuller hips and thighs. The higher the leg line the longer (and slimmer) the legs appear. Always remember that creating triangles on your body (V-necklines, higher-cut legs) helps to make the body appear longer. This trick can help to balance the bottom and top of your body and create the eternally sought after “hourglass”.

Just a reminder that being a "10" is more about how you feel than how you look! Be sure that your swimsuits fit properly and make you feel fabulous. Don’t comprimise and don’t skimp on the “outfit”. Completing your look with the compliment of the perfect cover ups and accessories will make you feel “pulled together” and help to bolster your confidence at the beach.

Enjoy the Beach!

~Bridget

quote:

---

Originally posted by yepthatsme2:
Hi Bridget,

My bathing suit has been around for 3 years now...hardly ever wear it.
This year we will be spending time at the beach, so I want to be a a #10 out there. OK...close to a 10.
Last bathing suit was 2 piece, skirted bottom.
Have the shape of a pear...to much at the bottom.
What's going to draw attention away from the fat legs and thighs?

Help.

---

[ January 18, 2006, 12:53 PM: Message edited by: Bridget Quinn Stickline ]

Thanks Bridget...will try the higher leg suit.
Do like the idea of the sarong, that Nancy mentioned.

Dear TVC15,
This is a good question. First off I would not give up on the 2 piece just yet. Depending on the placement of your stretch marks there are many bottoms offered in the market that give more tummy coverage without abandoning the styles that you love. I would suggest trying Mix and Match separates specifically Sunsets Separates if you are able to track them down. Sunsets offers a terrific full coverage V-waist pant. This style is perfect for emphasizing the waist while offering good coverage. The nice thing about separates is that you can chose from multiple different styles and you can buy different sizes in tops and bottoms to create the perfect fit.

If a 1 piece is still in the cards your timing is perfect because there is a trend at the moment towards 40’s inspired styles. You may remember the Vanity Fair cover that featured the Desperate Housewives in dramatic swimwear. That look is hot in 1 pieces right now and happens to be great for creating the appearance of fuller bust lines and curves. Look for styles with shirring at the bust and waist to help you get that “pin-up” look. Happy shopping!


~Bridget

quote:

---

Originally posted by TVC15:
Welcome Bridget! Glad you are here!
I have a boyish figure. Tall, thin, not much in the curve department. I used to wear a bikini when I was young and that helped to break things up but I have awful stretch marks on my stomach now and wouldn't dare wear anything so revealing. What style would you suggest for me?

---

Just name the date Dotsie! I am looking forward to it.

~Bridget

quote:

---

Originally posted by Dotsie:
Ladies, thanks for jumping in. Bridget will be back.

I met her at an open house at Water, Water Everywhere. Fortunately, she lives in my town so I am going to have her fit me in a suit.

I should do it this month so I can tell you all about it.

I wonder if they have any type of stocking to cover the cellulite. Wouldn' that be awesome?

---

Thank you so much for the advice Bridget.
I appreciate it and will look for the styles you've suggested.

Diamond,
That is actually not true. Often this misconception causes women to buy a suit that is completely the wrong size. If you buy your swimsuit too big you will not be realizing the benefits of the bra construction or the control elements of the fabric. What causes this myth to continue is that often swimsuits are too short in the torso causing women to think they are too small. Note that you do not have to be tall to be longer than the standard swimsuit torso length. I have had many long torso customers that were 5'0. The other factor that impacts what size swimsuit you buy is your bust size.

You should be at your pants size in a swimsuit, you may size up or down slightly between swimwear designers. Swimsuits should fit tight at the elastic (leglines, bust) but should not dig into your shoulder or pull your bust down. If you find that you often buy swimsuits much larger than your pants size try a long torso line like Longitude or Take Control. You can also try tankini styles that will offer you more flexibility in length. If you feel that your bust size is causing you to size up look for cup sized swimwear like Coco Reef Separates, Jag Separates, Miraclesuit Separates, Sunsets Separates, or Anne Cole Locker Separates.

Remember that each swimsuit is not created equal. If you are a D-cup long torso trying on a line that runs small in the bust and short in the torso no amount of sizing up is going to make that suit work as well on you as a line that is intended for your body type. Whenever possible shop in a specialty environment where the associates know their product. Feel free to send any specific questions and I can recommend designer lines that will best fit your needs.

~Bridget

quote:

---

Originally posted by diamond50:
Someone told me that swimsuits should always be
bought two sizes larger than your usual size.
How true is that?

---

Nancy,
I'd love to know what brands you bought. I am sorry that swimwear shopping is so traumatic for women. It makes me envious of men...on the beach with their big hairy bellies shining in the sun, happy as can be. Something is wrong with this picture!

~Bridget

quote:

---

Originally posted by AvalonBlondi:
Ok Girls..I'm thoroughly depressed today...I went out Bathing Suit (UGH, Yuck, Cough , Choke, Gag) shopping today out of necessity...my kids have given my Hubby and me a trip to the Caribbean for our 30th Anniversary..I have been putting off this shopping trip forever...anyway...I did it...and after trying on about 20 suits I reluctantly bought 3...2 black and one brown (which the saleswoman told me is the "new Black" this year...is it just me or are the lights in store dressing rooms unreasonably harsh?? my skin looked Green!!!!I think they should have candle light in bathing suit dressing rooms for goodness sakes...in any event...I bought nice flowy gaucho pants for one suit and long sarongs for the other 2...the thought of walking around in just a bathing suit was a little more than I could bear...hopefully no one will be looking when I slip intto the water and out of the sarong...I intend to leave it right by the edge of the pool....Gravity has become my mortal enemy...everything seems to be heading south!!!

---

Sarongs are great. Drop your sarong knot directly under your belly button to create more of a defined waistline.

~Bridget

quote:

---

Originally posted by yepthatsme2:
Thanks Bridget...will try the higher leg suit.
Do like the idea of the sarong, that Nancy mentioned.

---

My question........what do you do with all the loose skin after you've lost 60 lbs.?
All I have left is a roll around the middle and a tummy. Working on getting those down.
My thighs look horrible at the top because of all the loose skin, so I have a skirt on my black bathing suit, but the roll and tummy are still there.
Is there anything that is in a bathing suit that will help hide the "middle"?
Thanks Bridget.
P.S. I have a feeling you're going to tell me to purchase a sarong?

Bridget, I just tried your suggestion for tying the Sarong and dropping the knot directly under my belly button...it REALLY made a difference..I always wore them above my waistline with the knot on the side and there was no definition to my shape...just a coverup being a coverup...you really know your stuff!!! so...Thank You!!

Also...here are the brands I bought...
La Blanca
Anne Klein
Miracle Suit
All 3 have highcut legs...now all I have to do is go next Friday before we leave and get an airbrush tan...this will be a first for me..but I couldn't bear the thought of baring pale white flesh ...who was it that said..."Vanity...thy name is woman" ...what more can I say ?

Bridget, thanks for your great answer!

Bridget, wow, you really know your stuff. I am so impressed. Thanks for helping all of us to feel better about our bodies.

I am going to get fit by you while you are in the forums so I can tell eveyone how it went. Then I'll put a picture of me in my suit here so everyone can see it.

Just kidding about the second part.

I'm around next week and would love to meet you at the Towson store. Let's touch base by phone.

We are going to Mexico in June and I definitely need a new suit.

Nancy,
That is great news about the sarong. It is all in the details.I am glad to help. You made three good selections. La Blanca is one of my personal favorites.

I think that you will be pleased with the airbrush tan, a little color always makes me feel better. Have a great trip!

~Bridget

Dots,

You HAVE to do a show and tell!

d.

Hello Bridget ,

Don't I know your store . You are in the Mall here and not far from me. I just walk buy the store and maybe I will make a stop in some day . I have a black L.L.Bean Suit I think is a little big now. YOu have suites for one who is not perfect in every way ? Haaa...

Lynn,

Good for you! We travel on the same thought highway!

Life is tooo short to worry about such things (though I know we all do!)...and have them keep us from doing what we would love to do.

When I went to Hawaii this summer - it was the first time in 15 years that I had been in a swimsuit.

I had empowered myself to realize much of what you had said above...and went out with joy!

WHY NOT!

You go girl!

danita

p.s. in Italy you will see that the Italians are wayyyyy less body conscience then Americans are - you'll know what I mean when you get there. lol

Lynn,

You are a PEACH!

The topic WAS brought up to introduce a guest expert - but as with everything - there is room for us to expand the topic - specially with the crys of our heart.

You did NOT write a "thread-kill" post - it just got covered up and nobody noticed. Actually what you said was very compelling. Thanks for sharing!

Well, my dear, I can't speak for ALL of the Europeans - but many of them DON'T. In Italy it seemed if a girl was unmarried she was not allowed to shave. THat might be oldfashioned, I don't know.

You will love the beach in Italy - you will NOT stand out, trust me. You will be laying their giggling, saying, "Yup, that Divine Danita was soooo right".

hugs to ya sista, looking VERY forward to Sat!

Woooo hooooo! Party in Colorado!

D.

Renee,
We certainly do have suits for less than perfect bodies...swimwear is about playing up your positives and playing down your negatives. Trust me when I tell you that every woman can tell you something that she thinks is not perfect about her figure.

I'd love to set up a personal fit appointment for you with one of our fit consultants. It sounds like you are nearest to our Columbia, MD location, is that correct? I can take care of all of the arrangements. Let me know if you are interested.

Thanks for your post.

~Bridget

quote:

---

Originally posted by Renee:
Hello Bridget ,

Don't I know your store . You are in the Mall here and not far from me. I just walk buy the store and maybe I will make a stop in some day . I have a black L.L.Bean Suit I think is a little big now. YOu have suites for one who is not perfect in every way ? Haaa...

---

Dear "L"
Thank you for your questions and let me begin by saying WOO-HOO, Congratulations! This is not an uncommon question. I would suggest trying two things. The first is swimwear with control built into the fabric. This control helps to smooth the contours of your waist and eliminate “bumps”. I would look for Take Control (if you are longer in the torso) or Miraclesuit (if you are shorter in the torso). The second suggestion is to look for styles that have shirring across the midsection to help camouflage and create a defined waistline. I do love sarongs as a cover option to address upper leg issues but buying a matching pull on skirt also works really well and can be more comfortable.

Congrats again and remember that feeling good in the suit has more impact on how you look than any trick I can offer so don’t settle!

~Bridget

quote:

---

Originally posted by LSmith5434:
My question........what do you do with all the loose skin after you've lost 60 lbs.?
All I have left is a roll around the middle and a tummy. Working on getting those down.
My thighs look horrible at the top because of all the loose skin, so I have a skirt on my black bathing suit, but the roll and tummy are still there.
Is there anything that is in a bathing suit that will help hide the "middle"?
Thanks Bridget.
P.S. I have a feeling you're going to tell me to purchase a sarong?

---

Renee is closest to your Towson store.

Bridget, thanks for answering our questions.

I look forward to meeting you later this week for my bathing suit fitting.

I won't take pictures, but I will tell you ladies all about it.

I just thought I"d bring this topic back to the top since many parts of the country are in bathing suit season.

Great Idea Dotsie,
I am sure that many of you are dreading the swimwear shopping experience. I am here to help. Although I cannot promise miracles w/o seeing each of you in person I can certainly turn you on to the correct designers and help you to find the industry respected swimwear specialty stores in your area. You would be surprised what a difference shopping in a specialty environment will make in how you look on the beaches or by the pool.

Whatever you do this swimsuit season please promise me that you will ignore those silly magazine articles that compare your body to fruit or geometric shapes. There is no simple answer here because no two women have the same body. Whatever your shape there are tricks to better flatter and enhance it so fire away with your fashion trend questions, fit concerns, or other queries.

Happy Summer!

~Bridget

I am awaiting my new bathing suit. My answer for that weirdly shaped body, STAY IN THE WATER, no none will be the wiser! LOL

[ June 03, 2006, 09:58 PM: Message edited by: chatty lady ]

Any questions for Bridget?

I have lost 60+ lbs.
All that's left is my tummy. It doesn't want to go away.
I have what my mother calls "Banty Rooster" legs.
They look good until you get up close and can see the skin on the upper thighs is loose. This is the only way I know how to describe my legs.
Everyone says I have good looking legs, but can't
but haven't seen me in a bathing suit.
I bought a skirt suit to wear to Florida, and it looks AWFUL!!!!
What about a tank kini? Is that how you spell it?
Where the bottoms are like shorts?
I've only seen this type of suit in catalogs.
I've got a really weird shape with the small legs, and the tummy.
Sure could use some help.
Thank you so much
Lynne

Lynne, we'll let the expert give you her advice, but I think you should focus on the part of your body that looks good and get a suit that focuses on that instead of hiding the legs.

Congrats on losing 60 pounds. Now that's an accomplishment. How did you do it?

About two years ago I decided I was tired of injecting insulin into my tummy six times a day.
Yep, I'm diabetic.
Just stopped eating so much, stopped eating awful foods, and started to exercise.
It's done the job!!! The doc says I'm better than a "normal" person without diabetes now.
I only have to take meds in pill form now.
I have only 10 more lbs to go and it's not fun trying to lose thost last pounds.
There isn't any part of my body that looks good, that's my whole problem.
But planning to be in Southern California this summer at a friends who has a pool and would like to try to look kinda good in a suit.
Thanks for you comments Dotsie!
Lynne

Lynne, my husband is also a diabetic. He does about four shots a day. However, he also takes excellent care of himslef. He eats well. He's so disciplined. He also works out about five times a week and it hleps hom so much. I just wich it would hep enough for him to get off injections, but everyone is different. I'm glad it's worked for you. WOW! That's quite an accomplishment and soemthing to be very proud of.

No matter what you wear, you will surely look better than had you know lost ALL that weight.