With summer fast approaching, it’s time to think about which bathing suit I’ll choose to wear when it’s time to hit the beach. Soon after I arrived home from school for summer vacation, my sister and I made a trip to the mall to peruse the racks of our favorite stores and see which bikinis were in style this season. While I found some adorable swimsuits, I also noticed that a great many of them looked a lot like… underwear.
I have been an avid swimsuit shopper for many summers, yet I have never encountered a suit with a top that looks more like a bra than a bikini. Apprehensive, I tried one on, hoping that maybe it wouldn’t look as strange as I expected. While it was a comfortable suit with a cute pattern, I just couldn’t get over the fact that I looked like I was wearing underwear. Feeling awkward in the dressing room, I decided, did not give me much hope for how I would feel poolside. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, here are some suits that could give you a better idea of what these lingerie-inspired swimsuits look like:
These are just a few examples. They’re all great colors (I especially like the purple one), but I just wouldn’t feel comfortable hanging out on the beach in a swimsuit that looks like lingerie. While bikinis do often have a shape similar to regular underwear, in my opinion these suits ride the line between cute swimwear and undergarments.
Personally, I’m a fan of bright tops in triangle or strapless styles. Check the gallery for some of my favorite swimsuits this season:
So what do you Lovelies think? Are the lingerie-inspired swimsuits a good thing or bad? What kind of suit will you be wearing to the beach this summer?
guest
I noticed on the Free People website that a lot of their bottoms looked like underwear. I was so confused and thought I was in the wrong section. Nope, it was definitely a bikini bottom. I guess it’s alright but I’m not very comfortable in a bikini let alone walking around in lacy underwear… I’ll just stick with a normal looking bikini.
guest
I don’t see why it matters. They basically are underwear anyway. I’ve worn regular underwear before on spontaneous beach visits and didn’t feel weird at all.
guest
Essentially bikinis are underwear! But they do look more like underwear with the addition of lace trim and underwires. I do like the fact that some have underwire, it offers more support than suits without. I wouldn’t even think of wearing a triangle top because the lack of support, plus it wouldn’t be a pretty picture for all to see. I’m going with a one-piece. As usual.
daisy / 603 posts
There isn’t much of a difference between underwear and bathing suits – so, why can’t they look like each other?
guest
I always thought they looked the same anyway.
guest
Because they’re pretty much the same thing. Swimsuits are basically underwear for going underwater in public.
daffodil / 1615 posts
I don’t get the like, extreme push-up bikini tops. It just looks really uncomfortable, and I wouldn’t want to spend all day on the beach with an underwire poking into me.
orchid / 160 posts
The cover image looks like something jwoww would wear.
sunflower / 332 posts
Bikinis are supposed to be underwear in which you could bathe in, but you could easily tell a bikini set from an underwear set apart. Two days ago I went to walmart to buy a swimming suit (i’m not a beach enthusiast, but we were invited and my husband wants me to go swimming with him), I’m not a fan of two pieces, however, when I was looking for the bathing suit section, I got confused and could’ve sworn that I was in the lingerie section, but I was actually in the right place. Everything looks like ordinary bras and panties you would wear on a daily basis, they didn’t look nothing like swimwear! I guess that’s the style now a days! But if that’s the case, I’d rather save money and go to the beach in my bra and panties instead!
guest
because bra top offer better support over the tube top style and string style…
daisy / 505 posts
I’m like a 34 DD so I need underwire basically…sucks cause all the bikinis do look like underwear with underwire. Luckily I found a cute tankini top. It’s concealed in the bathing suit so it isn’t a problem
guest
it has always been like tht no?
guest
The only one that looks like underwear to me is the first one with the pink lace. The other ones look like swimsuits. My bra size is a 32 or 30F, if my bra doesn’t have underwire in it then I am not wearing it.
guest
ive been saying for years underwear and swimsuits show the same amount of stuff! pretty much unless you’re into thongs. thats why I don’t see the big deal if people are changing and someone sees you in your underwear- its not anything you wouldn’t see @ the beach. i find it strange people have such a differentiation when realistically unless you wear a 1 piece there isn’t one. same cuts, different fabric.
guest
That’s why I wear one-piece suits, so it doesn’t look like underwear
guest
because 2-piece bathing suits are pretty much underwear, just made with water-proof material.
guest
I’m on your side here. I can’t stand feeling like I’m parading around in underwear only, no matter how cute it is. It’s hard to find a decent swimsuit these days that isn’t just tacky. :/ You know? Anywho. And I wish other women felt this way too. :/