Photo source: Jantzen.com

Swimsuit season is upon us! I love to swim, but navigating swimwear is always a hassle. In recent years I’ve worn a black skirted swimsuit. On good days, I think it looks charmingly retro. On bad days I think I look like an elderly Greek widow, minus sensible black lace-up shoes and a matching veil. Recently I’ve shaken things up by wearing a black-and-white polka-dotted top with the black skirt. Clearly I am a wild one.

But I’ll take this Greek-widow swimsuit ANY day over the hot pink bikini I wore as a teenager. At the time, I thought it looked cute. Now I can’t even look at photos from that time without wanting to throw a gigantic beach blanket over my Kodachrome self. Back then, wearing little insubstantial triangles of fabric seemed the thing to do–indeed, I was dressed no differently from my friends. These days, all a bikini says to me is Too Much Flesh and Too Little Dignity. Never mind that I no longer have that teenage figure, either–that’s beside the point. Even the very nicest body shape does not need to be put on display to the whole world–not if its owner has an eye toward good taste and modesty.

I enjoyed stumbling across this video by a designer who has an eye toward modest swimwear. I find her outlook refreshing. Don’t misunderstand–I don’t pine for the days of the “bathing machine,” and I’m extremely grateful for modern fabrics so that I don’t have to dogpaddle in wet wool! But IMO things have gone too far.

Don’t misunderstand–I don’t pine for the days of the “bathing machine,” and I’m extremely grateful for modern fabrics so that I don’t have to splash around in wet wool! But things have gone too far.

What do you and your daughters (and sons!) prefer to wear to the beach or pool?