Covering Your Bases: Best of Swim Coverups

We all know it's important to find a swimsuit that you feel great in.  (I shared my favorites here)  However, it's sort of silly to cover your awesome suit in some ratty old workout shorts when you could keep looking great while you eat your barbeque and head to the bar.  Or dance to your old school boom box by the pool, as I often do:

La Blanca tunic via Nordstrom

Luckily, there are tons of great swimsuit coverup options, and you don't need to get crazy and spend a lot of money.  I've picked a few of my favorites that won't break the budget, or make you miserably hot like all of the sweaters (wtf??)  that my favorite magazine editors seem to think are a great option for the beach in the heat:

Swim coverups by cardiganjunkie featuring a swim suit cover up

aerie  |  world market  |  piperlime

LOFT  |  asos  |  old navy  |  LOFT  |  asos

What do you like wearing for a coverup?  Know of any hidden gems that we should consider?

The Annual Swimsuit Post (For Hips and Boobs!)

Yeah, I typed "boobs" in the title of my blog post.  Ha! 

Today, I'm excited to post about a subject near and dear to my heart - dressing your curves!  As someone with lots of boob and hip, I can attest that shopping for a swimsuit can be really hard.  Realizing that the vast majority of suits at Target aren't going to decent on you really messes with your head, and there's nothing worse than jumping into the water as your breasts jump out of your top.

You know, there's also a lot to be said for keeping your bits covered, besides common decency... it's also pretty sexy:

image source unknown - please share if you know!

Marilyn knew what was up...

If your shape falls into the pear, apple, or hourglass category you'll want to look for sturdy fabrics, underwires, and suits with enough fabric on the hips and along the sides of the bust to maintain a smooth curve on your body.  I know that many magazines recommend string styles that can be adjusted to fit, but in my experience, these suits work best for sunbathing and not actual swimming and running around with your friends at the beach/lake.  So, I'm sorry, you'll find no teeny bikinis here!

A good suit is an investment that you'll be glad you made, but if you don't have much to spend, that's fine too.  I found options ranging from $24 to over $100! 

Check out the suits after the jump!

Vintage Inspired Swimwear: 2012 Edition

Can you believe that 2012 is already a quarter of the way over?  This year is flying by, and even though it feels early, it's time for swimsuit shopping.  Every year I receive some sort of request regarding swimwear, and where to find cute vintage-inspired looks.  I've decided to keep the trend going, and updated my yearly roundup of pinup style swimwear.

Honestly, I think looks like this will always be sexy:

Source: Uploaded by user via Julie on Pinterest

Source: media-cache1.pinterest.com via Catina on Pinterest

 I couldn't resist including Gidget and Moondoggie!

Personally, I adore my ruched halter-style swimsuit and feel super confident when I wear it.  I get lots of compliments, and my husband likes it better than a two-piece.  I'll be rocking my same suit again this year, and can't recommend it enough. 

I invested in the Esther Williams bathing beauty one-piece from Modcloth and it is worth every penny of $89.  The fabric is extremely thick and forgiving if you've got, as Bridget Jones would say, some wobbly bits, and the ruching hides many a sin (or food baby).  While I wouldn't wear it for a triathlon or anything, the top offers plenty of support and I don't find myself reaching for a cover-up every time I move.  (Go up a size if you order it, as the hundreds of 5 star reviews recommend) 

Bathing Beauty One Piece in Wine

There are tons of similar options around the internet, with J.Crew offering an impressive selection this year:

J.Crew Swim by cardiganjunkie featuring vintage style bathing suits

Modcloth and Piperlime also have some great looks, in a wide range of sizes:

One-Piece Swimwear by J.Crew
Two-Piece Swimwear by Panache

Two-Piece Swimwear at ModCloth
One-Piece Swimwear at ModCloth

And finally, if you're hard to fit (or just boobtastic) you should check out Figleaves where many of the suits are sized to fit up to a G cup.

One-Piece Swimwear by Panache
Two-Piece Swimwear by Figleaves

Whew, that was a lot of suits!  I think some of the brands may have gotten a bit mixed up, but I tried to make sure every piece is still available in a range of sizes. 

Which one is your favorite?  Are you a fan of the vintage trend, or more comfortable in other styles?  Let me know!

This post contains affiliate content, and I may earn a small commission if you choose to purchase one of the products. 

Vintage Inspired Swimwear Roundup

As you may recall, I jumped on the pinup style swimsuit bandwagon last year and loved how flirty and flattering the non-skimpy styles can be.  Since it's swimsuit season once again, I decided to round up some of my favorite styles in case you're interested in trading your string bikini for a suit with a little more coverage.

1. Modcloth Bathing Beauty One-Piece - I have this suit in wine and LOVE it.  It's worth every penny and, in my opinion, suggests that you're rocking a style you love rather than trying to cover up your body.
2. Modcloth Plus Size Bathing Beauty One-Piece - It looks great on everyone, I tell you!
3. Azure Padded Underwire Top and Brief via Figleaves
4. Panache Lucille Top and Brief via Figleaves

5. Rasurel Croisette Beandeau Swimsuit
6. Aerin Rose Shirred Healter One-Piece (with hidden underwire!)
7. Kenneth Cole Skirted One-Piece
8. Jantzen Vamp One-Piece

 9. DVF Maryelle Striped Bikini
10. J. Crew Tie Front Beandeau Tank
11. Anthropologie Natalie One-Piece
12. Modcloth Beach Blanket Bingo Two-Piece

So, what kind of suit do you plan to wear this year?