Embrace Beach Confidence with the Right Swimsuit for Your Body
Show Notes:
Summary:
In this episode of "Aging with Grace and Style," host Valerie Hatcher dives into the sometimes daunting world of bathing suit shopping for women over 50. Valerie shares her anecdotes and advice, offering tips and tricks to find a swimsuit that enhances confidence and flatters any body shape. She covers everything from embracing body positivity to understanding your unique body shape. Valerie emphasizes forgetting the size on the label, trying different styles, and choosing suits that make you feel comfortable and fabulous. Through real-life listener stories and empowering exercises, Valerie inspires listeners to embrace their beauty and enjoy beach time without insecurities.
Timestamps:
00:00 Bathing suit shopping tips for women over 50.
05:03 Focus on fit, not the numbered size.
08:23 Flattering swimsuit styles for different body shapes.
11:40 Serafina's story offers a powerful, important message.
14:53 Embrace joy, don't let appearance hold you back.
Key Takeaways
- Embrace your body's changes and recognize the beauty in every line, curve, and story it tells.
- Forget about the size on the label and focus on how a swimsuit fits and feels to find the one that makes you most comfortable.
- Understand your body shape to help guide your swimsuit choices and highlight your best features.
- Practice self-love and body positivity by identifying and appreciating aspects of your body that you love.
- Enjoy your beach time and create lasting memories without letting insecurities about your appearance hold you back.
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Mentioned in this episode:
10 Tips for Aging Gracefully
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Transcript
Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the thought of
Speaker:buying a bathing suit? What if
Speaker:there's a way to find the perfect one that
Speaker:makes you feel confident and fabulous no matter what
Speaker:your body shape.
Speaker:Hey, friend. Ever feel like those old fashioned
Speaker:ideas about aging just don't fit you? If you're ready to
Speaker:own this incredible chapter with grace, style, and a touch of
Speaker:sass, this is your space. Welcome to the aging with
Speaker:grace and style podcast. I'm Valerie Hatcher, and I'm here
Speaker:with empowering tips, inspiring stories, and a whole lot of
Speaker:fun just for us, women over 50. So grab
Speaker:your favorite beverage, turn up the volume, and let's
Speaker:get started. Today, we're
Speaker:diving into the world of bathing suit shopping.
Speaker:We all know that it can be a daunting task,
Speaker:but I'm here to share tips and tricks to help you find a
Speaker:swimsuit that you'll love, Whether you're hitting the
Speaker:beach, the pool, or just lounging in your backyard,
Speaker:I want you to feel your best. So
Speaker:let's jump right in. Now, let's start by
Speaker:acknowledging something important. Our bodies have been
Speaker:through a lot. We've lived. We've
Speaker:loved. We've probably had children and
Speaker:or gone through menopause. And you know what?
Speaker:That's beautiful. Every line,
Speaker:every curve, every change tells a
Speaker:story of a well lived life.
Speaker:Now let me tell you how we got to this topic
Speaker:today. So we are planning a trip to
Speaker:the beach for our 30th wedding anniversary.
Speaker:And once we got the resort booked and the airline tickets
Speaker:bought, I started to think about what I'm going to wear.
Speaker:Okay. I know it's over a month away, but
Speaker:still, that's top of mind for me.
Speaker:Anyhoo, top of this list is swimsuits.
Speaker:I actually have some that I've never worn, and
Speaker:providing they still fit now that I've lost some weight,
Speaker:they'll be going with me. But I remembered
Speaker:the angst that I felt when I shopped for those suits.
Speaker:Standing in the dressing room mirror, criticizing my thighs,
Speaker:my boobs, my arms, you name it. I
Speaker:remember trying, long time ago, to buy swimsuits
Speaker:that actually felt like they had girdle in them because
Speaker:that would hold everything in. So
Speaker:trust me, I get it. Standing in front of that
Speaker:fitting room mirror can be daunting. We
Speaker:but we're all in this together. So today, we're going
Speaker:to tackle everything from finding the most flattering
Speaker:styles for different body types to embracing
Speaker:body positivity and feeling confident on the beach.
Speaker:Let's start with those changes that
Speaker:we experience after 50. It's common to
Speaker:notice changes in our waistline, perhaps some
Speaker:loose skin on our arms or a shift in where
Speaker:we carry weight. Our skin might not be as
Speaker:firm as it once was. And you know what? That's
Speaker:perfectly normal and okay.
Speaker:These changes, they don't define us, but they make
Speaker:they might influence how we shop for bathing
Speaker:suits. For example, if you're feeling less
Speaker:confidence about your your tummy area, then you
Speaker:might look for suits with ruching or tummy
Speaker:control panels that I mentioned before, but I called them
Speaker:girdles, but that's what I was talking about. If you want more
Speaker:supportive top, then you might wanna look for built in bras
Speaker:or molded cups. Remember, the goal
Speaker:isn't to hide our bodies, but
Speaker:to find swimwear that makes us feel
Speaker:comfortable and confident. Let's
Speaker:dive into some practical tips for bathing suit shopping.
Speaker:1st and foremost, forget about the size on the label.
Speaker:Size is very widely between brands, so focus
Speaker:on how the suit fits and fills and not the
Speaker:number. I remember back in the day getting so
Speaker:frustrated about the size that would
Speaker:show in my the swimsuit swimsuit that I was going to buy
Speaker:because the size of the swimsuit was in no
Speaker:way equivalent to my regular clothing size.
Speaker:But then I later realized we all go through that, and then I
Speaker:started to feel a little better. But now
Speaker:before we shop, let's spend a few minutes kinda
Speaker:understanding our body shape. This can can really
Speaker:help when when you're on the hunt for that perfect bathing
Speaker:suit. We all have unique bodies, and that's
Speaker:something to celebrate. Here are,
Speaker:a few common body shapes. We'll talk about
Speaker:some tips in selecting suits for those body shapes later.
Speaker:The first is hourglass shape. So if you have
Speaker:an hourglass shape, then your bust and your hips are roughly
Speaker:the same width with a well
Speaker:defined waist. There's pear shape.
Speaker:So if you have a pear shape, then your hips are wider than your bust
Speaker:and your shoulders. There's the apple shape.
Speaker:If you have an apple shape, then you carry more
Speaker:weight around your midsection for a with
Speaker:a fuller bust waist and upper back.
Speaker:There's the rectangle shape. And if you have a
Speaker:rectangle shape, then your bust, your waist, and your
Speaker:hips are fairly uniformed in width.
Speaker:And then lastly, there's the inverted triangle shape.
Speaker:Now, if you're an inverted triangle, then your shoulders, your
Speaker:bust, and your bust are broader than your hips.
Speaker:So now that we've considered our shape, let's talk
Speaker:about styles. Don't be afraid to try
Speaker:different styles. One pieces are great for
Speaker:providing coverage and support. Now if you prefer
Speaker:a 2 piece, then maybe consider, a
Speaker:tankini. Now they offer the coverage of a 1
Speaker:piece with the convenience of a bikini. Plus, with
Speaker:tankinis, the cool thing is that you can mix
Speaker:and match the tops and the bottoms to allow you to get a perfect
Speaker:fit. Now if you're somebody who wants
Speaker:more coverage on the bottom, then
Speaker:swim skirts or boy shorts are a fantastic
Speaker:item. I have a swimsuit with some boy shorts, and I
Speaker:actually really do love it. They provide extra
Speaker:coverage for the hips and the thighs while still looking
Speaker:stylish. We talked about
Speaker:body shape a few minutes ago. Now I'm gonna circle back
Speaker:and provide some suggestions for each shape.
Speaker:So our first was the hour gap hourglass
Speaker:shape. As a reminder, that's where your bust and your hips are
Speaker:roughly the same. If that's your shape, then look for
Speaker:styles that highlight your waist. High waisted
Speaker:bikinis and belted 1 pieces are great choices.
Speaker:Pear shape, remember, your hips are wider than your
Speaker:shoulders. For a swimsuit, maybe balanced
Speaker:by drawing attention to your upper body.
Speaker:Avoid boy shorts and thick banded bottoms that can
Speaker:make your hips look wider.
Speaker:Since with the apple shape, you carry more weight
Speaker:around your midsection with a fuller bust,
Speaker:waist, and upper back, then you might consider
Speaker:swimsuits that provide good support and structure, such
Speaker:as tankinis with tummy control or 1
Speaker:pieces with ruching. For rank
Speaker:rectangle shape, your bust, your
Speaker:waist, and your hips are fairly uniform in width,
Speaker:so you create curves with styles that add
Speaker:volume to your bust and your hips. Try to
Speaker:avoid or consider avoiding,
Speaker:straight 1 piece suits that might emphasize a
Speaker:boxy look. And then again, there's the inverted
Speaker:triangle shape. Your shoulders and your bust are
Speaker:broader than your hips. So balance your proportions
Speaker:by drawing attention to your lower body.
Speaker:Alright. So let's move on to color
Speaker:and pattern. Darker colors can have a slimming
Speaker:effect, but don't be afraid of patterns.
Speaker:Vertical stripes can elongate your figure while a
Speaker:bold print can draw the eye where you want it to
Speaker:go. At the end of the day,
Speaker:it's important that you just that you try on a few
Speaker:different swimsuits. So when you're trying them on, make sure
Speaker:that you move around in them. You bend. You stretch. You sit
Speaker:down because a suit might look great when you're
Speaker:standing still, but you wanna make sure that it stays
Speaker:in place when you're active.
Speaker:Oh, and if you're shopping online, like many of us do,
Speaker:check out the reviews and size guides.
Speaker:Many websites have detailed measurements and
Speaker:customer reviews that can help you make a better choice.
Speaker:Remember, the most important
Speaker:thing is to choose something that makes you feel
Speaker:fantastic. If you feel great in a bright floral
Speaker:print, then, girl, go for it. So before I
Speaker:go any further, I wanna share a story that I
Speaker:got from one of our listeners. Her name is Seraphina, and she's from
Speaker:Florida. And she writes, for years,
Speaker:I avoided the beach because I felt self conscious
Speaker:in a bathing suit. But last summer, I
Speaker:decided enough was enough. I bought a suit that I
Speaker:loved. I put it on and went to the beach with my grandkids.
Speaker:You know what? Nobody was looking at me.
Speaker:They were all too busy having fun. It was a
Speaker:powerful reminder that life's too short to let
Speaker:insecurities hold us back. Seraphina, I hope
Speaker:you're listening right now, and I wanna thank you for sharing that with
Speaker:us. It's a beautiful reminder of what's
Speaker:truly important. Her story
Speaker:reminds me of many times when I've been at the beach and
Speaker:realized no one cares about what the next person has
Speaker:on. I hope that Serafina's story
Speaker:resonated with you as much as it did with me. It's
Speaker:a powerful reminder that often our
Speaker:biggest critic is ourselves.
Speaker:Now let's talk about body positivity. I know it
Speaker:can be challenging to feel confident in a bathing suit,
Speaker:especially when society sets such
Speaker:unrealistic standards. But remember,
Speaker:everybody is a beachbody. Embrace your curves, your
Speaker:lines, your everything. It's all part
Speaker:of what makes you, you. I have a
Speaker:quick exercise for you. I want you to
Speaker:think of 3 things that you
Speaker:love about your body. They can be anything. It could
Speaker:be your strong legs that have carried you through life,
Speaker:your hands that have held your children or your grandchildren,
Speaker:your smile that lights up a room.
Speaker:So while you're thinking, here are mine. Mine are my long
Speaker:legs. My feet. Yes. I said my feet. And
Speaker:I say that because I think my feet look
Speaker:good in heels, and y'all know how much I love wearing heels.
Speaker:And then my big eyes, those would be my 3. Now back to
Speaker:you. Take a moment to really
Speaker:appreciate these aspects of yourself. Okay.
Speaker:You got them? Then great. Now here's your homework.
Speaker:I want you to write these down and put them somewhere
Speaker:where you'll you'll see them often. Maybe
Speaker:on your mirror as sticky notes or as a note
Speaker:in your phone. And then whenever you're feeling
Speaker:less than confident, especially when trying on
Speaker:bathing suits, then I want you to remember these things.
Speaker:Remember, confidence isn't about how you look.
Speaker:It's about how you feel, and that's something that we have
Speaker:control over. Here are a few
Speaker:helpful strategies for boosting beach confidence.
Speaker:Number 1. Practice positive self talk.
Speaker:Instead of criticizing your body, thank it for all it
Speaker:does for you. Number 2, focus on how
Speaker:you feel, not how you look. Choose a bathing suit
Speaker:that feels comfortable and allows you to enjoy your
Speaker:time at the beach or the pool. 3,
Speaker:remember that everyone is too focused on themselves to be
Speaker:judging you. Most people are dealing with their own
Speaker:insecurities. 4, surround
Speaker:yourself with positive people who lift you up,
Speaker:not those who body shame themselves or others.
Speaker:Now before we wrap up, I want to address one
Speaker:more important point. The joy
Speaker:of beach time. So whether it's feeling the
Speaker:sand between your toes, the sun on your skin, or the
Speaker:laughter of your loved ones, these are the things that truly
Speaker:matter. Don't let concerns about your appearance
Speaker:rob you of these precious moments. To close,
Speaker:I'll leave you with this thought. You are worthy of enjoying
Speaker:life, of filling the sand and the sea,
Speaker:of making memories with your loved ones regardless of what you
Speaker:look like in a bathing suit. Your worth isn't
Speaker:determined by your appearance, but by the fullness of your
Speaker:life and the love in your heart. As
Speaker:always, thank you for joining me on this journey today.
Speaker:Remember, the perfect bathing suit is the one that
Speaker:makes you feel amazing and lets you fully
Speaker:enjoy your beach time. Until next time,
Speaker:embrace your beach confidence.
Speaker:Thanks for hanging out with me today. I hope you're feeling
Speaker:inspired and ready to own your awesomeness. I love
Speaker:sharing this space with you. And if you love today's episode,
Speaker:do me a favor, share it with a friend who could use some
Speaker:extra inspiration. A quick rating and review
Speaker:really helps too. Don't forget to subscribe so
Speaker:you never miss an episode. Let's keep this conversation
Speaker:going. Head over to pod.aging with
Speaker:graceinstyle.com to sign up for my newsletter.
Speaker:Until next time, keep shining with grace,
Speaker:style, and a whole lot of sass.
