Swimsuit Shopping for the Mature Woman

In preparation for an upcoming trip to North Carolina's Outer Banks I went in search of a swimsuit. My search criteria is as follows: Cheap and relatively well fitting. That's not a lot to ask for, or at least I thought!

Since I was looking for "cheap" (price-wise, mind you), I took a look at the suits on the rack at my local Wal-Mart (local to me = 27 miles - 1 way). I was pleased to see a variety of styles, colors and sizes.

While I was looking, the sales clerk informed me that the swimwear on the racks were all that they had in stock. Armed with that knowledge, I started my search. I was tickled to find a very attractive one piece suit in my size - choice #1 in the cart. I then noticed the 2 piece separates - some of these had itty bitty string tops (yeah right!) and then I saw some tops with fabric that draped over the middle and ended around the bikini line (must have been designed my a REAL woman!). I found a few of those that I liked - some in my size, some that looked like they might fit. Then I went looking for the bottoms...I found tons of them; and they were teeny!

Now I might add that in my younger days I was all about a bikini ~ the skimpier the better...however, today that sadly isn't the case. I saw some that were "boy shorts". These looked like they had promise because they had ample material covering the posterior (a real must for me!). I found a few that I thought were my size. Just for fun (???) I found a few pair of bikini bottoms to match the tops already waiting in the cart.

The fun was about to start.

I parked my cart outside of the fitting room and started trying on my prospective purchases. I started with the one piece suit. Well, it fit, and it was inexpensive - which satisfied my search criteria. But something was wrong.....it showed every bulge in my body. I know that every woman has a shape...mine is lumpy!

Okay - on to the 2 piece suits. Okay - the boy shorts were extremely low rise - they were wrong for me on so many levels. I tried on one bottom with the little sassy skirt over the brief. Again, just not me (and looking at the abundance of this garment on the rack, just not anyone else, either). I tried on the bikini bottom and OMG it actually fit, not well, but they fit.

The tops were next. I quickly eliminated the bikini top - I actually laughed out loud at that one! Then I tried the last 2. I'm at the point in my life where I need support and comfort ~ if it's pretty, I get a bonus. Well, 1 top had no support, and boy did it show! Adjusting the straps simply forced "the girls" out the sides and under the wire. Finally, I found one that worked. (I swear, I could have heard a choir of angels singing) It gave me support, it was comfortable, it was pretty, and it was cheap! Hallelujah!

Now I found myself in a quandary - do I get the one piece suit, or the 2 piece? I thought about it for a few minutes and then came up with the answer - buy 'em both! But before I left the swimwear department I chose the last item that I need for my escapade to the beach...a cover-up!