“IT’S NOT ABOUT WHAT SIZE YOU WEAR – IT’S ABOUT HOW YOU WEAR YOUR SIZE”

I love this quote, I love the body positivity movement, the rhetoric around size inclusivity, I admire the women who are courageous and get ‘out there’ proud of the size they are. I wish it were me.

Believing everyone has the right to love and celebrate their body, regardless of shape, size, ethnicity or ability, all sounds great, encouraging and empowering, but what if you still can’t find the clothing in your size, or the swimwear to fit your shape or have no idea what to look for… words need to be supported with fashion that fits and honest sizing.

I used to be the woman who could walk into a fashionable chain store and buy a killer dress that complimented my curves to look like Jessica Rabbit.  (If only I believed I was beautiful back then) I am no longer that curvaceous bunny, without breasts I would look more like a box with arms and legs.  All those curves have succumbed to menopause, gravity and neglect to become the ‘wholesome woman’ I am today.  Being wholesome doesn’t mean I don’t want to be confident, colourful and desirable, though.

Since starting the Barefoot Beach Boutique in Lancelin, Western Australia in 2022, I have learned that much of the fashion styles I would like to wear and supply (Boho, Hippie, Beach Casual) either ‘max-out’ at size 14, are just made bigger all over for the ‘big girls’ like me and don’t have any real shape or style or are generically labelled as unrealistic sizes.

I want Barefoot Beach Boutique to be a place that we Rubenesque and voluptuous women can find swimwear and beachwear that is fashionable, colourful and flattering.  I am slowly testing out various brands, trying to wear some of the outfits or dragging local women into trying things on for me, and doing parades for others to view our range.

My idea with these Blogs is to share what I have learned about clothing & Swimwear; as well as, seek your input into ‘what would be good’.

Here are some of the things I have learned so far about Swimwear, if you:

• Are slim with big boobs: All of the Swimwear Brands I supply, instore and online, claim to have the ability to support breasts up to a F-cup (larger in some brands), however, please note; generic styled bikinis may still be of generic sizing, i.e. bikini tops described as suitable for D-EE cup may not provide the support you need. For these situations, BBB does have bikini tops that are styled like a bra, with wire or without, that are designed to support ‘the girls’ and are fashionable prints, with pants to match.  You can often order your bikini top by matching it to the size of your bra. Our bikinis range from size 6-22. 
• Want some tummy supporting bikini bottoms? Bikini bottoms can be paired with a bikini top, a tankini (swim singlet) or a rashie (swim t-shirt, long or short sleeved). We have regular, mid and high waisted bikini bottoms. Regular pants are below your belly button, with little tummy support, mid are basically belly-button height and help contain the apron but may leave a muffin-top, while high pants are above belly button and can take charge of all! Support in the pants comes from ‘power-mesh’ and rouching to flatter.  I prefer the high waist style with power mesh and rouching, feels like I can keep the muffin within its packaging. 
• Are thinking about Tankinis, the singlet swimwear. Tankinis are often styled with powermesh and tummy support. Their length can vary from waist to hip length.  They can have wire breast support or not and go up to almost any size cup. If you need a cup size not available instore or online, please contact BBB, we may be able to order especially for you.   They are the more discreet two-piece and suit many sizes and shapes and come in most of the prints of bikinis.  Available in BBB sizes 8-24.
• Like the protection of Rashies Traditionally rashies have been for sun protection, and still are perfect to protect us from harmful rays, but I have learned that they are also fabulous general swimwear, paired with bikini bottoms. Many rashies now come with a shelf bra, which are adequate support for many breast sizes but if you are needing more support, I would add a swimming bra. My preference is to have a short sleeved rashie with bikini bottoms for both the beach and the pool.  I am not fond of my ‘angel wings’ or my verdoobadoobs, as my kids called them (the back fat emphasised by bras and floppy arms scenario), so I feel a lot more comfortable wearing a t-shirt type swimming top with separate bottoms.  Also …. So much easier to go to the loo when you only have pants to take down, and you don’t have to wriggle out of the suctioned stuck one-piece.  We have them up to size 22
• Prefer one-piece bathers. The one-piece is truly size inclusive, and in BBB, comes in sizes 8-22, we can get larger if you would need. The one-piece has all the breast support available in bikini tops and come with powermesh tummy support as well. The one-piece is a beautiful fashion piece, many colours and flattering styles for all sizes, and the most delightful fabrics you could imagine.   As I mentioned earlier, I find squiggling into and out of a one-piece, when they are wet, to be a workout in itself, so find it simpler to go the two piece combination.
• Swimming dresses are the bomb! Underneath the dress is the magical powermesh holding all together and draped elegantly overtop is a dress with fabulous prints and decorative highlights.  They are beautiful and most no longer do the whole jellyfish floating thing around your tummy when you are in the water – know what I mean?  Most swimming dresses are one-piece, although there are exceptions, so the squiggling workout may be an issue, but for a flattering bathing suit that you can strut comfortably and sexily around the pool, I love the swim dress.  If you are interested in a swimdress with no bottom, let me know.
• Swimming shorts, we have those too. Actually, we have shorts and longs for swimming.  These include two-piece bathing suits suitable for religious sensibilities, with a removable hijab, if required.   These swimsuits are really beautiful, with colourful accents, and have maximum sun protection.  I have sold these to women who have skin conditions requiring maximum coverage.  Unfortunately, the sets I have do not have an inbuilt bra, so you may need to wear a bikini underneath.

In my limited retail experience, I have found the swimwear world to be one of the most responsive to women’s individualities.  Interestingly, the fear I used to have about donning a pair of bathers has been considerably appeased through the positive and helpful engagement I have experienced as a retailer of several brands.  I am confident if you want to get back in the water, BBB can find you something beautiful to wear.

If you have any special needs, ideas or dreams regarding swimwear for yourself, please feel free to contact us at BBB and let us help you find out what fits.  If we don’t stock it, we will find out who does. 

 Thank you for being you xx