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Monday 29 August 2022

Classic Dressing - Beachwear




Hello my lovelies!

I hope you’ve managed to keep cool this summer.


I have, by spending many hours swimming in our island’s invigorating and clean sea. 


I sling on a pair of shorts or this dress from Next 


and head for the beach, here with my Dutch friend La Duchesse. 



This is my favoured beach, Grandes Rocques.
It’s just down the road from my house so is convenient for a quick dip. 


On this day it was covered with long strands of sea weed, both on shore and in the sea, which made for pretty messy swimming.   I’m glad to say it’s not usually like this. 


So I spend a lot of time of the beach in summer - but what do I wear?
Swimwear, obvs. 

Do check the posts out - in one you get to see The Photographer doing his Daniel Craig on video!


You’ll see that the swimsuits I wear these days all provide good coverage.
No so much coverage in my younger days though, 
here’s what I wore in slimmer times. 


A bikini in a brown cotton with white pinprick spots. 


A black and white striped jersey bikini. 

Both of these bikinis would still work today, but just not on me.  
These days it’s not bikinis for me, obvs.  
You’ve seen my body covered, and that’s bad enough!
Trust me on this one. 



 I like  need a good cover up. 


Because this swimsuit (from Marks & Spencer) covers nicely around the bust area, I can just sling shorts or skirt on which makes for a fairly decent combo for walking to, from and on the beach. 



I also bought the same style in a different fabric.  
I wear these two on repeat all summer long. 


I have to say that because my time on the beach is either swimming or sitting in a granny chair wearing a beach dress cover up, these two practical swimsuits are my go tos for dipping. 
My view is that an abundance of cleavage isn’t a good look on a mature lady.  I felt uncomfortable wearing some of my older swimwear.  It was like I woke up one day and suddenly became aware that all my swimsuits were practically cut to the navel!  And although my bust still looks ok, I realized that an older woman displaying her wares wasn’t something I felt comfortable with.  
So I searched out a swimsuit with good cover and support around the bust.  
This style is perfect for a lady of a certain age.

But I will say that this style of swimsuit took an awful lot of googling so persevere if that’s the route you want to take.  I had to resort to a slightly unusual choice, as you will see in one of the links above.  But it works. 

Over the years my go-to online shop has been Bravissimo.  They do an excellent range of larger cup sizes in bras and swimwear, which drew me to the site. 






So I’ve been wearing my cover up swimsuits only these past few years.  My others don’t get a look in these days.  Like this one, sadly. 


This is a very pretty tankini from Bravissimo and it always reminds me of the Cote D’Azur.  I think it looks fresh and French; I can imagine a latter day Brigitte Bardot wearing something like this. 
And I did wear this on the Cote in 2016 so there is that too - a swimsuit with happy memories!


Our beaches are reminiscent of the Côte d’Azur, as the sea is a sparkly blue/jade and the sand is soft and white too. 

But back to my pretty tankini set shown above - it is a bit cleavagey and it also has underwiring. I no longer think underwiring is healthy for that sensitive area of my body, so I haven’t been wearing it, though one day I may remove the wire and see if the halter neck alone provides sufficient support. 
But there’s still the cleavage issue .,,
so maybe it’s time for it to go. 

Are you sensitive to cleavage display as you age?
And what’s your view on underwiring?


So, me and swimsuits have moved on light years. 


This is the closest you’ll get to seeing me in swimwear these days, mostly submerged in the sea. 


Or a head and shoulders

No full body shots!




The swimming has been simply wonderful this year. 





We’ve made good use of the beach.  


We’ve been careful to protect ourselves from the harmful rays of the sun of course. 


Chips of the beach is a once during the summer treat!


Yup.  Life really has been a beach this summer. 





Fortunately our beaches don’t get over crowded; these shot comparisons were taken on the same day during our first heatwave.   
I think the UK beach is Southend. 
In a UK heatwave, many living near the coast head for the sea to cool off, though I was surprised that more weren’t cooling themselves off in the sea.  That beach must have been hot!




Wishing my UK readers a very pleasant and sunny 
Bank Holiday Monday. 



A la perchoine,
Mary xxx. 











 



15 comments:

  1. Hi Mary, what wonderful beaches you have right on your doorstep. Lucky you! I am glad to hear that you have been able to enjoy them so much this long hot summer and with friends too. I still wear a bikini a few times a week to my local gym/ pool though I am one of a very small number of women of my age to do so. I have a few favourite ones and search the shops each year looking to add to my collection. I find certain halterneck styles suit me best I think. Keep enjoying the sunshine safely.

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    1. Oooh la la, so good to hear you’re still sporting bikinis, mine were put into retirement in my 50s, though do tankinis count?! Keep on rocking those two pieces and those flattering halter necks.
      Mary xxx.

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  2. Hi Mary, that comment was from me, oops.

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    1. Thanks for telling me Alysia! Unfortunately I lost my “name” here some months ago and I’ve tried getting it back but it just doesn’t work. So I’m always “anonymous “ now and have to remember to sign off every comment with my name.
      So, on that note,
      Mary xxx !!!

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  3. You picked some lovely swimsuits! I only have bikinis in my wardrobe now, I've tried one pieces in the past but it was always a bit hit and miss - and now after 2 kids I really need the separate pieces so I can get the right sizes - I only have a few bikinis that are the same size, the others the top and bottom are different sizes to properly accommodate things, haha!

    Hope you are having a lovely day :)

    Away From The Blue

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    1. Hi Mica,
      Bikinis do have that advantage, getting the bits to individually fit the changing body. And lucky you, you’ve got many more decades of bikini life to enjoy!
      Mary xxx.

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  4. How envious I am that you are just a short walk from the sea. It looks idyllic. I'm loving your beach wear both now and in the past. I had a similar striped jersey biking but in blue and black stripes and I loved it. I don't do bikinis now only swim suits and find it hard to find one without a very high cut leg. I'll check out Bravissimo so thank you for the tip!

    Hope you're having a good week
    xxx

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    1. Yes, I count myself lucky to have been born on an island and that I chose a home near the beach, which was such a bonus in lockdowns when we couldn’t drive to walk locations.
      Yes high cuts aren’t really us eh. I’m sure you’ll find something on Bravissimo and check out the sale tab, they usually have swimsuits in the sale too. Good luck!
      Mary xxx.

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  5. The print on that suit with the shorts is really pretty! I bought two swimsuits for my upcoming anniversary trip one a one piece with a cute small cutout and a 2 pieces (since the top is a bikini-covers well though, I am pairing with cute swim shorts). I typically make sure cleavage is quite covered and I really like full high waist bottoms. I have become more confident over the years but want to be sure I am comfortable and nothing will fall out =)
    www.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com

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    1. Hi Mireille, I do hope you show your swimwear on your blog when you post on your trip, they sound lovely!

      Mary xxx.

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  6. Your swimsuit is super cute! I love the blue and white tie dye cover up you have as well. I would love to live near a beach. It's so pretty where you live!

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    1. Thanks Laura, beach life is pretty nice! The dress is amazing. It’s loose and I’m able to change out from my wet swimsuit underneath it whilst protecting my modesty! I don’t think it was designed for that but I’ve made it work for me.
      Mary xxx.

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  7. How wonderful to live close to the sea. I grew up by the seaside and miss it all the time. I also prefer to hide cleavage and I found a good swimming costume at Mountain Warehouse with plenty of coverage! Also Speedo costumes are worth a look. Thanks for linking Mary xx

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    1. Yes DEVON has some lovely beaches, you must miss them. Thanks for your tips on where to find swimsuits

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  8. Wow you are beautiful I left a few comments on your Pinterest pics you make this old veteran snails

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