Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the thought of

buying a bathing suit? What if

there's a way to find the perfect one that

makes you feel confident and fabulous no matter what

your body shape.

Hey, friend. Ever feel like those old fashioned

ideas about aging just don't fit you? If you're ready to

own this incredible chapter with grace, style, and a touch of

sass, this is your space. Welcome to the aging with

grace and style podcast. I'm Valerie Hatcher, and I'm here

with empowering tips, inspiring stories, and a whole lot of

fun just for us, women over 50. So grab

your favorite beverage, turn up the volume, and let's

get started. Today, we're

diving into the world of bathing suit shopping.

We all know that it can be a daunting task,

but I'm here to share tips and tricks to help you find a

swimsuit that you'll love, Whether you're hitting the

beach, the pool, or just lounging in your backyard,

I want you to feel your best. So

let's jump right in. Now, let's start by

acknowledging something important. Our bodies have been

through a lot. We've lived. We've

loved. We've probably had children and

or gone through menopause. And you know what?

That's beautiful. Every line,

every curve, every change tells a

story of a well lived life.

Now let me tell you how we got to this topic

today. So we are planning a trip to

the beach for our 30th wedding anniversary.

And once we got the resort booked and the airline tickets

bought, I started to think about what I'm going to wear.

Okay. I know it's over a month away, but

still, that's top of mind for me.

Anyhoo, top of this list is swimsuits.

I actually have some that I've never worn, and

providing they still fit now that I've lost some weight,

they'll be going with me. But I remembered

the angst that I felt when I shopped for those suits.

Standing in the dressing room mirror, criticizing my thighs,

my boobs, my arms, you name it. I

remember trying, long time ago, to buy swimsuits

that actually felt like they had girdle in them because

that would hold everything in. So

trust me, I get it. Standing in front of that

fitting room mirror can be daunting. We

but we're all in this together. So today, we're going

to tackle everything from finding the most flattering

styles for different body types to embracing

body positivity and feeling confident on the beach.

Let's start with those changes that

we experience after 50. It's common to

notice changes in our waistline, perhaps some

loose skin on our arms or a shift in where

we carry weight. Our skin might not be as

firm as it once was. And you know what? That's

perfectly normal and okay.

These changes, they don't define us, but they make

they might influence how we shop for bathing

suits. For example, if you're feeling less

confidence about your your tummy area, then you

might look for suits with ruching or tummy

control panels that I mentioned before, but I called them

girdles, but that's what I was talking about. If you want more

supportive top, then you might wanna look for built in bras

or molded cups. Remember, the goal

isn't to hide our bodies, but

to find swimwear that makes us feel

comfortable and confident. Let's

dive into some practical tips for bathing suit shopping.

1st and foremost, forget about the size on the label.

Size is very widely between brands, so focus

on how the suit fits and fills and not the

number. I remember back in the day getting so

frustrated about the size that would

show in my the swimsuit swimsuit that I was going to buy

because the size of the swimsuit was in no

way equivalent to my regular clothing size.

But then I later realized we all go through that, and then I

started to feel a little better. But now

before we shop, let's spend a few minutes kinda

understanding our body shape. This can can really

help when when you're on the hunt for that perfect bathing

suit. We all have unique bodies, and that's

something to celebrate. Here are,

a few common body shapes. We'll talk about

some tips in selecting suits for those body shapes later.

The first is hourglass shape. So if you have

an hourglass shape, then your bust and your hips are roughly

the same width with a well

defined waist. There's pear shape.

So if you have a pear shape, then your hips are wider than your bust

and your shoulders. There's the apple shape.

If you have an apple shape, then you carry more

weight around your midsection for a with

a fuller bust waist and upper back.

There's the rectangle shape. And if you have a

rectangle shape, then your bust, your waist, and your

hips are fairly uniformed in width.

And then lastly, there's the inverted triangle shape.

Now, if you're an inverted triangle, then your shoulders, your

bust, and your bust are broader than your hips.

So now that we've considered our shape, let's talk

about styles. Don't be afraid to try

different styles. One pieces are great for

providing coverage and support. Now if you prefer

a 2 piece, then maybe consider, a

tankini. Now they offer the coverage of a 1

piece with the convenience of a bikini. Plus, with

tankinis, the cool thing is that you can mix

and match the tops and the bottoms to allow you to get a perfect

fit. Now if you're somebody who wants

more coverage on the bottom, then

swim skirts or boy shorts are a fantastic

item. I have a swimsuit with some boy shorts, and I

actually really do love it. They provide extra

coverage for the hips and the thighs while still looking

stylish. We talked about

body shape a few minutes ago. Now I'm gonna circle back

and provide some suggestions for each shape.

So our first was the hour gap hourglass

shape. As a reminder, that's where your bust and your hips are

roughly the same. If that's your shape, then look for

styles that highlight your waist. High waisted

bikinis and belted 1 pieces are great choices.

Pear shape, remember, your hips are wider than your

shoulders. For a swimsuit, maybe balanced

by drawing attention to your upper body.

Avoid boy shorts and thick banded bottoms that can

make your hips look wider.

Since with the apple shape, you carry more weight

around your midsection with a fuller bust,

waist, and upper back, then you might consider

swimsuits that provide good support and structure, such

as tankinis with tummy control or 1

pieces with ruching. For rank

rectangle shape, your bust, your

waist, and your hips are fairly uniform in width,

so you create curves with styles that add

volume to your bust and your hips. Try to

avoid or consider avoiding,

straight 1 piece suits that might emphasize a

boxy look. And then again, there's the inverted

triangle shape. Your shoulders and your bust are

broader than your hips. So balance your proportions

by drawing attention to your lower body.

Alright. So let's move on to color

and pattern. Darker colors can have a slimming

effect, but don't be afraid of patterns.

Vertical stripes can elongate your figure while a

bold print can draw the eye where you want it to

go. At the end of the day,

it's important that you just that you try on a few

different swimsuits. So when you're trying them on, make sure

that you move around in them. You bend. You stretch. You sit

down because a suit might look great when you're

standing still, but you wanna make sure that it stays

in place when you're active.

Oh, and if you're shopping online, like many of us do,

check out the reviews and size guides.

Many websites have detailed measurements and

customer reviews that can help you make a better choice.

Remember, the most important

thing is to choose something that makes you feel

fantastic. If you feel great in a bright floral

print, then, girl, go for it. So before I

go any further, I wanna share a story that I

got from one of our listeners. Her name is Seraphina, and she's from

Florida. And she writes, for years,

I avoided the beach because I felt self conscious

in a bathing suit. But last summer, I

decided enough was enough. I bought a suit that I

loved. I put it on and went to the beach with my grandkids.

You know what? Nobody was looking at me.

They were all too busy having fun. It was a

powerful reminder that life's too short to let

insecurities hold us back. Seraphina, I hope

you're listening right now, and I wanna thank you for sharing that with

us. It's a beautiful reminder of what's

truly important. Her story

reminds me of many times when I've been at the beach and

realized no one cares about what the next person has

on. I hope that Serafina's story

resonated with you as much as it did with me. It's

a powerful reminder that often our

biggest critic is ourselves.

Now let's talk about body positivity. I know it

can be challenging to feel confident in a bathing suit,

especially when society sets such

unrealistic standards. But remember,

everybody is a beachbody. Embrace your curves, your

lines, your everything. It's all part

of what makes you, you. I have a

quick exercise for you. I want you to

think of 3 things that you

love about your body. They can be anything. It could

be your strong legs that have carried you through life,

your hands that have held your children or your grandchildren,

your smile that lights up a room.

So while you're thinking, here are mine. Mine are my long

legs. My feet. Yes. I said my feet. And

I say that because I think my feet look

good in heels, and y'all know how much I love wearing heels.

And then my big eyes, those would be my 3. Now back to

you. Take a moment to really

appreciate these aspects of yourself. Okay.

You got them? Then great. Now here's your homework.

I want you to write these down and put them somewhere

where you'll you'll see them often. Maybe

on your mirror as sticky notes or as a note

in your phone. And then whenever you're feeling

less than confident, especially when trying on

bathing suits, then I want you to remember these things.

Remember, confidence isn't about how you look.

It's about how you feel, and that's something that we have

control over. Here are a few

helpful strategies for boosting beach confidence.

Number 1. Practice positive self talk.

Instead of criticizing your body, thank it for all it

does for you. Number 2, focus on how

you feel, not how you look. Choose a bathing suit

that feels comfortable and allows you to enjoy your

time at the beach or the pool. 3,

remember that everyone is too focused on themselves to be

judging you. Most people are dealing with their own

insecurities. 4, surround

yourself with positive people who lift you up,

not those who body shame themselves or others.

Now before we wrap up, I want to address one

more important point. The joy

of beach time. So whether it's feeling the

sand between your toes, the sun on your skin, or the

laughter of your loved ones, these are the things that truly

matter. Don't let concerns about your appearance

rob you of these precious moments. To close,

I'll leave you with this thought. You are worthy of enjoying

life, of filling the sand and the sea,

of making memories with your loved ones regardless of what you

look like in a bathing suit. Your worth isn't

determined by your appearance, but by the fullness of your

life and the love in your heart. As

always, thank you for joining me on this journey today.

Remember, the perfect bathing suit is the one that

makes you feel amazing and lets you fully

enjoy your beach time. Until next time,

embrace your beach confidence.

Thanks for hanging out with me today. I hope you're feeling

inspired and ready to own your awesomeness. I love

sharing this space with you. And if you love today's episode,

do me a favor, share it with a friend who could use some

extra inspiration. A quick rating and review

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Until next time, keep shining with grace,

style, and a whole lot of sass.