Over the years we have seen a lot of fashion trends come and go, and then come back again. From flared jeans, chokers, to platform shoes, history really does find a way to repeat itself. But amongst all of the recent fashion come backs, the one that catches my attention the most is the revival of the one piece of bathing suit. For years the only way to look sexy by the pool or at the beach was to prance around in the skimpiest of bikinis. The more skin, the better. Now it seems that covering your midsection and being a little more “modest” is the hot new trend and a way to be considered sexy. If I am being honest, I love it, but I also hate it. I love the trend so much that I bought one, but I hate it so much at the same time that I have yet to wear it. I guess I should explain myself.
I love the one-piece bathing suit trend very much from a fashion standpoint. I think the way they are designed is nostalgic (and who doesn’t love nostalgia), classy by leaving something’s to the imagination, but still very sexy. I, like many other women, have struggled with a lack of confidence of how my body looks and with the “one piece revival” I can finally cover those parts of my body I haven’t liked without committing a crime of fashion. Isn’t that the funny thing though? My desire to gain confidence by covering the parts of my body I didn’t like was considered a crime of fashion, which in turn would make the confidence I was hoping to gain null and void.
Today, if I were to roll up to the pool in a one piece it would be considered sexy and the “hot trend." Which leads me to why I also hate the “one piece revival."
What is there to hate, you ask? I hate that a line is now blurred. An article of clothing that was once worn as tool to feel more comfortable is now almost too scandalous for me to wear. Society has yet again taken something that is supposed to “leave something to the imagination” and over sexualized it by making the girls that wear them sexual objects via pictures and videos. At first this trend was a way to achieve both modesty and sexiness, but now I feel like if I wear it I may be seen as over doing it. It would almost be safer for me to just go to the pool in my bikini than worry about if “I was a sexy enough body type” to wear a one-piece bathing suit.
Bottom line is though: wear what you think is sexy. Not what fashion is telling you is sexy or what someone else thinks is sexy. If you get an invite to the pool and you feel like going swimming in a prom dress because that is what you feel good in that day, go for it. No one is stopping you from doing what feels right for yourself. Maybe that is easier said that done, but don’t let society tell you what is beautiful or make you decide who you are.
It’s OK to question your appearance before you leave the house. That is what keeps us from walking out of the door with raccoon eyes and bed head (sometimes it does other times we are being total college students and go out anyway). But if you like your appearance and you feel good then don’t sweat it! Sometimes the best thing you can wear to any occasion or any day of the week is a smile and some confidence. You do you. And as for me, I will take my own advice next time I am poolside and rock the one-piece revival.
