bathing suits for the over 50 set





We are in the midst of a drought here that will just not give and people, it is hot.  
Bathing suit hot.  And trust me, over the last few years buying a bathing suit has not been easy.  There are issues you know.  Support is key, coverage is key, comfort is key.  The suit I had was several years old and not doing its job.  So I started googling and the price of a really good suit can run into the several hundreds of dollars.  Yeah, no.




I wound up at the J. Crew website to see what they might have.  I chose this suit pictured above.  It supports, it covers and it is very comfortable.  I wore it in Vegas and felt great because there is ruching around the middle and the fabric is incredibly soft.  The halter strap attachment gave me lift and really I couldn't ask for much more.  It is priced at $98 which is a lot but worth it.  There are extras you can get too like long torso and larger bust sizes.  Little did I know that I would stumble upon this exact suit at Marshall's a few days later with a $24.99 price tag.  So you may try there.  In all my years of shopping Marshall's I've never ever seen J. Crew there, so good luck.   






Ok, know that this is super embarrassing to post a pic of myself in a 2 piece suit.  I almost didn't do it but I figured I can't be the only one with swimsuit issues.  This 2 piece is from Target.  I'm long-waisted and one piece suits have always been uncomfortable on me, until I found the above one piece.  These high-waisted bottoms provide the coverage I was looking for and the halter top is supportive and quite comfortable.  The price is great also.  Just $17.99 for the top right here and the bottoms are $19.99 here.

So I feel pretty lucky to have found not one but 2 suits that fit and I like.  Just because I'm almost 60 (yikes!) doesn't mean I can't go swimming too!  In public...with confidence (or some semblance of. :)
I wish you all a very happy 4th of July weekend.
xo









79 comments

  1. Hi Janet, first time commenter - from Australia so its only about 11 degrees today (not bathers weather), but I just wanted to say how inspiring you are to me, your graciousness at sharing, and your impecable style, especially on a budget is exactly how I am trying to live my life. So stylish and beautiful but also simple and generous. Its such a pleasure every time I get to see a new post for you and I feel reading your blog has truly helped me appreciate the small stuff. - Rebecca

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    1. dear rebecca thank you so much for the lovely comment. it's still hard for me to believe that i would inspire anyone! thank you again and have a lovely weekend. xo

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  2. As my young friends would say, and with all due respect, hot!!!! Go you!

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  3. Love your blog. I'm inspired by your openness and authenticty. You look great!

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    1. thank you so much Morgan, you are so sweet to say. xo

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  4. Love your blog. I'm inspired by your openness and authenticty. You look great!

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  5. You look really great Janet and shouldn't feel embarrassed at all! You wouldn't see me posting pics of myself in a bathing suit though ha ha. I swear I probably had not worn a bathing suit in well over 10 years until I went to Idaho last summer. We went to the hot springs and I had to borrow one from my sister.

    So...since I'm 4 months older than you I have to ask, how ARE you feeling about turning 60 next year? Isn't it WEIRD??? I can't wrap my head around it. Yikes is right!! :/

    Linda
    xo

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    1. hi linda and thank you. overall i feel great about turning 60. things could be worse right?! actually i'm grateful for my health and well-being. but it does sound weird to say! we must get together! xo

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    2. I agree that things could be worse...especially when I see others my age battling some medical issues. When my PF got really bad for awhile there it was a reminder that having your health is the most important thing of all!

      My husband will be off from work for a month soon...we need to take a day trip somewhere. Maybe the four of us could meet up for lunch or dinner? I think that would be fun!

      xo

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  6. You are look great in both suits!
    I actually prefer the two-piece and you are thin, so you don't have the dreaded muffin top!
    I recently bought a swimsuit myself and it's probably been 20 years.
    It's a two-piece and I DO have a muffin top!
    I'll be 59 this July and frankly, at this age I just don't give a damn!
    LOL!
    Have a Happy Fourth!

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    1. thank you cindi! i do have the muffin top and cellulite for days. that bottom is holding everything together! and i hear you about not giving a damn. if we were ever going to be bold this is our time right?! xo

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    2. My husband calls it acceptance but I don't think I'm there yet!! Honestly unless one lives at the gym or has liposuction I think most women our age have a muffin top...me included, and I do work out to no avail. But then I see a 20 something with one and I feel a whole lot better. :o)

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  7. Love your swimsuit picks and I actually have the JCrew one-piece, also in black. I copied you without even knowing it! ;) It's such a great suit, it looks fabulous on you. Love that two-piece too and the price is right.
    Happy Weekend Janet! Between Canada Day and July 4th it's feeling like a big celebration the next few days. :) XOX

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    1. oh how lucky i am that we both have the same suit. your taste is impeccable! don't you love the fabric? it must be the softest swimsuit i've ever had. happy canada day to you and your beautiful family dani! xo

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  8. You look great. Close to your age, I developed sun poisoning about age 50. Just found bathing suits for me !! Long sleeved, and leggings too, at Cabana Life.

    XOT

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    1. aww thank you tara. i will def check out cabana life, love that name too! xo

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  9. How utterly amazing do you look? I need to start yoga now.
    The angle on your bob is so lovely, I wish I had the right hair for a bob.

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    1. thanks dear t. i think you could easily wear a bob! x

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  10. Hi Lady "J " it's doesn't get anymore real then this...50 + and dressing the body in a swimsuit :(
    You make this job look effortless, I can't decide what suit I love best on you, but I am pleased you choes black, a wonderful colour that lengthens the body and flatters at the same time. I am a bit less retro with sporting the high waisted suited two pieces so I choose the one piece, would love to find one like yours perhaps a more French cut panty line to lengthen my legs which for me adds a sleeker look!

    You rock girl! And this is why followers keep following, we never know what next to expect from you, you keep us brave and daring in keeping up with you. You add to our approach as to going for it.
    You stun both suits,
    Beautiful cool summer for you my dear.....now get out that blow-up pool and get that tan on.

    Xx
    Dore

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    1. oh thank you dore. you are so sweet. now that i've had a chance to wear both suits i prefer the black one piece. i just feel more confident in it. i don't know about that tan tho! lol

      xo

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  11. You look great in those swimsuits! You really are my very favorite, and this post is further evidence of it! You are so real. Authentic to the core and I am so drawn to that quality. I always choose black and a one piece or tankini. I had a moment of insecurity as we headed out to our family beach vacation this year. I got past it and had a great time. Thank goodness. I hope your hot spell cools off, but until then head on to the beach. You look awesome!

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    1. you are so sweet kathy. what a compliment. i wish i had never lost my confidence but i suppose it is part of aging. i'm glad i'm getting mine back. fashion should not stop up from actually living our lives! xo

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  12. what's wrong with being almost 60? I'm 62 and I will be 63 in August and feel like I am in my 20's most of the time, well except after vacuuming and cleaning lol! Isn't 60 supposed to be the new 40? yep that's what I thought :)

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    1. really there is not one thing wrong with being 60. our bodies do change tho and finding something that fits that also feels good has been a bit of a challenge for me but not insurmountable. bravo to your state of mind, i admire it greatly! xoxo

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  13. Awww! You look beautiful in either bathing suit! Although, I like the 2 piece better... Thanks for sharing!

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  14. Janet, you look a-maz-ing!!! You look absolutely super in both, the bikini has the edge though. But swimsuit or bikini, you just look off-the-Richter-scale gorgeous!!! Mary.

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    1. awww thank you mary. so good to find out your real name.:) you are a beauty yourself! xo

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  15. first Janet, you really do look great in both suits. I just bit the bullet and purchased a new swim suit after many years. the one I owned and liked I got paint on, it was probably 15 years old but it was still serviceable. I have another one which is at least 10 years old. at the time I purchased it I was in my 60's and figured it was time for a skirted suit. I am quite petite but I wanted to cover my wrinkly thighs. I have hated it, can't stand all that wet material when I swim. I just bought a two piece tankini from Garnet Hill. it's a pretty print but I cant say it does anything for me, but maybe at this age that would be asking too much. in the past I have always felt most comfortable in two pieces which were considered bikinis, but have thought those days were behind me. but really, at this point who cares. have a great July 4th!
    Darby

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    1. yes, so true, at this age who cares?! if not now, when?! i hope your 4th was lovely! xo

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  16. You continue to be an inspiration, Janet! I like the one piece the best, but of course you look great in either one!

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    1. awww thank you jeannine. i like the one piece too! xo

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  17. YOU ROCK BOTH SUITS!!!!!!!!!!
    I TOO had to buy a suit for COSTA RICA............it wasNOT easy!
    XX

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  18. Thank you Janet for proving that even in our 50s we can look stylish. Always enjoy reading your blog posts. ❤️

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  19. All I can say is, honey, you wear vegan well!

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  20. You look fab and confident! Happy 4th of July!

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  21. You look awesome and if I had your bod, I would go for a two-piece. Have you ever seen the pic of Helen Mirren in her two-piece? She also looks awesome, also. I swim a lot and go through suits like I go through ice cream (which is probably where I got this belly from.) It's never a pleasant experience to find a new one, but as you've shown, there are some great suits out there for us.

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    1. yes i have seen that photo. she looks so great. i'm hoping to add a lot more swimming to my regime this summer. altho i don't want to ruin my new suits! thanks for the lovely compliment. xo

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  22. You look fabulous in both those suits!!!
    I had to buy a new suit too and opted for one piece black with a black and white asymmetrical wrap detail...it is as good as it can be for camouflaging my rounded tummy.
    I am 61 and feel very fortunate to be alive and I don't really think about my age very often...I think a positive
    attitude is key.

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    1. you are so right leslie. a positive attitude mixed with gratitude is key to my life also! xo

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  23. As someone who is only slightly 50+ but never had a slim figure and wasted too many years agonising, I am reminded by all you ladies that health is far more important than looks - yes, I am glad to be alive and will continue to appreciate that. Thanks.
    Swimsuit body = body with a swimsuit of whatever kind :)
    Oh, and I do think the one-piece looks so cute on you, Janet!

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    1. you are so right! i'm reminded often when i think of my dear dear Melinda who lost her life in february. live in the moment and be grateful for any body we have. xoxo

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  24. Amazing and if this deosnt sell peole on a vegan lifestyle I don't know what will. You look chic.

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    1. thank you katie. i hadn't thought of that but i hope it inspires anyone to take that easy plunge into being vegan. xo

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  25. Hot, hot, hot!! You look incredible in both of your outfits and your banging bod puts most women half your age to shame. xxx

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  26. You've inspired me, Janet! Your post made me want to go to the beach and into the water like I used before I became self conscious of my body. So whadda you say, let's go to the beach! (On a weekday though to avoid the crowds.)
    Happy 4th my friend!
    Melanie

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    1. oh that would be fun. what about the drayson center?! xo

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  27. Kudos to you for posting pics of yourself in a bathing suit! I could not do it and I just turned 50. I like the black one piece best on you. Shows off your curves the best ;)
    Kate

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  28. I'm in my seventies and I always wear a bikini because, like you, I'm long in the body and a one piece is never a comfortable fit. Also getting in and out of a bikini is so simple. You've got a lovely body, Janet, age doesn't enter into it, you are trim and shapely, far more so than a great many much younger women today. I really like the one-piece, the cut of the bikini bottoms remind me of gym knickers! I have half a dozen or so bikinis, all of them inexpensive because whatever the price the fabric denatures fairly quickly. I'm hoping your beautiful one-piece will last and last!

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    1. they are more comfy right?! thanks for sharing. i love that one piece so much i don't want to ruin it either. i've been wearing the two piece to the pool b/c that is easily replaceable! xo

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    2. janet, where do you swim? do you know someone who has a pool, do you have a gym with a pool or what? just curious! i have nothing in my town; you've got to know somebody with a yard pool or else drive to another city to find a pool...and this is southern california for pete's sake. pools should be in abundance with our hot weather!

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    3. vicki during the summer i join larry's club/gym that has a really nice pool. in hot weather like this i really do miss having one! xo

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  29. When I saw your first photo in the one piece, I thought wow! Magazine model! But even better, that you feel great and comfortable. Hope you enjoy many swims and lazing around in cool water during your summer.

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    1. aww thank you elizabeth. i'm hoping to do lots of lazing. :) xo

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  30. Lovely suits for any age! I haven't wore a two piece in years, just a one piece.

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  31. Janet,
    As always darling, you look amazing! I love the simplicity of both suits and so perfect for beach or pool. You are an inspiration to us all!
    xo
    annie

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  32. Hi Janet, I hope to look that good in a bathing suit again. You look fabulous, just gorgeous. Thank you for sharing.

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  33. You look great! I hope you are enjoying summer and swimming!

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  34. Swimming is so freeing and baring one's self in a suit is too....as long as we appreciate our bodies. You shine and we appreciate you loving your body to share it. XOXO
    pve

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  35. Excellent and honest post for those of us of an age non disclosed. You look fab in that swim suit at the top. I'm a fan of tankinis as two pieces for me. I'm not bikini brave.

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  36. I love the first one on you its very becoming to you... With love Janice ps. You great in both though wink

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kindness is never out of style.

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