Five swimsuit myths get blown out of the water

  • By Wendy Donahue Chicago Tribune
  • Monday, July 27, 2015 4:02pm
  • Life

High-rise bikini bottoms, except on Taylor Swift, strike some people as the scariest trend to hit swimwear since the sharks along North Carolina’s shoreline.

Whether a woman sees these bottoms as forgiving or unforgivable, she can’t blame them for resurfacing. Ample precedent has been set for their summer 2015 return. Retro high-waisted shorts have been retraining eyes for a few seasons now. So have crop tops with high-rise skirts or pants.

Then there’s the ado about granny panties shooing thongs out of young women’s lingerie drawers. Jennifer Lopez, Kylie Jenner and other celebs have been flaunting them under mesh or lace skirts.

Yet like so much of swimwear, high-rise bikini bottoms are often misunderstood. Swimwear designers including Mara Hoffman and Cynthia Rowley, stylist/TV star/author Stacy London and other fashion experts offered a reality check on five myths surrounding swimwear flattery and comfort, tied to this summer’s trends.

Myth 1: High-rise bikini bottoms minimize the midsection. Yes, this bottom has a built-in “control top,” but this proportion also accentuates what it covers, both from front and behind. If you prefer to deflect attention from this zone, designer Cynthia Rowley points to surf staples. “Cover up in more ways than one — a rash guard or wetsuit is great for SPF protection but also hides those morning doughnuts,” she said. Other options include a print one-piece with eye-catching cutouts, a tankini with a flare top, a one-piece with ruching along the torso and a flirty shirred skirt-style suit. A higher-cut leg also can balance proportions.

Myth 2: The bikini should be left to the young and thin. “The bikini can be worn by more women!” Stacy London said, citing new proportions that aren’t limited to high-waisted bottoms. Bralette tops that cover more territory accommodate larger bustlines. As for smaller bustlines, swim designer Mara Hoffman discourages over-padding as opposed to embracing one’s shape. (That said, if a top has zero padding, London suggests “deperkifying” with Silicone CoverUps from Hollywood Fashion Secrets, for which she serves as a brand ambassador.)

Myth 3: The larger the bottom, the more forgiving the fit. “Oftentimes, it is the reverse,” Hoffman said. A suit that is too big anywhere can shift in unwelcome ways and compromise support. Though many women would prefer a root canal, it’s best to try on a suit in a store, one known for a knowledgeable sales staff. If you shop online, compare your current measurements with the site’s fit guide.

Myth 4: Black is absolutely the most slimming color. “A deep blue like navy or dark charcoal gray can be just as flattering,” said Suzanne Bryant, senior vice president of women’s design at Tommy Bahama. “Also, depending on your skin tone, deep olive and rich brown tones can also be slimming and very chic.”

Myth 5: A tan doesn’t matter. “A darker body just looks slimmer than a pale one,” said Miguelina Gambaccini, designer and founder of luxury beachwear brand Miguelina. But self-tanning formulations are generally safer than baking in the sun. Consider Sephora’s tinted self-tanning mist, ($16) or tap a few drops of Clarins Golden Glow Booster for Body to your regular body lotion (1 ounce, $45), for a golden glow in any season.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Life

Brandon Hailey of Cytrus, center, plays the saxophone during a headlining show at Madam Lou’s on Friday, Dec. 29, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lynnwood-based funk octet Cytrus has the juice

Resilience and brotherhood take center stage with ‘friends-first’ band.

FILE - In this April 11, 2014 file photo, Neko Case performs at the Coachella Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif. Fire investigators are looking for the cause of a fire on Monday, Sept. 18, 2017, that heavily damaged Case’s 225-year-old Vermont home. There were no injuries, though a barn was destroyed. It took firefighters two hours to extinguish the blaze. (Photo by Scott Roth/Invision/AP, File)
Music, theater and more: What’s happening in Snohomish County

Singer-songwriter Neko Case, an indie music icon from Tacoma, performs Sunday in Edmonds.

Dominic Arizona Bonuccelli
Tangier’s market boasts piles of fruits, veggies, and olives, countless varieties of bread, and nonperishables, like clothing and electronics.
Rick Steves on the cultural kaleidoscope of Tangier in Morocco

Walking through the city, I think to myself, “How could anyone be in southern Spain — so close — and not hop over to experience this wonderland?”

chris elliott.
Vrbo promised to cover her rental bill in Hawaii, so why won’t it?

When Cheryl Mander’s Vrbo rental in Hawaii is uninhabitable, the rental platform agrees to cover her new accommodations. But then it backs out. What happened?

The Moonlight Swing Orchestra will play classic sounds of the Big Band Era on April 21 in Everett. (submitted photo)
Music, theater and more: What’s happening in Snohomish County

Relive the Big Band Era at the Port Gardner Music Society’s final concert of the season in Everett.

2024 Honda Ridgeline TrailSport AWD (Honda)
2024 Honda Ridgeline TrailSport AWD

Honda cedes big boy pickup trucks to the likes of Ford, Dodge… Continue reading

Would you want to give something as elaborate as this a name as mundane as “bread box”? A French Provincial piece practically demands the French name panetiere.
A panetiere isn’t your modern bread box. It’s a treasure of French culture

This elaborately carved French antique may be old, but it’s still capable of keeping its leavened contents perfectly fresh.

(Judy Newton / Great Plant Picks)
Great Plant Pick: Mouse plant

What: Arisarum proboscideum, also known as mouse plant, is an herbaceous woodland… Continue reading

Bright green Japanese maple leaves are illuminated by spring sunlight. (Getty Images)
Confessions of a ‘plantophile’: I’m a bit of a junky for Japanese maples

In fact, my addiction to these glorious, all-season specimens seems to be contagious. Fortunately, there’s no known cure.

2024 Hyundai IONIQ 6 Limited (Hyundai)
2024 Hyundai IONIQ 6 Limited

The 2024 Hyundai IONIQ 6 Limited is a sporty, all-electric, all-wheel drive sedan that will quickly win your heart.

The 2024 Dodge Hornet R/T hybrid’s face has the twin red lines signifying the brand’s focus on performance. (Dodge)
2024 Hornet R/T is first electrified performance vehicle from Dodge

The all-new compact SUV travels 32 miles on pure electric power, and up to 360 miles in hybrid mode.

Don’t blow a bundle on glass supposedly made by the Henry William Stiegel

Why? Faked signatures, reused molds and imitated styles can make it unclear who actually made any given piece of glass.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.