It's taken me over two years as a mom to be able to say this...but I now think that one-piece swimsuits deserve a little love. The current crop of one-piece swimsuits are not only practical and flattering, they are downright hot. Hot in a wildly sexy way. And let's face it, for postpartum moms facing a looong summer, do they really have any other valid options? The postpartum jelly-belly is pretty frightening. And even if you've managed to tone down the jelly-belly, many of us just don't look like we used to. So if the thought of lounging pool-side in a bikini (while your flab hangs out with its best friend, Gravity) makes you want to run screaming....fear not.
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Post-Baby Pooch? Ruche it Away!
The brown suit pictured at left is the Sweetheart One Piece by Ron Beattie for La Blanca, $119 at Nordstroms.com. This suit offers good support for the 'girls' (shelf bra with foam-lined cups), as well as a seriously ruched midsection to hide any post-baby belly.
Need more tummy control?
Miraclesuit's Sonatina One Piece (shown at right in gray), boasts shirring at the bust, straps and waist to make you look 10 lbs trimmer. This suit has some post-baby belly banishing powers. The Sonatina is available at Nordstroms.com for $130.
Need better support for the girls (at a lower price point)?
Try the Valletta Solid Bandeau Twist Tank Suit (not pictured), with a built in underwire bra. Best of all, this suit comes in a beautiful range of muted colors and retails for only $58.50 at Land's End.
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Camouflage Post-Baby Belly Softness with Romantic Florals
Juicy Couture has also jumped on the retro floral bandwagon with their Beach Tea Rose Maillot, $160 at Nordstroms.com. They've edged their suit in eyelet trim, and added a waist belt.
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...Or Boho-Chic Prints
Maryan Melhorn's Cruise 2010 line (example pictured at left) is filled with sophisticated boho prints, and feature swimsuits with underwire support, molded foam cups and removable straps.
These suits run around $200 per suit at southbeachswimwear.com
I'm also loving Ondade Mar's Saint Barth One-Piece Swimsuit, pictured at right. This suit is $174 at southbeachswimwear.com.
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Go Sophisticated with Sleek One-Shoulder Maillots
The Gleaming Pewter Maillot, $168 at Anthropologie.com, might be my personal favorite (pictured at left).
The graceful lines, decent bum coverage, and details like the ruched bust make this one special. I also love the upscale feel of the fabric and color.
Land's End has a surprisingly great option, their One-Shoulder Tummy Control Swimsuit, only $62.50. I love the hardware detail on the strap, and tummy control? Who doesn't love that?
xo
Want a Crazy-Sexy-One Piece? Then Take the Plunge
M somehow managed to rock this American Apparel Nylon Tricot Maillot-V swimsuit during a recent Mexico trip...when she was only 6ish months post-partum! I have to imagine that this suit is also easy to nurse in. (smirk) According to M, the band below the bust was just enough support...and this suit was her husband's favorite. No wonder. This is probably not the go-hang-out-at-the-kiddie-pool-everyday kind of a suit...but if you want some serious sex appeal, then give this one a try. It retails at americanapparel.com for $45.
Suits with a serious plunging neckline can also be post-nursing friendly. You know, that stage when 'the girls' disappear altogether? Combine a
plunging neckline with some ruffle distraction, and you might almost fool someone into thinking that you still have a chest.
My current favorite is the Plunge-Neck Frill-Trim Swimsuit by JETs by Jessica Allen, $230 at Net-a-Porter.com (pictured at right)....but ABS by Allen Schwartz has a less expensive option (in a muted purple) at Nordstroms for $119.
...Spanx It!
If you haven't seen Spanx's line of swimwear...it's nothing short of amazing. Totally adorable, completely flattering...and currently on sale for 40% off at spanx.com!! Here are my favorites:
Pictured at left is Spanx's adorable and flirty one-shoulder one-piece, currently on sale for $107.
Pictured at right is Spanx's Bandeau One-Piece, which also comes with a detachable strap. This suit is also on sale for $107.
Click here to see Spanx's full line of tummy flattering one-piece suits (including the suit featured by Glamour's Real Bodies Swimwear Guide that we loved).
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A Note About Retro One-Pieces
I love the retro-inspired one-piece suit. And judging by the sheer number of moms wearing this kind of suit to the pool, most of you do too! But it can be tricky to pull off.
Jantzen's Vamp Maillot (pictured at left) has retro glamour in spades, and is a perfect example of retro done right. However, if you are someone with larger thighs, please keep in mind that the super-low retro leg opening does draw attention to the upper thigh. Moms worried about their upper thighs are better off with a swimsuit that has a higher leg opening. This higher leg will help to visually lengthen the look of the thigh.
Jantzen's retro suit is available at SwimOutlet.com for $92.
...Sooo...what do you think, Moms? Are you going to rock a one-piece this year, brave a bikini, or stick with the ubiquitous mom-tankini?
xo,
S
I'm rockin a tankini this summer... But it's got a little sexy plunge happening, in gorgeous raspberry (and a mere $26 from... Dare i say... Walmart?) Loving the Sonatina though! Great list. Post baby mush (and craaaaazy stretch marks) have made me desperate to find something that doesn't feel matronly, yet doesn't reveal, well, anything! Lol.
Posted by: Jesekahb | July 01, 2010 at 08:46 PM
I LOVE all these options! WRT rocking the American Apparel plunge one-piece 6-ish months post-partum and 15 lbs+ over my ideal weight (and on rocking swim suits in general): I think we've just got to be comfortable with our bodies in all their glorious stages, ladies. Yes, some suits are more flattering than others, depending on various post-baby body issues such as stretch marks, saggy boobs, etc., and some suits are more functional than others, limiting embarrassing wardrobe malfunctions in active play with our kids, but the fact remains, at the end of the day, the sexiest suit is confidence. Own it, work it, rock it, and above all, don't apologize for it!
Posted by: Molly Dynan | July 06, 2010 at 10:02 AM
Also, S., is it weird if we both show up to Puddle Jumpers in a Gleaming Pewter Maillot?
Posted by: Molly Dynan | July 06, 2010 at 10:04 AM
Jese - Walmart?? Seriously? You lucky, lucky girl. I just wish their online search had a feature to just show "cute stuff". 'Cause it's there. Weeding through their entire inventory online gives me a headache. :)
M - Sing it sister. And showing up to Puddle Jumpers in matching suits would only be weird if our boys didn't also match. [snort] Good thing we have that covered.
Posted by: S | July 06, 2010 at 10:43 PM
15 Totally Hot, One-Piece Swimsuits For Moms<-- wow I loved it! :)
Posted by: Truth about Abs | September 03, 2010 at 03:41 AM