photo via: sheknows.com
A recent study showed that 68 per cent of American women are considered “overweight.” A fuller figure has become the standard for society. In fact, most of our most classic beauties had ample curves. From the ancient fertility goddesses to Hollywood icons such as Marilyn Monroe and Sophia Loren, the feminine form has always been voluptuous and supple. And while modern society is slowly accepting the fact that women do not have to be a size 2 to be beautiful, clothing continues to be a concern for many plus-sized women.
Every year, magazines write an article about how to prepare your body for swimsuit season. However, these articles ignore the fact that plus-sized women are severely lacking fun and flirty options to wear. They discriminate curvy women by providing them with little options to wear. This is a especially distressing fact when you consider how much of the population is considered overweight.
If you don’t want to wear an ugly one-piece that comes down to your knees, you might as well starve yourself to fit that size two bikini. It’s an unfair situation that could be easily fixed if more designers clued into the fact that all women want attractive bathing suits in their size.
See: 8 Must-Have Retro Swimsuits for Summer
Thankfully, women can find a great swimsuit that compliments their curves. While these great options probably aren’t at your local department store, they do exist online. Internet retailers are able to specialize and focus on their growing markets. They can offer stock that traditional brick and mortar shops can’t provide, and in specialty sizes. Even though curvy women are the norm, it can be uncomfortable to shop for a sexy swimsuit in public.
Purchasing items online allows women of all sizes to explore their options and see what they look like on a similar body type. Even the most confident of women may have some concerns about showing a lot of skin. The right retailers will have a range of styles for all body types and offer the latest styles. Recent trends like the high-waistedbikini,tankini and skirtini allow women to show off their curves while providing coverage at the same time. Even the one-piece has gotten an update, thanks to ruching, side cutouts and new patterns and colours that change with each season.
See: Best Swimsuits for Your Body Type
This might seem like a surprising amount of information for a simple item of clothing. However, the history of the female swimsuit is quite complex. Since Victorian times, there’s been a continuing conflict between a woman’s right to take pride in her body and public consumption. There’s also been an array of women throughout history who’ve stood proud in their swimsuits, regardless of whether they fit the conventional standards of beauty.
Finally, the discussion around body image and beauty standards is changing.
A prime example of a company that is leading the way in this regard is swimsuitsforall.com. Their social movement and hashtag #CurvesInBikinis has gained huge momentum for helping women feel comfortable and proud, while changing the standard notions of beauty. They have a huge selection of options and prove that the right retailers understand that plus-size women want to feel beautiful and comfortable in their own skin.
When you shop at an online swimsuit retailer that’s committed to that cause, you’ll be part of a revolution.
