Okay, I know you have some complaints, unless you have a penis, in which case you might or might not have complaints. Talk about dressing rooms (what is up with the lighting?), suits that ride up, suits that fall down, suits that have no support whatsoever, godawful styles, and anything you've found that's actually flattering.

-- Anonymous, July 10, 2000

Answers

I'm just annoyed that speedos went out of style for guys, mostly since Baywatch came along. I find them much more comfortable and convenient than shorts (you can wear them under clothes).

-- Anonymous, July 10, 2000

I tend to only buy swimsuits when I'm feeling particularly well-toned and pleased with myself, and then I buy two or three - to last me a couple of years. Those changing rooms are hell on earth - you have to be feeling like Elle McPherson to not emerge from them a broken woman.

Mind you, living in the UK this is hardly an issue, since the temperature is what most people would consider wintery at the moment.

-- Anonymous, July 10, 2000

Erg. Where do I start? What is up with this business of not making reasonable looking swim suits without skirts for women with visible breasts? There are a lot of us out here. I need a top with some support and bra cups that do more than cap my nipples. I am not that big, either. D or DD depending. What do women with *serious* breast acreage do?

My cousin is built along the same lines that I am and when we went to Australia last year we were excited to find swimsuits made for women with actual breasts. It was wonderful - there was even a selection to choose from.

USA manufacturers need to wise up.

-- Anonymous, July 10, 2000

Jill: that's how I got into trouble with my new suit. I had this idea that an underwire was a good thing. Only in a bra, I guess. Alas.

-- Anonymous, July 10, 2000

Well, I'll tell you what I'm doing about the whole swimsuit mess -- learning to make my own. I've got cheap material for the mock-up, and a beautiful length of spandex for the real suit. I'm modifying a one-piece to a keyhole back, and going to put in hidden underwires.

It's not the easiest bit of work, but since I'm figuring out how to make my own bras, I figured I could make a swimsuit as well.

-- Anonymous, July 10, 2000

I hate the lighting. It brings out every zit you ever had, and every one you ever will have, and makes your current ones even redder and bigger. YUCK.

As for actual suits, most people'd say I have a perfect body, but I just want to know why putting on a swimsuit suddenly gives me a huge gut.

And I can skip the highcut legs- I don't want to shave that much.

Otherwise, I'm fine.

-- Anonymous, July 10, 2000

I have a good friend in the home & business lighting industry.

Next time I talk to him, I'm going to suggest there is a big market in revamping women's public dressing rooms.

-- Anonymous, July 10, 2000

I don't feel this was particularly *horrible* but it was funny. My swimsuit has been around for a few years, and I think the elastic in the straps is a bit stretched. when my sweetie, his daughter and I were doing water slides last summer, I think I gave everyone a free show on one landing! All I could do was pull those straps back up and howl with laughter.

then we both went upside down and bumped our heads on another slide. Jack even cut his forehead! that was the end of our adventures for that day. I guess those double tubes weren't really rated for two people of size.

Anita of Anita's BOD and Anita's LOL

-- Anonymous, July 10, 2000

I am so not a person who belongs in a tankini (those sassy two-pieces that are everywhere), but this one from Lands' End is a freakin' dream! It is really supportive everywhere, it's cut nice and high in the front, and is the best bathing suit I've ever owned. Even though it is 2 pieces, it covers everything and doesn't ride up or nothin'.

I saw it on Oprah or something, touted as a 2-piece that looks great on people who would never think of wearing one. And you know what the best part has been for me? Not having to peel my entire bathing suit off to go to the bathroom! Luxury!

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2000

I had the perfect swimsuit. Lands End black maillot, built-in support, for short torso. It lasted ten years.

Guess what. The}ve stopped making the short ones. I complained and was advised to try a bikini instead - if I had the shape for a bikini in the first place, why would I be buying a black maillot

(typing on weird keyboard in country that apparently doesnt use much punctuation, sorry abt missing marks)

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2000

Re: stretched out suits...My first bikini I used to wear in the spa at home. Now I normally get really hot while in our spa (it's in a completely enclosed gazebo), so I'd sit half-out and only my butt really in the water.

Those of you who have spent extensive time in spas can probably guess what happened- the butt of the suit became too big to stay on mine any longer. Nowadays I buy a really ugly suit and only wear it in our spa to avoid so much damage...

I finally bought a bikini when going to Hawaii last year. Suffice it to say it won't be hitting a spa anytime soon.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2000

I am having a problem...I need a new swimsuit...the only problem is I can't find any decently priced ones that provide support for bigger chested people (D cup). I really like the keyhole backed ones and they look like they would provide a lot of support, but the only ones that don't look like i'm over 30 (i'm only 20) don't come in my size or are $60 or more, which i refuse to pay because I don't swim all that much. Does anybody know where I can find a decently priced swimsuit that will give me the support I need? This is so frustrating!

-- Anonymous, May 02, 2001