Life is a Beach But Not With Calzedonia

          

I love going to the beach and swimming in the pool and there is nothing better than doing this with a large group of friends. However, wherever there is hot weather, there is also the dreaded need to expose oneself – not completely (of course not!), but the need to strip down to a bathing suit, which lets face it, after being wrapped up all year long in long coats and jumpers feels pretty much the same as doing the Full Monty in front of your coolest of friends.

So the group arrives at the sea shore, and I’ve now spent 10 minutes arranging, re-arranging, laying out and crumpling up my towel and I fear that I can no longer put the moment off. The button comes undone, I take one long last look around and try to pull my shorts off without pulling everything else down with it and before anyone else can see that I have done so. The pre-season diet didn’t really work out, so removing the shorts, despite my best efforts at subtlety and elegance, is proving difficult and I try to ignore the looks as I drop to the floor and writhe around like a snake trying to shed its second skin.

So the group has got over my drop and has resumed normal conversation, but I now face removing the top. Its like pulling off a plaster, I do it with one quick tug and then, faster than you can say Bob’s Your Uncle, I hit the deck again and calmly assume my back to the sun sunbathing position. I am safe, until I have to venture down to the sea to do a wee (STOP JUDGING ME! You know you all do it too!!…) I really need to buy a new swimming costume I mused and the thought of this simply filled me with dread…

A decent swimming costume is hard to find. I feel that bikini fashions tend to focus more on the esthetic look of the garment instead of what they look like when worn and fitted to the body of normal people.  My predicament is always the following: if I’m thin then so is the rest of me, so really too little pieces of fabric aren’t going to cut it, and if I’m a bit chub then non alterable straps feel less like viscose and more like cable ties. For this reason I tend to focus on the style that suits me rather than following the latest trends and what looks good on the fashionistas.

Having set off on a bikini shopping mission with a heavy heart and little expectations, it was really a breath of fresh air to walk into Calzedonia and actually be spoilt for choice (I am not being paid to say this, this really happened). They had a real variety of models, for all shapes and sizes, with lots of the straps and ties which were alterable. After trying a few on, I opted for lovely frilly number with adjustable back and neck ties.  So hard is finding a decent bikini that I returned and bought the same model in a different color. I think that warm countries are a great place to buy swim wear as women wear them more often and are therefore the stores are more realistic with women’s needs – they will need to wear them often in front of friends, family friends etc. so it is no good if they don’t fit properly. Swimwear over here is held to the same standards as every day clothing.

Having bought a decent bikini my beach experience altered completely. The shorts now came off quicker than a ball off Rodger Federer’s racquet and I wore the bikini as comfortable as a pair of sweats. I had a wonderful time and really felt care free, especially at the beach club. I went out on a jet ski for the first time in my life and absolutely loved it! Here are some of my pictures of my wonderful time in Motril (Granada’s closest beach). I hope you like them!:)

 

I really like the look of bright bikinis and I wore these ones with a variety of sarongs and my Primark Kimono which proved great for when I wanted to cover up a bit more. I would also recommend open shawls and draped sarongs as these are a great way to feel comfortable and to hide any wobbly love handles and side bits…

WEARING

Lilac Bikini – CALZEDONIA

Pastel Serong – Tanzania Africa Market

Black and silver studded earrings  – BVGALRI

Turquoise Bracelet – Marrakesh souks

White slip ons – PRIMARK

Yellow Neon  Bikini – CALZEDONI

Kimono – Primark

Blue Mirrored Lense Sunglasses – RAY BAN

White shorts – BAY

Homies T-shirt – ALI EXPRESS