The Swimming Costume

Happy New Year everyone! Hope you all had a great break and after 3 weeks in the Middle East I have plenty of stuff to write about – starting with The Swimming Costume.

I believe the entire concept of swimwear needs to be re-thought. This was prompted by our day at Atlantis, the water park on The Palm in Dubai. As the guests streamed in, they appeared for all intent and purpose, as a regular bunch of holidaymakers. That was, until they took off their clothes. OMG. I was is such a state of trauma I even insisted that my partner, who’s in excellent shape I might proudly say, put on his sun top on principle!

The array starts with young Russian girls with dancer’s bodies in g-string bikinis, flirting and draped over incredibly unattractive young men and posing like porn stars, to men in their later years with enormous tummies hanging over their fluorescent coloured budgie-smugglers perched atop their bandy chicken legs, taking the ‘veranda over the toy shop’ analogy to a whole new level. I mean really, where do you look?? At the other end of the spectrum there are Islamic ladies in long lycra leggings, modest tunics and hijabs. The contrasts were quite spectacular.

My country’s adage is that any Australian figure can wear a bikini, but looking around this global crowd I note:
A. This rule is not confined to our island nation, and

      B. Regardless of your nationality, for the sake of aesthetics, as a thinking species, we need to seriously    
           review this!!

Here’s what I’m thinking:

• Children, teens and girls in their 20s look gorgeous in bikinis.
• Ladies of a certain age and girth do not.
• Men generally look better in boardies - crotch clinging is not good on anyone of any age.
• Do not overlook the sun top that can be worn in the water.
• Dark colours are often more flattering.

Thoughts? Any other ideas on how people can look better in a crowd while they’re almost naked??