I’m lucky enough to be going on holiday soon, so I’ve actually been the target audience to all the swim wear on offer in the high street. I can’t tell you how much time I’ve wasted looking through rails of clothes and trying on various combinations of bikini tops, tankini tops, bikini bottoms, coordinating skirts and one-piece swimming costumes. It’s actually been doing my head in. You can’t do it quickly either! In order to try on swimwear, you have to take (almost) absolutely everything off! (Then of course, you need a different size and being a British citizen, rather than an American one, (and not shopping in high class, super expensive establishments), this means getting at least partially dressed again, scurrying across the shop and back to the changing rooms hoping for better luck this time.) ….
Ok, enough of my whinging. Shopping is supposed to be fun isn’t it? Well, it’s always fun on etsy! I can waste hours of my time window shopping on etsy, but it’s so much more enjoyable because the swimwear is different, unique and so much more a joy to look at. Unfortunately this didn’t occur to me until just now, and just now is too late to order something in time for my holiday. For some reason I suppose I assumed swimwear wouldn’t be available handmade.
One of my favourites is the one above by My Sugar Doll. Little poodles printed on the lycra fabric is genious! It’s very cute, but a little bit naughty as well.
I am always a fan of 50s style clothing and I actually discovered this swimwear maker in 
an article in an antiques magazine! Anna Winston makes them by the sea near Hastings, UK, where I regularly used to drive down to for fish and chips, usually in the rain, where we’d park by the shore next to the fishing boats and watch the waves crash on the pebbles! Ok, enough of my reminiscing – take a look at these gorgeous swimming costumes. I love them. “If a woman feels comfortable and elegant on the beach then she’s more inclined to enjoy herself,” she says. I completely agree.
I also love this electric blue bikini, made to order by LoveLucyBea. In her shop there are all kinds of unusual designs in lots of different colours. Definitely worth checking out. I just love all the ruffles!
If you’re wondering what I bought for my holiday in the end, well I bought a bog standard purple bikini and made myself a pixie style dress to wear over the top (from my roll of black lycra I usually use for waistbands), and cut little holes in it so the purple shows through. I haven’t got a photo to hand, but if you’re interested in me making something similar for you, just e-mail me: helen@oshun.co.uk
NB This was originally published about a year ago on Try Handmade.
