Comments on: Introducing Phineas

By: tlalbaugh

tlalbaugh — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 21:59:51 +0000

Ah, yes, as I learned after many, many bathing suit returns: The boy shorts and one of my tankini tops are indeed Athleta clearance ($13 and $9, if I remember correctly, a most excellent deal : ). I mix and match them with Land’s End and Old Navy. And besides the more comfortable bottom, there is another thing I must admit to liking about my new suit style that no one talks about: less, umm, maintenance. No worries about last-minute beach excursions/trips to the pool and a lot fewer razor bumps : ) : ).

By: Jessica

Jessica — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 14:47:07 +0000

Aha! So this is what’s going on. One word: “Athleta”. Actually, three words, “Athleta on sale.” They do the cute but sporty thing (i.e. “seat coverage”). Then again, they are also catalog only. The stuff in the stores falls into three categories: (1) what you’d wear on the French Riviera were you a socialite; (2) teeny bikini for the young set; (3) mom suits. Really, the local department stores need better buyers… I should help them.

By: tlalbaugh

tlalbaugh — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 14:40:37 +0000

I, a skinny 43-year-old who used to wear bikinis, have taken to mom suits (hello, Land’s End!), for two reasons: 1) Have not gotten my double umbilical hernia fixed–was waiting to finish breastfeeding, which only took three years and eight months, haha; and 2) Going to the beach or pool with an active four-year-old does not involve lounging of any sort. No longer do I read and bask and sleep with occasional breaks to actually SWIM. No, I am always on the move, running, bending, sitting in wet sand, jumping over waves, climbing rocks, etc., and that means pulling a conventional bathing-suit bottom out of my crack every time I turn around. Just too annoying for words. So, I have resorted to the lightest tankini tops I can find, coupled with a short skirted bottom (looks like I’m heading for tennis) or boy shorts. I’ve also purchased a coverup–something I never would have worn before. I will admit that every time I open my drawer and see my old JCrew bikini rotting away in there, I sigh a little. But then I think about wearing it and laugh.

By: Jessica

Jessica — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 14:05:45 +0000

Blg: I DO know that not everyone inherits my mom’s metabolism. What shocks me is that even the younger, fit moms are wearing mom suits. We’re talking moms a full decade younger than me, many of whom would look oh so much better in something more revealing. I get the strong sense that there is some swimwear dress code for Southern/Midwestern moms that I am violating.

By: blg

blg — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 21:50:17 +0000

You know of course, that the other mom’s don’t run 5K races and won’t wear a two piece cause of what it reveals. Skirted is the give away.