It’s really starting to feel like summer to me – it’s been hot and sunny here lately, and the air just has that… feeling, you know? I also (tentatively, assuming that things continue to trend in the right direction) have a beach trip planned for later this summer, which is really getting me into that mood. I’m getting excited!
But after going nowhere last year, and not taking a beach trip the year before, either, I had to take stock of my bathing suits. And when I tried them on, none of them fit! Zero! It’s kind of a good thing, because it means that my feeding tube is still working and I’m gaining and maintaining a healthy weight, but I needed something to wear at the beach/pool! So I’ve been doing a lot of online browsing and shopping for swimsuits lately.
I’m pretty specific about what I look for in a swimsuit! Because my feeding tube is right in the middle of my stomach, I prefer a tankini. Not only do I not want it out on display all the time (I’m not embarrassed of it, but sometimes I just don’t want to have to answer questions about it), but I also think that an accidental sunburn around it would be super tender. So bikinis are out, and one-pieces just never seem to fit me properly/comfortably! But when I want a tankini, I want one that’s looser, to leave room for my feeding tube button! So when I add all of those considerations into my search, there aren’t a ton of options.
But in my browsing I came across this peplum, pique tankini from J.Crew and it’s perfect! The style is exactly what I was looking for – the peplum keeps it from being too tight on my stomach, and it ties both around the neck and in the back so it’s extra adjustable. I love the little texture of the pique material, too. I think it runs a bit small – I typically wear an XXS, and I sized up to an S in the top!
It has matching, high-waisted bottoms, but I actually paired it with these string bikini bottoms – I like that the fact that they tie gives me extra flexibility in the fit, and they’re much more comfortable than high-waisted bottoms when sitting. And of course, I needed some sort of cover up for lounging – I love that this kimono-style one is easy to get on/off, is loose and flowy, and because it’s white I won’t bake in the sun. And just for fun, I added this raffia bag – it’s big enough to hold towels, my cover up, sunscreen, an iPad, and any other pool essentials! Now I’m just counting down the days until I can sport this look poolside.
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