by Nifath Chowdhury, Editorial Assistant
It is a strange thing, to be a twenty-something woman in 2018, never having owned a swimsuit. Yet it’s where I find myself now, evading invites to the beach and pool parties, unsure of how to tell someone, “I don’t have a swimsuit because I grew up in a conservative Bangladeshi family where Victorian fashion is deemed immodest.” I can’t exactly borrow a swimsuit— can I? The thought of going to a store to buy one is daunting. I can see myself like a fish out of water, lost in a sea of styles, suffocated by the probing employees, feeling stranded and clueless (is this underwear or is this underwear?) My mother would sooner disown me than see me bare my— anything, and my own pride prevents me from asking my girlfriends for help. The next best spot for advice? Instagram, where I get to see how swimsuits look on “real” women, women my age and my height. So, after much scouring, I’ve found five Instagram beauties who look good in swimsuits that even I might wear.
#swimsuitseason #instaswim #beachbabe
Tess’ feed is a wonderfully curated collection of seasonal images from her daily life in New York, interspersed with pictures from her holidays on sandy beaches abroad. This swimsuit is one I could strap on without a cover-up— it’s black, it’s a one-piece but it’s also playful with the white lace detail and tie-up straps.
Arden has the sort of photos that could grace the covers of indie band albums. This bikini is slightly more risqué than a one-piece with the bright color and bold cut, but draping an over-sized denim jacket makes it generally less revealing, and definitely something I could pull off my first time hitting the beach.
Meghan’s Instagram has the sort of bright, cozy vibe that brings to mind some sort of (Insta)heaven— where all the photos go after they’ve been perfectly edited. From her many swimwear photos, this one stood out to me as a great inspiration for a first swimsuit. It’s fun, bright and has cheeky little side cut-outs. It’s also got that whole I’m-a-good-girl-with-a-bad-side vibe going for it, which I am very into.
Alexandria’s feed is full of inspiration for swimsuits for anyone, but in particular, this black two-piece stuck out to me because of its athletic appeal. The simple (yet sexy) cut is sure to turn some heads, whether it’s my first time at the beach or not.
Kelsey’s feed isn’t saturated with glamor shots. What you get is a girl who looks like she’s having a blast in all her photos, even if the lighting isn’t always on point. If someone invites me to a really glam pool party this summer and I need to make an impression upon arrival, this bright yellow one-piece is the way to go. Half-formed balloon animals also make for an excellent prop.
