Beach Baby, Beach Baby, There On the Sand!

It seems that right now, every magazine I am getting has a cover story on buying the right bathing suit for your body.

If you are like me, this is a dreaded task. Shopping for bathing (or swim) suits is so stressful that it is something many of us even avoid.

I am NOT going to tell anyone what kind of bathing suit you should buy.  I am, however, going to remind you about your options. You must buy the suit that "suits" you best.

If you have the perfect figure for a bikini, first let me tell you how much I envy you!


If you don't have a perfect figure, just don't. And if you're in doubt, ask someone who will tell you the truth.


But there are some great options that work better, such as a tankini,which has a bikini bottom but a longer separate top. You can mix and match or buy a matched suit.



Two piece suits are also a fun option.


One piece suits are always a safe bet.


And some have a tummy control feature so you don't have to "suck it in" at the pool or beach.


The necklines of swim suits are as varied as there are tops.




As well as the fabric, color and leg line.  You can wear a boy leg, skirt or hi cut.
               

No matter what suit(s) you wear, please be sure to wear sunscreen, good sunglasses and sometimes a good hat to protect your skin, your eyes and scalp and hair.



Wear some beach shoes to protect your feet from broken shells, glass or various detritus on the beach.



So gird your loins to go swim suit shopping, eat a healthy light meal before you go to give you stamina and keep your mood positive. If you can, get a girlfriend to go with you to be your honesty mirror. And don't settle for just any suit. Go shopping before you need one for a pool party or planned vacation ... that way you have time to buy the suit you want to wear all summer...or even two!

And don't forget to look at cover ups. They are a great way to transition from water to car or picnic.



I saw a brilliant idea for lying on something dry on the beach.  It is a fitted sheet with something stored in each corner that is facing up. It looks like a playpen but keeps the sand off so nicely. I don't know who thought of it but it HAD to be a woman!



One of my favorite CDs is "Best of the Beach Boys"....they really represented the sunny beach, pretty girls and fun, fun, fun. Enjoy your beach days in a cute suit, cover up, and hat and make your own "surfin' safari"!

As I stated in the beginning of this post, this is a theme we can all relate to. In fact, here's an appropriate quote from the creator of the comic strip "Cathy":

The specific story line [of her comic strip] that people have responded to the most has been the horror of bathing suit shopping.

Cathy Guisewite

It's almost enough to make you scream "Ack!" (a Cathy quote)!  But you can do this! Make the most out of this task and try to have fun!

Until next week, I remain,

Stylistically yours,

Sooz

"Hairs" To Ya!

There are some hair styles that rely on "help" -- but that's a very tough thing to do, especially for women "of a certain age."

Trying to let your bangs grow out is one challenge because we absolutely cannot stick a cute little barrette in our hair to hold back our bangs. I will never forget that look that Vanessa Redgrave wore in the movie "Atonement" - it was a look that the younger version of her character embraced and she never stopped wearing it. And it looked so inappropriate -- she has always been a beautiful stunning woman. But that barrette was silly looking on a grown woman.

No woman "of a certain age" can pull off that look.

And then there are headbands! Oh my goodness! Such a 90's look and shades of Hilary Clinton.

For reasons unknown to me, you will see other women wearing them, too

Betty Draper in "Mad Men" has worn it to show off one of the trends of that time.

These are trends that younger women can wear with panache, but not us!

One of the "helpers" that suits us well is the good old hair comb...

Bobby pins can be utilized but can be tricky to pull off. Most definitely for updos or French Twists.

  

Since they are now available in various hair colors, be sure to buy them in yours.

And you can dress them up by gluing pearls,flowers, buttons or stones on the end of them.

Look at these...

 I chose blonde hairstyle photos because it shows how you can hide bobby pins in plain sight (dark hair hides them easier).

And, as I stated in the beginning, although it is a challenge to grow out bangs, bobby pins can be used to hide bangs as they grow out.





Happily we have come a long way, however. We don't have to sleep in rollers or sit under a hood hair dryer anymore.




And we don't have to buy vats of Dippidy Do or Adorn hairspray.



Thanks to Vidal Sassoon, hairstyles became soft, swingy and natural.

 

And thanks to flat irons, heat rollers, curling irons or hair treatments, we can wear our hair style with grace a maturity...and not have helmet hair.




Experiment with various hair styles (best when you have the time, not right before you go to work or to a special occasion) and be sure to look at the side and back with a handheld mirror. Have fun!

As this woman stated (and she would know):
Gorgeous hair is the best revenge.

Ivana Trump

Until next week, I remain,

Stylistically yours,

Sooz