Suit yourself: Bathing suits that you can work-out in (and look good in)
(This Printed Pacifica UPF shirt from Athleta adds extra protection from the sun).
By Brittany Anas
The summer holds promises of outdoor adventures: Maybe you’ll be kayaking in the La Jolla cove, surfing off of the Hawaiian coast or training for a triathlon out at your local reservoir. Or, perhaps, more realistically, you’ll be chasing your little ones around the pool deck while the 15-year-old lifeguard shouts “no running” orders at you. How humbling! But anybody who has ever swam with a toddler or kept up with elementary-aged kids at a water park know that it’s a workout in and of itself — and one that requires a little more support than the iddy biddy bikini you wore on your last college spring break.
We’ve come to learn there are two types of bathing suits: Ones that are, well, suited for lounging poolside, sipping a frozen drink and flipping through gossip mags and the ones that lend you more support for all of your paddleboarding, white water rafting, water skiing and sandcastle-making adventures.
Thankfully, Athleta has a collection of suits that are both stylish and made for playing outdoors under the summer sun. (Earn up to 3 percent Cash Back when you shop at Athleta with ShopAtHome.com).
- Get sports bra-like support by shopping your bra size. For the most support, shop the twister bikini tops that have a built in underwire and come in gorgeous solid-colored jewel tones as well as gray and black. We also love the fit of the Capitola Bikini that comes in your actual bra size and supports up to a DD.
- Swim skirts are our go-to bottoms for excursions that take us on both land and water — like biking to the beach or dipping into the pool after a game of tennis at the country club. A built-in brief eliminates the “flash factor,” the folks at Athleta say. We also love the fit of these skirts because they aren’t matronly (as some swim skirts tend to be).
- A mix and match shop let’s you buy separate pieces and combine solids and patterns to create a perfectly unique suit for your summer plans.
A few tips when you’re shopping for sporty suits:
- Look for swimsuits with UPF protection for some added protection from the sun.
- Soak your suit in cold water as soon as you get home from the ocean or the pool. Otherwise, the salt water and chlorine can break down the elasticity in your suit and bleach out the color.
- If you’re going to be spending long days out on the water surfing, invest in a rash guard to help protect your skin. You can wear them under a bodysuit for added warmth or wear them alone. Find some performance-fitting rashguard UPF shirts at Athleta.
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