Women's 50's Pin Up Swimsuit

I'll write an update to this review once my order is finalized, but a few major bullet points that I could not wait to share for those of you considering a last minute pre-vacation amazing bathing suit online purchase, as I was:1. This bathing suit is adorable. I have never spent more than $40 on one in my life, but I really think this will be worth it.2. Remember that your "hips" are actually at the top of your legs for measurements. I made this rookie mistake and measured my "hips" near my belly button, and ended up ordering a size too small. Perhaps it also had something to do with the fact that I'm typically a size 6 (sometimes 8), so a "10" just felt wrong. BUT having read a bunch of reviews here and on modcloth, I now know that I am not alone. Measure once, order once - this suit runs small :).3. Musical Holiday is amazing. Feedback is prompt, helpful, and she really goes absolutely out of her way to make it worth ordering a bathing suit online. Thank you for saving me from the usual bathing-suit shopping nightmare!4. I didn't actually buy this suit for its "slimming" properties - I'm 5'6", 145 lbs, and I carry most of what keeps me from fitting into the "slim" category behind me, so I don't actually need the stomach slimmer, nor do I have much worry about "support" from the top of the suit (but that "hip" measurement from #2 is KEY for me). As I mentioned, the 8 was a bit tight - it did get a bit sheer in the bottom, but it also cut into my legs, so I'm pretty optimistic that the sheerness will no longer be an issue once I get the right size.5. Some reviews reported issues with the "boning" on the side of the bra for this suit - I think it must have been glued in for earlier models, but the one I tried on had it sewn in pretty thoroughly, so I think that issue has been resolved.6. To be continued for (a) final fit/sheerness issue, and (b) wear. There are mixed reviews about this suit in a lot of places about this particular print and its ability to last. I will be wearing it to the beach daily for a week in July/August, and will report back on how it holds up. If you're really nervous about it, it seems like the solid colors wear better than the prints, and don't have the sheerness issue. There are some beautiful color options there, too.*Update 8/22* No issues with sheerness, and I had multiple people keep an eye on it for me. I really think getting the right size is key. Also, I wore it multiple times in the ocean for hours of swimming, and rinsed it with cold water afterwards. I didn't notice any color in the water, as others have reported, which might be related to ocean water vs. pool water. Overall, I am still thrilled with this suit. It was a splurge, but definitely worth it!

I'm normally a 6 or 8 and couldn't fit into a 10 or 12 of this suit. You'll pay at least $12 for shipping and restocking fees. At this point, I think this company is making its money off returns. I own another suit by this brand that I bought a long time ago that is a 6 and fits perfectly. Shame on them for designing a suit with no stretch in the fabric such that your hips need to fit through the waist part.

This suit has beautiful vintage appeal. The ruching on the sides is great, it helps conceal and cover lumps and bumps in the front of the suit. The back of the suit is another story....like seriously, the front and the back are like a great movie and then it's not so great sequel. The back of the suit would be acceptable to me if you are always standing in *front* of people, always sitting in a beach chair or don't mind walking backwards. The back of the suit is one layer and has none of the concealing qualities that the front of the suit has....if it had the same second layer of fabric and ruching then I would probably be keeping this suit, but I'm returning it. I'm a size 8, I'm 5'2" and in spite of my husband's loving insistence to the contrary I consider myself to be a thick around the middle. I bought a size 12 due to the reviews that the suit runs small, and I took my measurments and the 12 seemed to be the right size. I did not enjoy ordering a size 12, but it fit like a glove. (And in spite of how well the suit fit and felt, some of the poor little white polka dots on the back of the suit became sad stretched out ovals...I felt bad for them, they were obviously jealous of the perfect shaped polkas on the front of the suit, poor fellas). Like most women I am probably my absolute worst critic, but I read so many reviews about this suit, on multiple websites, and so many women were singing it's praises that I had basically convinced myself that THIS SUIT would be a miracle cure for years of trying on swimsuits and then promptly wanting to jump off the roof...I had convinced myself that I would slip into this suit and transport into a parallel universe where I look like Marilyn Monroe and feel amazing. I had planned to get the mail in this swimsuit, that's how good it was going to be. One woman even said that she put the suit on and wore it around the house for a while because she felt so incredible. I'm happy for that woman. I am not that woman. I put the suit on, I looked in the mirror and I wasn't horrified and therefore this automatically qualifies it to be a contender, however when I spun around to see my backside it was back to reality....the clock struck 12 and the swimsuit turned back into a pumpkin. Actually a pumpkin might have looked better in this suit because for whatever reason the red fabric with white polka dots made my rear look more square and more flat than I've ever noticed (I blame the oval polka dots...lol). I didn't realize what a flat dairy aire I have. It's starling. I started Cross fit the day after the suit arrived hoping to plump up this butt. So actually I don't hate this suit at all. It's given me the stark realization and the motivation to get moving again. So I'm giving this swimsuit 4 stars. 4 because it truly is a beautiful swimsuit and I believe on someone else's body it would make them look incredible, and it apparently has according to hundreds of reviews. As for me, it's a no, but I am glad I gave it a try.