{Siren Swim Top & Hello Sailor Swim Bottoms} P4P
Never EVER did I ever imagine that I would post pictures of myself in a bathing suit on the internet...nevermind in a BIKINI (aff. link)! Oh gosh, no....never. But, alas, here I am today doing such a thing and it is not as easy as you would think that it would be.
When I was approached to help in testing this pattern, I was extremely excited! "You must take pictures in the suit" she said. "Not a problem" I said. After making a few muslin's to get the fit just right, I started working on my final version....and then completed the final version. Oye! What next you say? Pictures IN the suit? Geeze, I started sweating bullets, and having heart palpitations. I was so nervous about everything. I felt great in my suit, but so much skin was exposed. And I would have to post these. Yep, I was extremely nervous to say the least. I got out there though and got pictures. I think that it helped that hubby was there taking them. I felt super comfortable and confident with him behind the camera, and I think that it shows through.
Looking at these pictures now, I am so glad that I had this opportunity. I am able to look at these pictures and still feel great, and not look at them and try to find some imperfection that I don't like about my body. Before taking the pictures, I had decided that I would do a little bit of smoothing in Photoshop, however during editing, I was really feeling the vibe of the pictures and decided to embrace it...no Photoshopping here...it's all natural baby ;)
Alright, alright...enough about all that! Let's move on to the nitty gritty. Let's talk about the pattern a little bit!
The Siren Swim Top (aff. link) comes in sizes XXS to 3X and the options are almost endless! Well, not really endless, but there are so many options!!!!! I made the pointed flounce with back flounce, cris-crossed straps. I added elastic into the band for more support and it feels great! The girls are not going anywhere. The solid black Nylon Spandex is from Joanns and the Floral is from Spandex NYC. For my lining I use Joann's Swim Lining material that I LOVE. It gives such great support that is needed here. I also added an extra layer into the straps to hold them up a bit better and it worked out great. I made a size 1X here.
For the Hello Sailor Swim Bottoms (aff. link) I chose to make the ruched sides with floral panel in front and solid in the back. I really like the contrast between the two and I am glad that I didn't use the floral in the back. I feel as though the black gives the illusion on a smaller booty (whether or not that is true, who knows). The reason that I chose the ruched sides is to try and smooth-- read hide-- the rolls ;) I think that it did a great job of just that! The waist and waistband are a 1X graded out to a 2X in the hips. I used the same swim lining as I did for the top in the bottoms and it smooths SO well. Instead of using power mesh as an interlining (since I was disappointed in Joann's quality) I used an extra layer of the lining cut 1/4" shorter on each side and it worked perfectly!
If you are hesitant about this suit, I would encourage you to go for it! I think that you will be pleasantly surprised. It looks GREAT on all body shapes and sizes. You can see the album of all the tester photos for the Hello Sailor Swim Bottoms HERE or the Siren Swim Top HERE decide for yourself.
So, put on your britches of confidence and do something that you never thought that you would do! You CAN do it, and you CAN feel great!!!!
When I was approached to help in testing this pattern, I was extremely excited! "You must take pictures in the suit" she said. "Not a problem" I said. After making a few muslin's to get the fit just right, I started working on my final version....and then completed the final version. Oye! What next you say? Pictures IN the suit? Geeze, I started sweating bullets, and having heart palpitations. I was so nervous about everything. I felt great in my suit, but so much skin was exposed. And I would have to post these. Yep, I was extremely nervous to say the least. I got out there though and got pictures. I think that it helped that hubby was there taking them. I felt super comfortable and confident with him behind the camera, and I think that it shows through.
Looking at these pictures now, I am so glad that I had this opportunity. I am able to look at these pictures and still feel great, and not look at them and try to find some imperfection that I don't like about my body. Before taking the pictures, I had decided that I would do a little bit of smoothing in Photoshop, however during editing, I was really feeling the vibe of the pictures and decided to embrace it...no Photoshopping here...it's all natural baby ;)
Alright, alright...enough about all that! Let's move on to the nitty gritty. Let's talk about the pattern a little bit!
The Siren Swim Top (aff. link) comes in sizes XXS to 3X and the options are almost endless! Well, not really endless, but there are so many options!!!!! I made the pointed flounce with back flounce, cris-crossed straps. I added elastic into the band for more support and it feels great! The girls are not going anywhere. The solid black Nylon Spandex is from Joanns and the Floral is from Spandex NYC. For my lining I use Joann's Swim Lining material that I LOVE. It gives such great support that is needed here. I also added an extra layer into the straps to hold them up a bit better and it worked out great. I made a size 1X here.
For the Hello Sailor Swim Bottoms (aff. link) I chose to make the ruched sides with floral panel in front and solid in the back. I really like the contrast between the two and I am glad that I didn't use the floral in the back. I feel as though the black gives the illusion on a smaller booty (whether or not that is true, who knows). The reason that I chose the ruched sides is to try and smooth-- read hide-- the rolls ;) I think that it did a great job of just that! The waist and waistband are a 1X graded out to a 2X in the hips. I used the same swim lining as I did for the top in the bottoms and it smooths SO well. Instead of using power mesh as an interlining (since I was disappointed in Joann's quality) I used an extra layer of the lining cut 1/4" shorter on each side and it worked perfectly!
If you are hesitant about this suit, I would encourage you to go for it! I think that you will be pleasantly surprised. It looks GREAT on all body shapes and sizes. You can see the album of all the tester photos for the Hello Sailor Swim Bottoms HERE or the Siren Swim Top HERE decide for yourself.
So, put on your britches of confidence and do something that you never thought that you would do! You CAN do it, and you CAN feel great!!!!
you look A MAZ ING and convinced me to buy it!
ReplyDeleteWow! I've been hearing about this, but I assumed it was a one-piece. You look fantastic. I'm going to have to try this pattern now.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely gorgeous. You did a fabulous job, this suits you perfectly.
ReplyDeleteHot mama! With all the swimsuits I've been seeing around, I'm now considering making one for myself.
ReplyDeleteYou look AMAZING in this suit. But I knew you would. So glad you came on board with us to test this.
ReplyDelete