In honour of the fact that they are now selling sexy swimwear, a few weeks ago the lovely people at Ohhh Canada sent me one of their bikinis to test out. As I’ve mentioned time and again, I have a long running love affair with all things retro when it comes to lingerie and swimwear. Therefore, when it came time to choose a swimsuit from Ohhh’s collection, the Flounce Retro High Waisted Polka Dot Bikini was a no brainer. I mean, look how adorable and deliciously retro it is!
This saucy bikini features a black and white polka sot print which is accented by a thick black waist band (very figure flattering!), black straps and faux peplum bottoms. The top has an underwire and ties at the neck & back to ensure a customizable fit. Made of 80% polyester and 20% spandex, this suit is fully lined and water safe.
However, my only concern was the peplum detail. I think it looks cute on the model, however how would it translate to real life? Would it still look cute or would it look kind of ridiculous? The only thing to do was to take this bikini to the pool for some thorough testing!
The verdict on the peplum bottoms: although they didn’t look ridiculous on me, I thought they were a bit much for fashion-challenged Sleepytown, so before going to the pool, I opted to tuck the ruffles in. The good news: you can easily tuck the peplum inside the legs of the suit and no one will be the wiser (my friend had no idea that the ruffles existed until I showed her!) If you get tired of the high waisted bottoms, I also discovered that you can fold over the black band for a more low-rise look. I don’t know if this was the designer’s intention, but these two additional options make the Flounce Retro High Waisted Polka Dot Bikini surprisingly versatile! (In the end though, I decided to stick with photographing the suit sans ruffle, with the high-waisted band in place, because that’s how I felt most comfortable.)
So, here you go – a couple of photos of me in a bathing suit on the internet. I even included a full body shot where I am doing what I like to call my “Joe the Intern pose.” Be kind my friends.
After spending an afternoon at the pool in the Flounce Retro High Waisted Polka Dot Bikini with my friend & a couple of very reasonably priced, ice-cold Mojitos, I kind of fell in love with this bikini.
First of all, it’s very comfortable. I love how the thick black waistband just sucks everything in. After 3 weeks off from the gym, travelling, being sick & eating my grandma’s home cooking, it’s nice not to have to worry that my abs are looking less than rock hard.
Secondly, this bikini wears well in water. The straps stay secure and there is no awkward sagging. The bottoms also stay in place and don’t ride up (always a plus!) My only (minor) concern with this bikini is that I found the cup size just a tiny bit too small for me. While the size Small bottoms fit perfectly, I could have used a size up in the top. However, with that said I was still able to wear the top and feel good in it.
Lastly, it’s flattering (I think, haha) and it makes me feel good about my body. My body has changed quite a bit since I posted my last photo of me in a bikini on this blog, which was when I turned 30 and was still 103 lbs and a size 00. I’m now 34 and 20 lbs heavier. I’m a lot healthier than I was back then, however I’m still getting used to having more curves. I can’t just grab the first string bikini I come across, I have to pay a bit more attention to fit and look for swimwear that offers some boob support. So, I’m really happy with how the Flounce Retro High Waisted Polka Dot Bikini worked out. It fits well and I feel pretty & sexy wearing it!
Although everyone has a different definition of what’s sexy, I think this is a sexy swimsuit. While I was grabbing a drink from the bar I had a strange man offer to rub sun tan lotion all over my chest. See, even the perverts agree! On a less creepy note, an older woman came up to me later and told me I looked like a 1950’s pin-up from “back in the day.” So, there’s that.
It was really fun playing pin-up for the afternoon and I know I’ll likely be wearing this suit again & again. I might even bust out the peplum if I’m feeling daring! I’d recommend this bikini to anyone who is looking for retro-swimwear for a reasonable price. The Flounce Retro High Waisted Polka Dot Bikini retails for $45.99 and is available at Ohhh Canada.
