I’ve been playing around with the idea of wearing a one-piece swimsuit as a top for a while now, simply because I love a bodysuit. They’re on-trend, which is cool, but of more importance to me…they’re functional. The very fact that I don’t have to worry about tucking in my top every 10 seconds has been enough of a reason for me to wear and appreciate the heck out of them.
A swimsuit seems pretty darn similar, yeh? I mean, it basically is one to a certain degree. So finding a suit that could potentially work wasn’t difficult. I found this adorable gingham suit and I immediately envisioned it being the one-piece I’ll be pulling on all Summer long. Also, brownie points if it could also stand-in as a bodysuit. I mean, HELLO. I am easily won over by a versatile piece…whatever it may be.
I decided to take it for a test drive of sorts, by YEP…wearing it to the pool (well technically, outside of the pool. It’s not open yet, but I did what I could. lol.). I think it was about oooh 58 degrees or so, hence the jacket. Not exactly Summer. I had wanted to only wear the one-piece on top, in an attempt to prove its worthiness as a bodysuit to you, but YA KNOW. I’m weak.
I threw on a lightweight camo jacket and well, all right then! I really like it with the whole shebang. The print mix and additional layer made the outfit way more interesting. Not to mention, the suit legitimately looks like a top and can be realistically worn right now, through the Spring, styled this way…so let’s call that a win.
That Back, Though…
While I think its way more obvious I am wearing an actual swimsuit without the jacket, simply paired with the denim skirt and sandals this gingham one-piece has the ability to show off it’s lace-up back, which gosh….is so good. I am all about a dramatic back and this one gives me that.
outfit details
swimsuit: J.Crew Lace-up Back One Piece (TTS, fit in my normal 4) – really love this one. It fits well, even on my long body. Granted, I don’t have a super long torso (all in my legs), but still. I tend to get the wedgie effect with most one-pieces, so this was a nice surprise. FYI: it has a BUILT IN BRA. Note: this one is slightly cheeky.
Shop All Gingham One-Pieces
jacket: Levi’s Camo Jacket (old) –their Oversize Camo Shirt Jacket looks really good. It does look lighter than my own, though. Not a bad thing, but just an FYI. MANGO also has a Camo-print Jacket and it looks pretty similar to me own, aside from being slightly more oversized. I actually think I like it more than my own, with its cool embellishment above the pocket.
skirt: Madewell Denim Frisco Miniskirt (TTS, wearing size 4) – comfortable, casual…and it didn’t feel too too short. You know what I mean? I am not a skirt person, really, but I like wearing this one.
shoes: Birkenstock Mayari Sandal (Pull Up Stone, wearing 9-9.5 and I am a true size 9.5 foot) – yeh. goodness, I love these sandals. I was a professed Birks Hater, but darn. not any more. So comfortable and instantly make me feel better when I slip them on. I know that I will be wearing them all Summer long. Amazon has them, too, if you can find your size there (Prime shipping, woo!).
bag: French Baskets Straw Backpack – this is one of my new favorite Spring/Summer bags…the other two I have are also from French Baskets. haha. This backpack can hold two beach towels, diaper, wipes, goggles, snack and a water bottle or two. These are great bags. I am obsessed. Also, I have exchanged messages with the owner and she is such a genuinely delightful person. I like that I am able to promote a small business, that just so happens to produce awesome bags!
shades: Polarized Aviator Sunglasses from Amazon – as some of you may have heard, I am all about cheap shades. They do the job and I don’t have to worry about losing or breaking them. Sweet. Also, these are a great classic pair of aviators.
earrings: J.Crew (old) – one of my favorite Etsy shops, Machete, has some fantastic tortoise earrings.
lip color: Revlon Balm Stain (Sweetheart) – have been wearing these lip colors for years now.
Would you wear a one-piece as a bodysuit? Would you even wear a body suit? I guess that’s the first question I should be asking. 😉
Cheers,
Cams
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Photos by Christina Hussey Photography.
Uh … I anticipate difficulties and struggles in restrooms.
haha! Yes, there is no easy way to do the bathroom deal, except to just strip it down. Cheers.
Body suits aren’t for me (they’re too tight on my stomach usually) but I feel like at least a true body suit addresses the whole peeing thing by having a snap crotch (they still have those, right?). A swimsuit would just stress me out every time I had to use the bathroom. Cute look though!
Yes, they do have the snap crotch! You’re absolutely right. This whole outfit will be more of a to the pool and back type deal for me…and I can handle having to strip it all the way down to use the bathroom, only because I would have to anyways at the pool. Cheers! Cams
Nope, not going to work for me. The whole pulling-to-the-side and the peeing on the suit issue is… an issue. Also, this is basically my coverup look when I go to the beach, not an actual outfit I’d wear.
Definitely something that works for two the pool and back…and randomly to grab food with the fam after or something. 🙂 I wouldn’t pull it to the side, either. Gross. haha.
My thoughts exactly!! I need easy access! 🙂
I was going to say the same thing about the bathroom. Plus somehow I’ve just assumed that bodysuits are more comfortable than a one-piece bathing suit — am I wrong? Also, you look great, but the first thing I thought was that you were in a bathing suit.
They are! 100% correct. This whole thing, for me, is just a simple outfit to wear to the pool…and then back. If I happen to have to run errands or want to eat out after with the fam…then this works. Cheers, Cams
I think this is a cute look for going to and from the pool…and maybe for eating fish tacos at some casual seaside restaurant after a day of frolicking in the surf. But anywhere else? For me, it’s a no. I wouldn’t wear it to take the kids to the park (unless, perhaps, I was planning to run with them through the fountains). I certainly couldn’t see wearing it for a trip to the mall or lunch with the girls. There might be some bathing suits that would look more like a top…maybe one of those off-the-shoulder looks that seem to be trending right now. But this one, with its criss-cross straps and low-cut front really kind of screams swimwear. And of course there is the bathroom issue. But I have been wearing jumpsuits and rompers, so the idea of getting half naked in the loo isn’t that foreign a concept.
YES. I should have addressed this in the post, obviously…whoops! This is exactly for what you said. It’s more of an outfit fit for the pool and beach vacays. 🙂
I was thinking the same thing about comfort and bathroom issues…isn’t it also not great for your lady-bits health to wear synthetic tight swimwear all day (or is that a myth?) I was hoping to see some actual bodysuits that I would legitimately wear out to non-beach, non-pool places. I actually have two super cute tank bodysuits from Tux that I wear to work under a blazer.
This could work for en route to the pool – very cute suit! – but it doesn’t look like regular clothes. It looks like a skirt tossed on over a swimsuit. Something about the cut and fit of the swimsuit makes it clear that it’s a swimsuit, and not a regular top.
I love the jean skirt! I’m not a fan of bodysuits though.
Bodysuits are excellent choices for some outfits. I own three solid cami like black ones and three novelty ones, this is surprising to me because they never crossed my mind (torso! snaps! tight!) before, but they just work. Try one!
They do!! I, too, was so surprised by them. Cheers, Cams
I was not a fan of bodysuits either. It’s basically a cloth swimming suit. Bathroom issues. Crotch issues. But! Husband found it sexy. And actually, most of them can be rather appropriate. I hate having extra fabric when you tuck in. If you can find the right fit, it doesn’t ride up the crotch. Unless you go to the bathroom alot, it’s really not that many times you have to unsnap the crotch. (I would never do the push to the side thing…I’d rather be half naked, but I generally buy snap button bodysuits).
I would try them if one likes the look of them. This site is all about experimenting, right? You never know. And then periodically revisit (that’s what I tell my kids with foods they hate. To try, and then try again after a year or so because tastes change). I hated high waisted jeans, skinny jeans, and bodysuits. I am a fan of all of them now. (My last fashion thing I hate: print — have to find a way to incorporate print besides stripes and polka dots into my style).
My only problem is that I like thong bodysuits, because I hate the panyline showing through leggings/skinny jeans. But sometimes, when I bend over, the thong part of bodysuit shows through my jeans….even my high waisted jeans!! My husband LOVES that. Me, not so much. Are my jeans too tight and so ride down? I don’t know.
I also like them as a base layer in winter too. (sorry for the novel).