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Would You Wear May 13, 2009 @ 1:59pm

Would You Wear A Swimsuit You Can’t Swim In?

It seems we keep running into a little problem as we search for cute suits for upcoming Memorial Day trips. Not every designer is making them water-ready.

While some of us here find this concept mildly baffling, I have a confession to make.

I have purchased, and wear, one of said (non) bathing suits. It is reserved strictly for the sun deck. I’m even scared to go near a too-full cocktail in the thing.

I realize that it’s not necessarily practical to shell out hundreds of dollars on a swimsuit that you can’t use for… swimming.

But maybe it’s different if there’s no way in hell you ever plan on immersing yourself in water, or you have an extra $750 to blow on this Herve Leger “sunsuit”?

Or maybe you could just risk it and swim anyway. But the fact that the description of this Missoni bikini reinforces that Item should not be used for swimming not once, but twice, means it’s probably not a good idea. Who knows what could happen if you got H2O-happy with the thing on?

But, if you find the perfect one that’s super cute, really flattering, and not going to give you outrageous tan lines, can a non-swimsuit be a good addition to your summer wardrobe?

—CARSON GRIFFITH

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posted by guest

May 13, 2009 2:05PM

The Herve Leger sunsuit is also dry-clean only, which for practical purposes is unsanitary and rather icky--I don't want dry-cleaning chemicals rubbing against my skin there.

posted by guest

May 13, 2009 2:12PM

The Herve one is pretty amazing looking though... and it does look as if a rich person would just sunbathe in it or wear it around the beach - but the Missoni one? That's just weird because it is actually a bikini.

posted by 808Kate

May 13, 2009 2:14PM

No.

posted by guest

May 13, 2009 2:22PM

It really makes no sense to shell out that much cash for a bathing suit at all, especially if it doesn't fulfill the purpose of a bathing suit. And I have to agree with #1 - I'd rather not have chemicals rubbing up against my oonie.

posted by guest

May 13, 2009 2:23PM

If i was going to pay $470 for a bikini i wouldnt want to get it wet anyway!

posted by Megs252

May 13, 2009 2:26PM

Sooooo unrealistic for real people. Swimsuits are expensive enough as it is, why jack the price way up and take away the functionality of it? Doesn't make sense.

I mean I get the appeal and maybe if it was under $100 I'd think about it, but $750?!? Are they out of their freaking minds?! This is something you'd get a limited amount of wearing out of and it's not even functional. And good point on the dry cleaning thing guest 1, thats just icky.

Trying to rename it as a "sunsuit" is just tacky. We're not stupid designers, we know it's a swimsuit, you're the ones who made it un-swimmable(?) so just suck it up and stand by that decision, don't try to cop out by giving it a cutesy name.

posted by guest

May 13, 2009 2:34PM

Never.

posted by anonymoose

May 13, 2009 3:04PM

it has that "should not be used for swimming" note twice on the Missoni because it's meant once for the caftan (which, who would get into the water wearing a caftan?) and once for the bikini. anyway, i agree that it's completely ridiculous.

posted by darcykins

May 13, 2009 3:07PM

i wonder why you can't swim in them?
i probably would and then something bad would happen.
i used to have a roof terrace that i would sun on (with spf 60 on) when i lived in rome, if i still lived there i might consider owning a 'sunsuit'

is it that bad to have a dry cleaned garment next to your vagina?
how is it unsanitary?

posted by bananahana

May 13, 2009 3:10PM

What crazy tan lines that sunsuit would cause.. but I'm in love with it.
Still, the whole 'not suitable for swimming' thing is ridiculous.

posted by nuhh429

May 13, 2009 3:23PM

I doubt I'd realistically spend that amount of money on any article of clothing. But if I had money to throw around, and I were the type to go to the beach and not want to ever get wet (like my sister) I would probably buy something like that. If you have no plans of getting wet anyway, what's wrong with it? It's just expensive beachwear.

posted by guest

May 13, 2009 3:28PM

The Herve is SOLD OUT! Wow. My guess is that Lady GaGa will be wearing that next week (sans pants, natch.)

It's a body-suit then, not a swimsuit, if you can't swim in it.

The Missoni makes less sense...I think viscose shrinks in the wash like 100% rayon. There should be another warning: to be worn WITH underwear.

posted by guest

May 13, 2009 4:01PM

Run to Rosa Chá for their amazing brazilian (but not small) bikinis that you can actually swim with and look gorgeous at the same time.

posted by guest

May 13, 2009 4:14PM

@darcykins (#9)
Maybe it isn't unsanitary--I don't understand the dry-cleaning process well enough. But I don't think the solvents would be as effective in cleaning what is basically underwear as water.

I don't want dry-cleaning solvents that close to unprotected areas of my body--I don't love having the chemicals on my skin in the first place, but at least you know your skin protects you from the solvents. The jury is out on whether they are totally safe, and I'd like to keep my personal areas far away from the controversy.

I don't have a problem with sunsuits per se--I don't ever swim! I'd just prefer them to be at least handwashable.

posted by guest

May 13, 2009 4:52PM

as a swimsuit designer, every once in a while i am asked to design something that is unswimmable & i refuse. it doesnt make sense to me at all to design something that looks like a swimsuit, but doesnt function as one. im proud to say that all my swimsuits are functional & fashionable! (and reasonable).
seriously, if you just want to lay around & not get wet, but look like you are wearing a swimsuit, just wear your bra & underwear, its the same thing.

posted by Signature9

May 13, 2009 5:11PM

I suppose if you don't swim and are just a dip your toes in the water kind of person it could make sense. If that's not your usual style though, I think it would just be incredibly silly/pretentious to sit on the side of the pool or on your beach towel and say "sorry, I have to change into my swimsuit - this is my sunsuit" if invited to jump into the water.

Next up, dark tinted nightglasses: not suitable for wearing in the sun.

http://www.signature9.co.uk

posted by guest

May 13, 2009 6:39PM

That's just stupid, and insulting to fashion. good fashion designers are supposed to be good 'designers'. like in product design, interior design, architecture, etc. the entire challenge of design is working around functionality with creativity. What the hell!

As fierce lookg as it is, I wouldn't wear it even if I got it for free. You will be laughed at for wearing something like that and not be able to get wet.

posted by guest

May 13, 2009 9:24PM

i have many "sunsuits" or as missoni sales reps like to call them "yachting suits" ... how many people do you know who own a yacht and would let you lay out on it at whim??

basically the reason warning tags as previously mentioned exist are to cover the brand's asses with dye/color bleeding, shrinkage, fabric damage and other fabric inconsistencies. it's no different from when certain designers place the DRY CLEAN ONLY label across the board on every garment they have. that way they don't really have any liability with any any garment having quality issues if it's washed.

But the thing is...half those DRY CLEAN ONLY items CAN in fact be washed or at the very least handwashed. Same goes with the "sunsuits." I've actually swam in every single one of them and haven't had an issue at all.

posted by guest

May 14, 2009 12:46PM

I want to go swimming! Oh shit! I have to change into my swimming suit!

posted by ginni27

May 14, 2009 3:55PM

@ #9.... I'm dying at your last comment... haha

posted by justcallmemarge

May 23, 2009 12:25PM

Does it creep anyone out that the Hervé one is described as a "bandage wrap" sunsuit?
I mean, who wants to look as if they are just lying poolside wrapped in bandages.
Maybe that's why you aren't supposed to get it wet.