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Would you wear a bikini if you had stretchmarks?

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  • ambyence
    ambyence Posts: 189 Forumite
    If you want to wear one, wear one. If you don't fancy it or don't feel brave enough, then don't.
    Anyone who deigns to judge you is not worth you bothering yourself about and may well have their own insecurities that they are hiding.
    Belfastgirl's suggestion is good if you want to dip a toe in the water first (so to speak!) and I do like how mrcow's signature applies to this.
    In any case, congrats on your weight loss and hold your head up high :)
    don't let the b*stards get you down or you might have to live in a bin - <<< this could be you! :)
  • purple45
    purple45 Posts: 2,473 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    I lead a bit of a sheltered life and my first time on a beach abroad was in my mid 30s. I went for a bikini and managed the topless sunbathing without much bother after a while. Once you're there on the beach and you see everyone else letting it all hang out it can make you feel better. A few years later I booked 2 weeks in a naturist campsite without having tried it and its a real experience! People are fat and wobbly, or thin and droopy wrinkly, but they're all happy and don't care what they look like. If you can let go of inhibitions it can be a lovely feeling but even if you can't then its okay, everyone does their own thing and you can take it a step at a time.
    Many thanks to everyone who posts competitions and works so hard to provide all the answers!
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  • Hi OP,

    I'm 29, I have a DD who is 6, I was 2 weeks overdue and put on 4.5 stone during pregnancy. I am riddled with stretch marks all over my belly, thighs, hips etc. I always wear a bikini these days. Yes I am insecure about it, but this is my body, and the saying goes "you can only p1ss with the c0ck you got" so embrace your body, imperfect and all :0) x

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  • It will look worse on you so it better first remove these strechmarks then you can wear bikni.
  • koan_2
    koan_2 Posts: 357 Forumite
    Just my opinion, but VERY few women actually look good in a bikini, to be honest, though this doesn't stop people wearing them :rotfl: It's a bra and knickers, pretty much, and honestly, who would look good wearing just a bra and pants? Models and slim, lanky teens possibly. The rest of us, no!!

    But to answer your question, can you get a friend or someone's honest opinion? Someone who can see you will be better able to judge (if that's the right word) what you look like. The marks might not be as noticeable as you think. There are plenty of nice flattering costumes to choose from, as well as bikinis, - I'd say wear whatever you feel comfortable in.
  • lantanna
    lantanna Posts: 4,471 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    In my experience stretch marks are less noticeable with a tan.


    If you have the confidence to wear a bikini - go for it. TBH I think people are too concerned about what they look like to be never mind paying attention to what anyone else looks like lol
  • Yes I am insecure about it, but this is my body, and the saying goes "you can only p1ss with the c0ck you got" so embrace your body, imperfect and all :0) x
    That is a fantastic saying :D made me chuckle! Very true though, we might not like our bodies all that much but they're the only ones we've got and it would be pointless to let a few imperfections hold us back.
  • koan wrote: »
    But to answer your question, can you get a friend or someone's honest opinion? Someone who can see you will be better able to judge (if that's the right word) what you look like. The marks might not be as noticeable as you think.
    My boyfriend insists they're not as bad as I think they are and says he wouldn't even have noticed them if I hadn't pointed them out. But then again, the light on a bright sunny day on the beach might make them much more noticeable than they are indoors in the dark :o
    I understand what you mean about few women looking good in bikinis, but the thing is that I actually think I wouldn't look half bad (well, once I've toned up a bit more) :D it's just so frustrating to work so hard to lose weight but still be left with things I hate about my body.
  • Ep007
    Ep007 Posts: 621 Forumite
    I have a huge ugly abdominal scar and vowed I would never wear a bikini again but my surgeon said to me the other day...you are much more than the body you are in.....and I am taking that as my new mantra for life....I could be dead my scars are part of me still being here so why would I hide them away??
  • Dizzy_Ditzy
    Dizzy_Ditzy Posts: 17,470 Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    I have stretch marks from my teenage years, they're all faded and it never stopped me :)

    I wore mine for sunbathing and swimming, but if I was wandering around the beach, ie to go to the loo, bar or shop, I'd put a pair of shorts and a best top on

    Remember, no matter how bad you may think you look, you'll forget that when you see just how bad others look :cool:

    Well done, and wear that bikini with pride!
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