Posts Tagged ‘swimwear’

Americans have a love/hate relationship with our bodies. Criticizing every inch of ourselves and others has become an accepted pastime. Lately, however, there appears to be a shift in perspective. A small one, I admit, but here in Hawaii people seem less preoccupied with exteriors and more interested in interiors. This is even more prevalent in the over forty crowd.

Maybe it is because we’ve experienced too much real life drama to continue this preoccupation with superficiality. Whatever the reason, it is nice to see it happening. Hawaii Beaches are populated with a gamut of human bodies; from tiny Asian women to Rubenesque Americans. A surprising number unselfconsciously clad in tiny bikinis. I applaud them. They are taking the stigma out of having a normal body as opposed to the Hollywood version.

Bikinis for women have existed for centuries, coming in and out of fashion with the mores of the times. The French (of course) unveiled the first of today’s modern bikinis in the 1940’s. Apparently the 18-year-old model heartily supported French women wearing them but did not approve of them for Americans. I am pretty sure American society at that time agreed with her.

I grew up in New England, land of the Puritans. Scantily clad women were considered cheap and as young women we were encouraged not to emulate them. A decade in Alaska had me covered from head to toe for obvious reasons. After three years in Hawaii I have gradually shed the layers and recently purchased my first bikini. My reason? Tan lines. A torso that resembles the underbelly of a frog simply isn’t appealing.

Finding a relatively modest bikini, I wrapped a sarong around my bottom half, and headed to the beach. My bikinis’ debut was an early morning Stand Up Paddle run with the other “board members” in my group. I must admit it was a trifle anticlimactic. Only one member even noticed, although he did give me a nice wolf whistle and a respectable leer.

Since that morning I have started wearing my bikini regularly – when the water is calm. (No need to test its ability to stay put in rough water.) I am happy to say my tan lines are much more respectable and no one seems shocked at the quantity of over-forty-year-old skin I am exposing. My 70-year-old neighbor told me wrinkles are nicer looking when tan and I think he has a point. In fact I notice that people in general look nice tan.

So I advocate Bikinis for women of all ages, shapes, and sizes now.

*Of course to be safe I also advocate ~ sun block, hats and sunglasses.

Copyright © Johanna Kim