Ah, summer! Season of snorkeling, lemonade, and butch anxiety about what to wear to the pool. If you feel like sporting a regular ol' swimsuit, but want something a little more conservative than the bikinis lining the racks at Macy's, check out Speedos. They tend to be comfier, sleeker, and provide more coverage than most bathing suits. They even offer suits that look like conventional swimsuits with bike shorts sewn on. But if you're like many butches (including me), something that form-fitting makes you look like this guy, but with bigger breasts and less hair. If so, your options are less obvious. A good standby formula for a butch in the water = shorts + boob coverage + shirt. I'll discuss each component separately, and you can mix and match as you like. (And of course, you should always wear sunscreen, even if your shoulders are covered.) COMPONENT #1: SHORTS Boardshorts are long (at or a little past the knees, usually 21"-22"), lightweight shorts that come in a variety of brands and colors. Some of my favorites are Hurley's Puerto Rico Board Shorts (pictured at right), Quiksilver's Cypher Alpha Board Shorts (pictured below), and Quiksilver's Slightly Choppy Boardshorts. You'll find boardshorts in the men's section of department stores, Pacific Sunwear, and online retailers like Zappo's. Some brands make women's board shorts, but these tend to be far shorter than men's, presumably because it's more important for women to show off their bodies than to reap such trivial benefits as coverage and functionality. Workout/running shorts can double as swim shorts, and often have more coverage and lining. My favorite are Brooks men's Infiniti Notch Shorts. This style has full lining--thin, built-in bike shorts under the regular shorts. There's no need to wear underwear or a swimsuit under them, and no one underwater gets a glimpse of more butch than they bargained for. Plenty of other running shorts come with built-in lining, too, though usually it's underwear-style rather than bike-short-style. Check out your local running store for ideas (Nike, and North Face often have cool styles). Standard men's swim trunks can also be a good, cheap option, as this post from Butch and Pregnant suggests. Standard men's trunks are lightweight, dry fast, and have mesh lining. Note that unlike boardshorts, you shouldn't wear swim trunks to the mall. Also, make sure to get a pair with a drawstring. Since most ladies have bigger hips than guys, you may have to buy a baggier size than your waist requires. A drawstring will ensure that you don't expose yourself to that cute lifeguard you've been eyeing--well, not unless she asks you to... COMPONENT #2: BOOB COVERAGE Swimsuit or bikini top: This option is pretty straightforward, right? Buy a swimsuit or a bikini and, assuming you don't want to wear it on its own, you can use it as the "boob coverage" component of the BW Swimming Formula. Next option: Sports bra. Or, to many butches, "bra." (First, a sidenote: other bloggers, such as A Stranger in this Place and the Sartorial Butch, have written eloquently and humorously about butch bra shopping. My everyday bra preferences are slightly different from theirs, but I'll save that TMI post for later.) As you probably know, sports bras by brands such as Nike and Champion come in sizes of the S/M/XL variety. If these suit you, great! If they're not perfect you might want to look into bras that come in actual numbered sizes (more on this, too, in a later post). One great place to buy sports bras is Title Nine, an athletic clothing chain for women with a great selection and a rating system to help you find a sports bra with the amount of support you want. Moving Comfort is my favorite brand, and I particularly like their Fiona model. "Tankini" sounds like a cocktail made from vodka, a twist of lime, and a splash of water from the bartender's fish tank. Basically, these creations are like swimsuits that end at your belly button. Though I dislike nearly all tankinis (ugh--just typing that word gives me an eye twitch), a few--like this one (pictured at right)--aren't too bad. And if there's enough coverage built in, you can wear just a tankini and shorts--no other shirt necessary. COMPONENT #3: SHIRT A tank top over one of the "boob coverage" options I listed above is a good bet if it's extra hot or you want to look casual. If you're feeling saucy, go for something with attitude, and/or a little queer pride. Note that a tank top itself does not constitute "boob coverage." You may not think your smallish breasts merit coverage, but if you are over the age of 12, I assure you that they do. Your fellow swimmers should not be able to discern the water temperature by glancing at your chest. Next, a regular cotton T-shirt is always a decent choice, and I'm guessing your closet is chock full of 'em. The downsides are that they feel wet and heavy while swimming and take a while to dry (you can pack another one to throw on afterwards). Also, make sure the shirt is darker than your boob coverage du jour; it's not uber-classy to showcase your sports bra through a wet tee. Since chlorine and salt water can cause fading, don't wear a favorite to the beach unless you're prepared to relegate it to sleepwear status at the end of the summer. Now, a story: One day, a tank top and a T-shirt met in a forest. They decided they loved each other very, very much. Soon, they made a baby. That baby's name was muscle shirt. Muscle shirts offer more coverage than tank tops, on which the arm holes are sometimes too large. One tip about muscle shirts: in public, don't wear one you "made" by cutting the sleeves off one of your T-shirts. Such creations are appropriate only in one's own home, while running on secluded trails, and at the home of one's DGF ( with the DGF's consent). And if you decide to buy a new muscle shirt, why not choose one that shows your butch pride? Rash guards are cool-looking, sold in lots of different places, and come in hundreds of colors and styles--both men's and women's. (I was pleased to see that Butch Style and the Sartorial Butch have endorsed rash guards--so you know you'll be in good company!) Unless the water is especially cold, I recommend a short-sleeved rash guard. They're made of thicker material than T-shirts--usually lycra, nylon, and/or polyester, kind of like the top half of a wet suit. A quick Googling suggests that despite the thickness, you should probably wear something underneath, such as a bikini top or a sports bra. So, fellow butches, when in doubt about swimwear, remember that shorts + boob coverage + shirt = happy butch. And trust me on the sunscreen.
24 Comments
cris
7/30/2011 05:33:51 pm
i have used most of the above for swiming as i don't really do the beach or the river, ect. however i have discobered a very good item for the butch in me for swiming. i have 2 wristling outfits. they are perfect. they have longer shorts than a swim suiyt and the top portion is very like a sports bra, however this is a one piece outfit. it also dry\ies very quickly. i wear men's swim trunks with it as well. because i don't feel comfortable not doing so as the outfit is rather form fitting, and well i am kinda round in the middle so well you get the point.
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MZ
5/28/2016 08:57:27 am
I would love to know where I can find a thrift store that only charges $1.99! Wow...I have been buying butch apparel for over 30 years and never found that low of price! Well done!
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bookish butch
7/31/2011 12:48:17 am
Where do I get one of those butch tank tops or t-shirt:-)
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Champion athletic bras are awesome, I wear one when I go into combat, er, play soccer. However, I wouldn't want to wear it swimming. I love how rash guards look on other people, the material is extra clingy and for some of us, that may reveal more about our eating habits than we'd like others to know. But they are great looking, lots of variety and colors and help guard against the sun -- my daughters look awesome in them.
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I'm with Kyle on this one. I usually wear a one piece swimsuit with board shorts. If I had a bit more confidence in just letting my belly hang out I'd wear a sports bra. My belly is something I've always wanted to be, shall we say, a bit smaller but I've never been successful in that area so I cover it as much as possible. (:
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8/1/2011 03:18:43 pm
@ Cris: Wrestling outfits! What an interesting idea... that's a new one for me. I totally agree with you about thrift stores. Some of my all-time coolest clothes have come from thrift stores--especially thrift stores in ritzy areas.
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Jennifer M Crockett
3/25/2015 02:07:27 am
Yes I just purchased two wrestling singlets. They are perfect for me. They are form fitting but gives you coverage and they look cool. It's like an updated version of the men's swim onesies back in the day. check out eastbay.com
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needle in haystack
8/1/2011 03:38:13 pm
Holy shit, did I just find the blog of a butch who isn't transitioning? Let me go back and read all the entries and see if I'm actually correct about this.
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I don't have the courage to wear it by itself but I love the Fiona! I bought one a few years back when I temporarily lost my mind and decided to pick up running (needless to say the Fiona is the only surviving, and still used, piece of that little journey.)
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8/18/2011 07:13:25 am
I wear a triathlon suit, which zips all the way up to my neck (no cleavage), and goes all the way down to my knees. It also looks sporty. http://triathlonlab.com/images/D/TriLABkitW.jpg
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This is awesome. I haven't gone swimming in over a decade, partially because I don't have the time, but whenever family members would offer to babysit so I could go swimming, I would decline because- there's no way I'm wearing a bathing suit! I had halfheartedly browsed other women's swim clothes options, then gave up.
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Tom
6/6/2012 09:49:48 am
I'm with Sim on this topic. I had given up on water sports of any kind....even just laying on a towel at the beach....too hot in shorts and a tee but ain't no way I'm gonna do a bathing suit! So I just never went. Then I met my partner who I swear is a mermaid because she could live in the water. So I did what any femme-respecting head over heels in love with my gurl butch would do....I suffered the anxiety of donning a "butch bathing suit".....tee shirt, sports bra, and board shorts. All good til ya get wet! I don't think there's anything out there that would be camouflage enough for me so I just suck it up and suck it in and go for it.
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Deetoo
6/24/2012 12:16:26 pm
I think sports bras wouldn't give the 'coverage' one needs when wet, and they seem thick. I have some rash shirts and they are not tight fitting, and they are much lighter weight than t-shirts, especially when wet. I got mine for sunprotection, they are spf 50. There are also swim shorts (for sun protection) spendy but light weight. Don't know about you all, but I sometimes kayak...and I prefer two pieces...much easier to go to the bathroom (in a stall or in nature) than pulling a wet suit off your bod. I am not a butch...but liked your ideas...my next girlfriend can wear those!!
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tracy
6/27/2012 12:48:57 am
My gf subscribes to rash guards, as they look butchy and delicious on her, and it also keeps her from being burnt to a crisp. I wear a tankini, you had me on the drink idea, until i saw the mixer, lol, as it covers but is seperate pieces, so i can go to the bathroom without trying to wiggle a wet suit back on.
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E
7/17/2012 08:57:36 am
The BW options are great if you're doing casual swimming. However, I do triathlons, and wear this: http://www.h2owear.com/prodinfo.asp?number=SPU3
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Heidim
8/28/2012 09:38:50 am
Thankfully here in Australia, the Cancer Council has done a wonderful job promoting the dangers of skin cancer (the highest proportion in the world). So for us, NOT wearing a rashie is considered rather odd - except for those girls on Bondi Beach. Boardies are also essential swimwear for both our guys and gals. This means that we have heaps of styles and colours to choose from in our swimwear & working out what is appropriate is not an issue :-)
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PGD3996
9/25/2012 02:24:57 am
If your looking for a longer boardshort, try this website:
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Mayra
7/19/2013 03:00:38 pm
Oh boy, i'm guilty of wearing my d.i.y muscle shirt in public... And thanks for the great suggestions!!! My angst is slowly dissipating from the thought of going on vacation where every day is spent on the beach.
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