Too Cool to Pool with PrettyLittleThing

When I was about 12, I got my first bikini. It was blue and yellow with starfish motifs on- very cute! A year or two later, I'd decided I was too fat to get my stomach out and, for the next decade, I resorted to wearing only tankinis or one-pieces. And then, in my late 20s, I had an epiphany. What if I just wore what I actually wanted to? I tentatively tried a bikini on and walked around a hotel swimming pool. And you know what? It was liberating! Since that day, I haven't looked back. I absolutely love a bikini and with fashion sites like PrettyLittleThing offering gorgeous swimwear in a range of sizes, it's getting easier and easier for me to find my perfect beach outfit.

It may not come as a shock, but I'm not a serious swimmer. Don't get me wrong- I love being in the water, bobbing about and splashing around, but I'm not one of those people who are going to be swimming lengths (mainly because I swim at roughly the pace of a sea snail). Instead, I mainly like to spend most of my time chilling out on the sand or sun lounger, taking photos for social media and generally looking like the babe I am. 

This red swimsuit caught my attention because of the whole retro 50s thing it's got going on, with the high waist briefs and halterneck top. Sometimes I'm a little worried about halternecks because they can pull on my neck, but this one has two straps that you tie yourself at the back, so you can easily adjust it to whatever's comfortable. I'm wearing a size 20 here and it fits perfectly, plus the bright red colour is an absolute dream!

Something else I avoided for a long time was the colour yellow, until a couple of years ago when I bought a yellow dress and absolutely fell in love with it. When I saw this yellow bikini on the PrettyLittleThing site, I knew it was absolutely perfect for me. I've never worn such a high-legged brief before so I was a little apprehensive at first, but once I put it on I felt so confident. I love how my hips squidge out at the side so I'll definitely be more open to this cut in future. Since this bikini is from the Shape range, designed for those of us with pronounced hourglass figures, I knew I could downsize, so both top and brief are a size 18. As an aside, I adore the Shape range because it's wonderful to finally have clothes that fit my large bust and hips but also sit snugly around my waist. With the fit being more proportional, the clothes are a bit roomier and I don't have to size up like I usually do.


This orange bikini is also from the Shape range. With the belt details under the bust and around the waist, I feel like a Bond girl. It's the perfect bright shade for making a statement on the beach or around the pool. With the cut of the legs being a little lower than the yellow, it's great for when I want to be a little more covered, but with a more modern feel than the red: the ideal halfway between the two. I've ended up with the perfect bikini wardrobe here: one style for every mood or circumstance, and all in the fun, vivid colours I love. 

It's amazing how much I've grown in confidence over the past 5 years, and having PrettyLittleThing cater to the desires of bigger women like me, giving us the option to wear stylish and daring swimwear choices, is wonderful. After being limited for so long to boring, sensible swimsuits, it's so refreshing to finally be able to choose statement pieces that make me look amazing while I'm splashing around or relaxing out of the water. After so many years of hiding my body away, I fully intend to spend the rest of my life wearing loud bikinis and drawing as much attention to myself as possible! 
Buy PrettyLittleThing swimwear here
Bikinis gifted by PrettyLittleThing but all opinions my own. 
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