'Light and tight or wet with regret: why fabric matters in aswimsuit'


When the summer seasonis in full swing, the shelves of clothing stores are stocked with all differenttypes and styles of swimsuits and bikinis. Chances are, if you have beenswimsuit shopping lately, you have been somewhat overwhelmed by the abundanceof choices. In the stores, there are about as many styles and cuts of swimsuitsas there are types of bodies to wear them.


While most women consider size, fit, and colorwhen choosing a swimsuit, there is another significant characteristic of aswimsuit that many consumers often forget to think about when shopping for andpurchasing a new swimsuit: fabric.


Swimsuit manufacturers like to introduce newswimsuits made from different types of fabric into the market in order to produce a more unique swimsuit product. However, while a swimsuit made from an exotic fabricwill greatly add to the uniqueness factor of your swimming wardrobe, the typeof fabric a swimsuit is made of greatly affects both the fit and the overalllife of that swimsuit. With all of the different fabric options available forswimsuit consumers, a brief guide to the strengths and drawbacks of several ofthe most common swimsuit fabrics may be quite valuable.


100% Cotton:


As consumers become less and less fond ofsynthetic materials, swimsuits and bikinis made entirely from cotton arebecoming more and more popular. While cotton swimsuits can be extremely cuteand fashionable (not to mention light and airy), they do not always provide the best fit or the greatest overall longevity in a swimsuit. Cotton swimsuits are notknown for staying in place on the body, and they have a tendency to ride up andbunch (an undesirable characteristic in any swimsuit). As a fabric, cotton doesnot stand up long to the destructive nature of chlorine and sun. It is likelythat your cotton swimsuit will fade fairly quickly, especially if you areswimming in chlorinated pools.


Spandex/Lycra:


Most swimsuits contain some percentage ofspandex or Lycra in their fabric. These fabrics provide the stretchy fit thatallows a swimsuit to stay in place on the body. Generally, the higher thepercentage of spandex or Lycra in the swimsuit material, the more the swimsuitis designed for more serious or competitive swimming. While high-spandexmaterials cover the body well and smooth out any unsightly body bulges, theycan become tight and uncomfortable. Also, spandex has a tendency to run ifsnagged on the side of a concrete pool or on a wooden lounge chair. Becausehigh-spandex swimsuits are designed for use in serious and competitive swimmingpursuits, however, they are often treated for chlorine resistance. While thischlorine resistance does not provide complete protection from chlorine, it doessignificantly lengthen the lifetime of the swimsuit.


Metallic Overlay:


Swimsuits with metallic overlay sewn into thefabric are designed to be glamorous and eye-catching, but not necessarily tohold up and endure extensive swimming. While metallic overlay certainly adds alevel of pizzazz and style to any swimsuit, the overlay is guaranteed to frayand dull after only a short amount of time. In general, swimsuits with metallicoverlay are meant much more for show than they are for getting wet.


Velvet:


Swimsuits made from velvet and other types ofcrushed fabrics have become more popular in recent years. A velvet swimsuit isdefinitely nice to look at and to touch, but it is not best for either swimsuitfit or longevity. When wet, velvet has a tendency to soak up water, and canbecome quite heavy and sodden. This heaviness causes a velvet swimsuit to sagaway from the body, losing the tight fit that is so necessary in a swimsuit.Also, velvet is not a fabric meant to come in close contact with chlorine. Likeswimsuits with metallic overlay, velvet swimsuits are much more valuable fortheir uniqueness and style factors than they are for their longevity.


In order to ensure that you receive yourdesired fit and longevity in your next swimsuit purchase, be sure to check thetag in the swimsuit before buying it. While all of the above fabrics can make adecent, good-looking swimsuit, each particular swimsuit fabric is designed fordifferent reasons and activities. In general, the best way to acquire the bestswimsuit for you, in terms of fabric, is to know what you plan to use theswimsuit for and where you plan to wear it.


About the Author:


Vanessa Lausch is a writer/editor for MoreSwimsuits, an online retail site with more swimsuit options and information foryou. To find more information about swimsuit fabric or fitting options, checkout http://www.moreswimsuits.com/