I don't know why I find those so creepy, but I do.
And I'd totally rock out if I had one of those victorian all-black covers the knees and elbows suits, so that makes my discomfort with these make even less sense.

This website makes the round every so often- it's like a bad e-mail chain that will not die.

The scorn, it stings.

These suits are not jumblie-friendly. That is all I have to say about this.

Welcome to 1929. Ugh.

These things would be less offensive if they were as worried about emphasizing boys' "faces, not their bodies."

Gak.

I listened to Wendy Shalit yesterday on NPR, so I think I've reached a surfeit of modesty for one week.

If anybody's worried about me in a bathing suit being too tempting for the moral safety of men, they really needn't be.

It's not objectionable that they're so covered --- as a prime candidate for skin cancer, I've been wearing more than that on the beach for two decades, any time I'm not in the water, and have often thought of commissioning a half-sleeved top and knee-length bottom from swimsuit material, just so I didn't get burned in the same places again.

But whenever I see that site, I'm boggled by how hamfistedly the garments are made: how bunched and floppy and stiff they seem, as if I sewed them in my 8th grade home ec class, where I ruined that apron that time.

Man, if only they had pockets I would be SO THERE.

TPS, yes I've seen this on the blue and elsewhere.

I find it strange that they sell the "Slimming Slimmer" The color lines of this suit help give a slender look. Yes, we want our females to be covered up, but not too fat underneath it all.

There's too much stuff that could get snagged on a shark. I'll pass.

i think it's very uplifting that the amish are allowed to enjoy the beach just like everybody else.

But whenever I see that site, I'm boggled by how hamfistedly the garments are made: how bunched and floppy and stiff they seem, as if I sewed them in my 8th grade home ec class, where I ruined that apron that time.

Yeah, I noticed that, too. I mean, what the hell are they made of? Broadcloth? Awning canvas? They have all the drape of a sheet of wax paper.
I can actually see ways to make that cute, but it would require spending more than $1/yd on the fabric.

ANKLES YAY!!!

I listened to Wendy Shalit yesterday on NPR, so I think I've reached a surfeit of modesty for one week.

I heard the intro to that, and expected to be really, really annoyed; I was surprised not to be, but I only caught the first ten minutes or so. Did the modesty get more obnoxious as the hour went on?

Whenever I hear Wendy Shalit I want to go out in a low cut top, get drunk, and make out with strangers. Like some kind of reverse clensing ritual.

I want to go out in a low cut top, get drunk, and make out with strangers.

MEETUP!

Some of us aren't just modest-we are trying not to evoke a gag reflex in fellow swimmers.

When you are my age some parts just don't need to be seen in public.

And honestly, I wish I'd had access to something like that when I was young and bashful. Even before I was a Christian I'd have preferred to be covered up. Besides, the skin cancer thing isn't trivial.

(And honestly I could go for a male version of this as well. Nothing quite invokes my gag reflex like a Speedo-not to mention that most of the guys that wear them now are old and creepy to begin with.)

I'm for any swimwear that means I don't have to worry about wayward pubic hair.

Sorry, I have to say I find it less offensive than putting your five year-old in this.

I'm never quite sure how to feel about this kind of stuff. On the one hand, it's the human body...why the shame? On the other, I flew into a homicidal rage the other day when I found bikini underwear for kindergartners with words "Bad Girl" printed on them. Damn. There seems to be no middle ground between tramp and Amish these days.

Yeah, Sass...that's what I'm talking about!

a half-sleeved top and knee-length bottom from swimsuit material

I think that would look awesome, particularly if well cut and made and designed with some sporty appeal (and some strong, shaping fabric). There are some pieces out there already that would suffice, ready-made. I'm thinking something like the styling of a shorty wetsuit, but without the extra insulation, which would just be too hot for hanging on the beach. It's already a look I like a lot - I'll probably purchase a rashguard this week while I'm at the beach, and they look great with board shorts, short or longer - why not try pairing those?

If you're trying to not be sexy, though, good luck. While looking for some good examples I found the "women in wetsuits" fetish website. In fact, I wonder if there are fetish websites for modest fashion. In some ways, it would be the ultimate satisfying turn of events if conservative clothes just became the next focus of erotica, kind of the way the Catholic school uniform got turned on its head.

And in other ways it would just be continued-ly depressing. I mean...what jrossi says. Oy.

Did the modesty get more obnoxious..?

A little bit. What vexed me is that Shalit and the other speakers do have certain points in common that have to do with the public image of women. What differs are their reasons for not blindly celebrating displays of commodified female sexuality, and when they got into that territory, it got a mite contentious.

Nothing like the MeFi thread, though, mind you.

a half-sleeved top and knee-length bottom from swimsuit material

I think that would look awesome, particularly if well cut and made and designed with some sporty appeal (and some strong, shaping fabric). There are some pieces out there already that would suffice, ready-made. I'm thinking something like the styling of a shorty wetsuit, but without the extra insulation, which would just be too hot for hanging on the beach. It's already a look I like a lot - I'll probably purchase a rashguard this week while I'm at the beach, and they look great with board shorts, short or longer - why not try pairing those?

If you're trying to not be sexy, though, good luck. While looking for some good examples I found the "women in wetsuits" fetish website. In fact, I wonder if there are fetish websites for modest fashion. In some ways, it would be the ultimate satisfying turn of events if conservative clothes just became the next focus of erotica, kind of the way the Catholic school uniform got turned on its head.

And in other ways it would just be continued-ly depressing. I mean...what jrossi says. Oy.

Did the modesty get more obnoxious..?

A little bit. What vexed me is that Shalit and the other speakers do have certain points in common that have to do with the public image of women. What differs are their reasons for not blindly celebrating displays of commodified female sexuality, and when they got into that territory, it got a mite contentious.

Nothing like the MeFi thread, though, mind you.

I'm thinking something like the styling of a shorty wetsuit, but without the extra insulation

That's exactly what I have in my sketchbook, black and dead-simple, but two pieces: a top with half-sleeves and a ballet-neck*, and essentially a pair of biker's shorts for the bottom.

*because geez am I tired of jamming my hand into my swimsuit top to reapply sunscreen where my jumblies start to burn.

Back in the late 80s when I first thought of this, 2-piece suits were typically bikinis, so the notion of a separate bottom and top that didn't bare all my skin was especially novel and appealing. Imagine my delight when the tankini became widely available!

I'm suddenly realizing that my sister, who's a very accomplished seamstress, could whip up one of these in a couple of days. She's already made full-body rashguards for her kids. I bet she'd happily make me one. Yay!

In fact, I wonder if there are fetish websites for modest fashion.

I believe that under Rule 34 this is assured. My guess is that kids exposed to lots of people in modest bathing suits will eventually develop a modest bathing suit fetish, ala the catholic school girl phenomena.

I mean, what the hell are they made of?

those tumbling mats we used to use in gym class I think. Of course, the solution to all this swimsuit angst, I've found, is to forgo them entirely.

My daughter has exactly that swimsuit Elsa. Mind you she's 3 so expectations are different.
≡ Click to see image ≡

I wear bikinis, and a triathlon swimsuit when I swim at the pool (to cover the tattoo) - but rashguards made of UV protection fabric seriously rock when it comes to protecting you from burning.

I wear a swimsuit almost every day and I swim at the pool with people who are a wide range of ages and body types. I show up right after the water aerobics class for seniors so the pool and/or the showers are filled with 70 and 80 year old [and one 95 year old] women. I have to say if you're getting your ass down to the pool and working out in the water a few days a week, you look great as far as I'm concerned. I can see a need for decent modest swimwear if that's what you want -- and I often wear board shorts at the beach, for instance -- but these suits ain't it. As Elsa says, hamfisted.

Mitheral, your daughter has the Canadian flag tattooed on her wrist?

Of course she does, dersins. All Canadians have that tattoo; it's to make sure people don't confuse them with Americans.

Also, that would be great as an adult suit. I'd like mine at just above the knee and, maybe, sleeveless. Hm, I wonder if I can put an order in with Elsa's sister.

As much as I'd like to start a new meme we could laugh at Americans for believing it's just a temp for Canada Day.