land's end swimsuit experiences

Darya, very nice suit above - very sexy.I myself, do not like the L.E.s suits either (I am sorry). I stick with regular bathing suits and try to make the best of them (stuffing, wearing ones with an almost sports bra top).  

Last year I had only one boob and had a terrible time finding a suit that would work. This year, after proph mast of other breast, I am completely flat, which leaves me with more options. I bought a inexpensive suit from VS with a slightly padded bandeau top, which actually has slits in the sides of each cup so one may stuff a bit of shower scrubbie in each side if she so chooses. I tried the suit on the other day and feel very comfortable. Bear in mind that it is not a suit to swim a triathalon in - Title 9 might be more the place to look for that type of suit. The bathing suit is below - please note I look NOTHING like the model in it, but you can get an idea of how the top covers. 

Amazing, I was just thinking about camping this summer, ansd wondering about the water. This is perfect timing for me, eases my mind. I hope no one deletes these posts as I look forward to referring to them later.

            MaryJean
 

Jan,

Ok, I just checked out the nicolajane site.  Cute, cute, cute.  I ordered one of the tankinis and also some Anita bras.  Thanks for mentioning it!  I'll let you know how long it takes to get to me.

Thanks, Erica.  Alas, there's only one size available for each of those suits and it's either 8 or 10.  See, that's what's making me wonder if Anita is no longer selling- I can't find anything in the US that is selling a range of sizes- those seem like sample sizes.  Like that store had those as sample sizes for people wanting to order, but now they are just selling them off??  If that makes sense??

Does anyone know if Anita runs small??  I might be willing to order an 8 in that case. 

JanClare,

Glad you found something you liked. Hope the size works out. FWIW, I wear size 6 but my Anita is size 8 and fits fine. 

Ladies, these suits are gorgeous - I had no idea they were out there. Here is a nice one!

http://www.nicolajane.com/product-Anita-NEW!-Sky-blue-bikini-6520/

I only know of one specialty mast store in SF, at the hospital. Last I looked there were very few suits and they were all very matronly. I've relied on web sites but returns are a hassle. I often end up keeping things I would normally have rejected if I had tried them on. Good enough to not bother with the returns process kind of thinking.

Seems that most younger women opt for reconstruction these days so there's not much of a market for specialized mast products for the young or the young at heart.

I notice that Land's End now has a v-neck mast. suit.  I live in v-necks so I am happy to see something a little different that may work for me.  I just ordered one last night.  I have learned to order when I see it because if I wait too long my size is no longer available.

I know...you all probably think that all I do is order clothes, bras, and bathing suits.  That's what my husband thinks too.

I wonder how many women end up not reconstructing?  It does seem like there is more of a market than manufacturers realize.  I really think there are more women than people realize who have chosen not to reconstruct.  I also think there is a misperception that young women almost always choose to reconstruct.  I just think that people are not verbal about having only one or no boobs.  Well, except for me.

ha! And me, Carol - no secrets here!

My docs told me that most of their patients in my age group had reconstruction (I think all but two!!!). I live in a medium sized city in Ohio, not huge like NY or Chicago, but still. That puts us way in the minority.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BARBARA!!!

About the swim suit topic, it's not that I like having a higher arm opening but I found that when I tried to retrofit my normal suits the prosthesis would show through the arm hole. Part of the problem was that the suits need to be tight enough to keep the prosthesis secure against your body and, given the weight, that's rather difficult. I use a swim prosthesis which is lighter but still couldn't get the the retrofit to work.

I don't think many women don't have reconstruction at my breast care clinic but I can ask if they have any statistics.  I'm sure there are huge variations by country, state and city. Reconstruction is pretty complicated surgery compared to a mastectomy alone.

I too spend a lot of time searching for the perfect bra, swimsuit, camisole, etc. This site sure helps with that process!

The Lands End suits I wear are the tankinis.  You can buy the tops and bottoms separately, so you can get the leg height you want.  They sometimes have a few of them at Sears so you can try them on.  Otherwise just order a few different cuts and return the ones you don't want to Sears.

My problem is that I wear a size 6-8 suit and have a size D cup natural breast. I can never find a suit that fits a D cup. The LE does have some regular suits with a D underwire cup. I'm thinking about getting one of those.

Have any of you had this problem? I always had this problem before BC and would just cut out the inside bra, but now, that I'm older I can't do that because I need the support on the natural side.

~elaine~ 

This is my first time on this site and I just happened upon it while looking for a swimsuit.  I was diagnosed at the age of 34 and have had a bilateral mastectomy.  I did order a suit from CEEB last year and I was so self conscious about wearing a suit while on vacation but was approached by a woman who commented on how flattering my suit was and it turned out that after we talked a while, she was also a breast cancer survivor.  I think God puts people in our path just when we need them!  I love the idea about the bath puffs - I will have to try it!