Meow

This is the cat suit I wore in yesterday's swim. These photos were taken the day of the infamous "pool rage" incident of 9/7/2005. I was so tan then (sigh). The day started out well enough! You can purchase this suit at Splish. Just don't be caught wearing it on the same day, in the same pool as me! I have a friend who bought several of the same swimsuits that I own, only she does not look as good in them (I am such a bitch, aren't I?), and while imitation can be a form of flattery, she needs to pick her own suits!

Splish makes a whole bunch of cool patterns, and men's jammers can be ordered in them as well. Actually, I need to order 2 or 3 suits. I wear through them rather quickly, so now I only buy polyester suits. The lycra ones, while colorful and all, just stretch out too quickly.

Tips for swimsuit care (my version):

1. After wearing, rinse suit in clear water.
2. Wring excess water from suit using HANDS ONLY, i.e., do NOT use the "salad shooter" (my term for the suit spinners). Salad shooters destroy elastic and thin straps and will cause the suit unnecessary stretching.
3. When you get the suit home, drape it over a laundry tub or towel hanger to drip dry until you plan to wash it.
4. Wash suit on gentle cycle in a lingerie bag with your other delicates. Don't put the suit in the dryer--hang it over a plastic-coated coat hanger, or in my case, on a tie rack that's nailed to the back of a bathroom door, to air dry. Since I wear 3-5 suits per week, I like having an "organized" area where they can air dry.
5. Don't wear the same suit 2 days in a row unless it's been washed. I.e., don't wear a suit, rinse it and then wear it again before it's been washed. You can't get all the chlorine out just from rinsing, and wearing a suit while it's still chlorinated just invites trouble.

One of my pet peeves is men who wear the SAME EXACT SUIT DAY IN DAY OUT. I swim 3-5 times a week, and there are regulars, and I am just amazed that guys will wear the same suit all the time! I'm pretty sure they aren't washing the suit every 2 days (which would cause it to wear out all the more quickly), and most of these guys look like they could afford 3 suits at a time. Some of them have nearly see-through butts, which if it was a good butt, hey, I wouldn't mind, but they sure aren't on the Olympic team! Many online and brick and mortar swimsuit retailers have what's called "grab bag," where you can get suits cheap, but you don't get to choose the color or print or style; just the size. It's an economical way to support your swimming habit.

Another online e-tailer that makes good suits is EQ Swimwear. The women's suits are lined all the way down through the butt, so you don't get the "see through butt" thing going once the suit begins to stretch out a bit. The suits are a little pricey, but IMHO worth it. I have a blue metallic suit and also the black leather-look suit--I only bring them out for special occasions, like time trials and days when I'm feeling a little more aggro than normal.

I suppose I should state my preferences on Speedos on men. If you've got the goods, please let us see them! I don't care if you're married, single, straight or gay, a nice body should be on display in the pool (elsewhere, too, but that's a completely different discussion). I get a kick out of being in the same lane with a buff swimmer dude. It makes me smile underwater and also swim a little faster. Gotta look like you know what you're doing in there if you're going to impress a hottie, right?

On the other hand, if you're a guy currently nursing a bit of a gut, try and pick a suit that flatters you the best you can. I suppose the same should be said for women and their suit choices. Me--I'm a shameless hussy, and am perfectly OK being stared at by either the young dudes or the geriatric crowd (and believe me, it's men AND women doing the looking), so I tend to pick suits that, um, "stand out" a little. Some of the older guys will even ask me when I'm going to wear the leopard suit (alas, it's been destroyed and I can't find a replacement) next. As soon as people stop looking, I will know it's time to switch to something more conservative.