As my birthday falls in March, one way to banish the January blues is by spending the next two months pondering a suitable way to celebrate. After nearly four years of minimal sleep and dark circles that more closely resemble tote bags than eye bags, this year I’m dreaming of a spa break.
I’ve found pregnancy to be a stretchmark lottery, whether you bathe in oils or not, and I was sadly mistaken to think I’d escape them. Despite any preconceptions I had, my body is not the same as it was before baby and inevitably, a cossie-confidence struggle has arisen. For that reason, bikini shopping isn’t high-up on my agenda. But, at 28 I’m not mad about being destined to a frumpy one piece either.
I appear to have found the answer at www.beachcafe.com, a luxury online boutique that offers the most beautiful designer beachwear. Beach Café caught my attention when their Vitamin A Gold Swimsuit was featured in last month’s Vogue. Exploring the website I was drawn to two of their cut-out costumes; the L*Space Lorelli Swimsuit, and the Vitamin A Carmen Swimsuit.
The black Carmen ‘suit gave me a stunning shape, creating a strong, classic look. The L*Space Lorelli on the other hand really made me feel as if I was wearing a bikini; it was sexy and skimpy, but without the tummy exposure. Be it post-baby poise or a different matter entirely, Beach Café is armed with style advisers that are on hand to offer guidance. With garments that body-sculpt, elongate legs or even enhance the bust, all bases are most certainly covered.
It’s made a huge difference to me knowing there is an equally striking alternative to a bikini. As a Mummy, regaining your former self does feel a lot like smoke and mirrors, and once one challenge is cracked you can move on to the next. Talking of which, my 30th is looming next year and with the swimwear situation finally solved, I think I’ll swap those tired totes for a statement Mulberry…