Lynnae Terrill has a degree in Art History from the University of Kansas and has been a fashionista-at-heart all her life. Her favorite designer is Alexander McQueen, and she describes her personal style as a “mix of Audrey Hepburn and Elizabeth Bennett with a dash of urban edge.”
Lynnae promises to relentlessly comb the very best fashion blogs and runway trends to prove that SUSIE Sisses can enjoy style and fashion while remaining true to their core values. (It’s a tough job, but someone has to do it!) A 26-year-old Kansas City native and former Brio subscriber, Lynnae joined the SUSIE staff in 2010.
Well, ladies, this is it. My last blog post to you.
I’m moving away, and leaving the SUSIEMag team behind. This is sad, and I will miss you all so much, but I’m really, REALLY excited for what God’s placed in front of me. Know that I’ve loved hearing from each of you—about what styles you love, what you hate and what makes you happy when you look in the mirror. Here are my parting pieces of advice:
- Don’t be a slave to fashion. Have fun with trends, but wear what you love and what makes you feel like the best version of yourself.
- Repeat after me: THE SIZE ON THE LABEL DOESN’T MATTER. Clothes that fit properly will always look better.
- Never underestimate the power of good undies and bras.
- Leggings are not pants.
- There is always a way to find clothes that fit your values in the same stores your classmates frequent. It may be harder to find, but there is always a way to adapt the trends in a modest way.
Now, on to the fun stuff.
This is the very first time I’ve ever tackled this particular topic, since I know it can be a little prickly…
Swimsuits.
They are by far the HARDEST things to shop for if you are concerned about dressing modestly. And to make it even more complicated, each of us has different convictions as to what is appropriate to wear to the beach/pool/chosen-body-of-water. You may be of the opinion that two-pieces are fine, while other gals may prefer tankinis, one-pieces or even t-shirts and shorts. We should be sensitive to each person's decision as far as those convictions are concerned.
Before you make up your mind about this, do a few things first:
- Prayerfully consider how God would be most glorified in your swimwear. (This doesn’t mean cross-printed bikinis, btw.)
- Examine the reasons behind your initial preferences. Do you just want to show off your body (in a prideful way)? Get attention from guys? Feel superior to other girls (physically and/or spiritually)? Be brutally honest with yourself!
- Chat with your parents or guardians about what they are comfortable with. You may not agree on this, but you should strive to honor them all the same.
Now that you’ve got a game plan, here’s a selection of some of the cutest suits available in stores now—all conveniently sorted by category, so that everyone has options! Click through (on the item) to find the links to buy online. And don’t forget that most strapless tops come with attachable straps...
Two-Pieces and Monokinis
We’ve decided not to post a collage, but here are my tips for choosing a 2-piece swimsuit:
- Look for tops that minimize the amount of exposed cleavage (bandeaus and vintage styles are good here).
- Look for bottoms that provide more coverage for your bum and hips.
- I'd stay away from string tops/bottoms—they're flimsy and come undone easily.
- You may want to look into monokinis (the big swimwear trend the last couple of years)—they might give you a good “compromise” option if you want more coverage on your belly.
Tankinis
One-Pieces
Rash Guards and Swim Shorts
These are a much better option than an old t-shirt and athletic shorts: they dry much faster, fit better and don't wear you down by getting waterlogged!
So girls, what do you think? Which suit(s) are you jonesing for?