The temperatures are rising, the sun is shining more, and there’s a lot of buzz about summer vacations and swimming and spending time at the beach.  Which means there’s no better time than any to pull out those swim knits you’ve been stashing and make yourself a new suit!

Want a short lesson in swimwear?  The term “maillot” (which is pronounced like my-yo…think French pronunciations like Louis) was first used in the 1920’s fashion for a tight fitting, one-piece swimsuit.  It’s kind of not really been used in everyday terminology as of late, but the fashion world still throws it around a lot.  And most often it’s meaning a one-piece suit with high leglines, or plunging necklines, or some sort of sexy cutout.

::insert the “more you know” shooting star here::

To me, “Minute Maillot” means “one-piece unicorn swimsuit that makes everyone look like a bombshell but is super easy to put together”.  Because seriously.

The pattern includes a fully lined option, or you can do a bust + crotch lining only if you want to use those versions as well.  Doing it fully lined was such a breeze, which was the option I chose.  I wanted to see how I liked it without adding any bust support.  I have more fabric floating around (it’s purple, of course) to make another, and I plan on doing the bust support version…to see which I truly prefer.

But as far as one-piece suits go, this performs exactly as expected.  Except better, because one-piece suits are usually way too short in the waist for me and they fit like disaster suits.  Being able to add the length I needed made this such a comfortable thing to throw on!  I’m ready to take a dip for sure this summer.

I’m not going to lie, there is nothing more humbling or harder to share photos of than ones that include me in a swimsuit.  GAH.  So much anxiety goes into hitting that post button!  But I think it’s the same for all women, of all shapes and sizes.  We are all so critical of our own bodies that we forget that we are the only ones who sit and nit pick at every single flaw.

Have you watched Shrill on Hulu yet?  You probably need to.  It’s got the talented Aidy Bryant playing the lead of Annie, who is a confident, smart, beautiful woman who lives her life in a body that society tells her she should constantly be trying to change.  While it may be a little raunchy in parts, and has some fairly uncomfortable situations, I think it is so refreshing that this show exists.  Why can’t we just celebrate who we are and how we look?  At all times!!

The point of bringing up this show is that I suffer from my own body issues.  And sometimes putting on a suit (and then of course photographing myself in it) can be so detrimental to my emotional health.  One of the cool things that comes out of testing swimwear with our tester group is that ALL sizes, ALL shapes, and ALL of the women in those groups with us are willing to be vulnerable with us, and they all look incredible in their own skin.  If I can see how amazing they look and tell them how amazing they look, why can’t I start seeing those same things in myself and telling myself those things?

I’m working on it.  I promise.

So which options did I use specifically on this maillot of mine?  Low legline, mid neckline, mid backline, fully lined.

Which mix-and-match combo of a suit are you going to try with the Minute Maillot first?

Pattern: Minute Maillot by Patterns for Pirates
Fabric: Swim knit from Boho Fabrics