About four months ago I was purposefully striding down the hall with my arms full, heading for the donation bags I had set up in the laundry room. My older son was home at the time and observed my unusually stern expression. Whatcha doing, Mom? he asked and when I informed him that I was DONATING all these BIKINIS that don’t SUIT me anymore, his face became a study of concern and compassion. Oh, he said, oh MOM. Are you okay?
Well, I was okay and I am okay and the wonderful thing about having an emotional breakdown over one’s wardrobe and donating over a third of it in November is that, as my husband pointed out in an uncharacteristically Pollyanna-ish way, Black Friday and Boxing Day are both right around the corner.
Technically speaking, all the bikinis do still fit me. I could wear them, I could. I strongly believe that anyone who wants to wear a bikini should wear a bikini, but the thing is, I don’t anymore. I just don’t feel comfortable in them, and I don’t want to expose my softened and expanded midriff. I kept all the bikini bottoms except two tiny scraps of material which historically toed the line between swimwear one can swim in and exposure hazards; both items have not only edged over that line, they have gone off the high dive and are now at the bottom of the proverbial pool. I prefer not to exit the water showing everyone in my vicinity the sugaring job on the old honeypot, and so those bottoms went into the donation bags, along with about ten little tops.
My go-to store for swimwear is La Vie En Rose, and they were indeed having both Black Friday and Boxing Day clear outs, and I ended up buying six tankini tops, a couple of very high-waisted bottoms to replace the Danger Zone ones, and three coverups, all for less than $160. Can you believe it? Huge bonus, La Vie En Rose is a Canadian company, which is something I consider very seriously these days, the aggressive international political situation being what it is.
Speaking of which, I returned very late Tuesday night from a week in Mexico, for which I was motivated to acquire the aforementioned swimwear. I feel a kinship with the Mexican people and all things Mexican for reasons which I am sure you can discern. Of course it was a wonderful trip, and I enjoyed myself immensely, but something in the air felt very tense and awkward. I wasn’t poolside chatting with many strangers, let’s put it that way.
Anyway, you didn’t come here to listen to my unwritten but intense anxiety about my country being annexed and what would happen should that occur. You came here for Favourite Things, and Favourite Things you shall have.
Nicole’s Favourite Things: The Entering My Tankini Era Edition
Colour Me Beautiful
As everyone knows, my go-to colour, in swimwear and everything else, is black. To that end I did purchase mainly black tankini tops in different styles, but I did bravely branch out at the sight of two handkerchief tops for $10 each, one in green and one in a green and blue pattern. I’m not about to start dressing in jewel tones, or patterns for that matter, but I did feel very pretty in these two items.
Black is still my favourite, though.
It occurs to me that you might be wondering why not a one-piece? and my answer to that is simply no. One-pieces never fit me well and I find them extremely uncomfortable, in a wedgie/ camel toe way, not to mention the washroom problem, similar to that posed by the wearing of a jumpsuit. How does one use the washroom in a one-piece without the one-piece touching the disgusting floor beside the toilet? It’s untenable!
Caribbean Queen
A good swimsuit is key for me, as I do like to swim in the ocean. I like pools too, but the ocean! The Caribbean is absolutely perfect for swimming; it’s warm and gentle and perfect.
But You Can Leave Your Hat On
I love the heat but I don’t love being in the sun; I am very careful about my skin, particularly on my face. I took two big floppy hats with me; they both are easy to reshape after being folded up or crushed into a beach bag.
They both feature chin straps, which come in handy if that ocean breeze means business.
Black Hole Sun
I use sunscreen – Neutrogena 60 Dry Touch – even in the dead of winter, and so you can imagine how careful I am about application while in the tropics. Since we are Carryon Only people, I need to be smart about packing liquids. Stick sunscreen is an incredible invention, and I have two that I’d like to mention here.
Shiseido is absolutely great; it goes on so clear that I only applied it in front of a mirror to ensure I didn’t miss any spots. The downside is that it’s very expensive for this teeny tiny stick, and it feels like way more plastic than I like for the amount of sunscreen that I got.
My sweet friend Joy (HI JOY) works in this great little environmentally responsible store, and I saw this when I went to visit her. I’m going to go out on a limb here and say this is the best sunscreen I have ever used, in terms of efficacy and scent. It is mineral but it doesn’t leave much of a white cast once it’s rubbed in, which is really remarkable. The container is plastic-free as well, so I feel like this is a little-known winning product.
Winner, Winner, Avocado Dinner
One of the many activities offered by the resort is a guacamole-making class. Although we both have made guacamole many, many times, my friend Jen and I thought it would be fun to join (HI JEN). At the end of the class, we were all given chips and asked to present our guacamole in an artistic way, and after the judging we would be able to eat it. Here’s what my plate looked like:
Who knew that my humble offering would be the winner of the Great Guacamole Contest? Certainly not me, but it was.
I think I won for two reasons, neither of them to do with actual guacamole. First, I was the only person attempting to speak Spanish. Second, Jen and I were the only people who weren’t obnoxiously yelling during the lesson, and then complaining about having to wait ninety seconds to eat their guacamole, or just eating their guacamole after saying that they weren’t going to wait for anyone or anything. Nevertheless! It doesn’t matter what the metrics were, I WAS THE WINNER!
After the class Jen and I enjoyed our guac, and washed it down with our favourite mango margaritas.
Outfit of the Month
As I have mentioned before, a huge percentage of my Little Black Dresses were victim to the Great Closet Purge of 2024. Happily, I found some cute ones in the November/ December sales, and this one is my favourite:
It feels very sexy and swishy and, crucially, it isn’t tight in the waist. It came from Ricki’s, another Canadian company, and I paired it with my extremely comfortable, extremely cute Skecher sandals.
I am the early bird of the group, and every morning I got up in the dark to find us all poolside lounges and to watch the sunrise. Most days looked like this:
But on our final morning, the sunrise was so startlingly beautiful that I almost couldn’t stand it.
I hurried down to the beach to watch the colours reflect off the water.
It was like Mexico was saying goodbye to me. How grateful I was to be able to experience that.
Speaking of gratitude, my sweet friend Elisabeth (HI ELISABETH) asked me to write a guest post on just that topic; I would love it so much if you checked it out. It would be my Favourite! I hope you were also able to find a lot of Favourites in this month; I know it’s been hard lately. I hope you are all well. What did I miss when I was gone? Tell me everything about your lives. xo
I love those jewel-toned tankinis!!! But it’s hard to wear something besides black which is certainly my fave as well as navy. I wear a tankini top and boy short bottoms. They are good for crouching down with the boys and are so comfy. They are not sexy but oh well!!
I am glad you had a great time in Mexico with good friends. Thanks for the sunscreen recs. We are carryon only ppl too so I will look for the 2nd one. We go to Mexico in about a month and I can’t wait!! We will be there for 4 nights which is the sweet spot of time away from the boys for us.
Now I need to know what you read!!!!
Oh I will have a whole post about books, Lisa!
Where are you going in Mexico? I hope you have a great time!
We will be in the Cancun area. I can’t wait!!!
I like your choice of swimwear. The style and jewel tones flatter you. I’m on Team Hat so I understand that too. Your vacay photos look like you had a good time.
Thanks so much Ally! I did have a great time!
Welcome back. I’m glad you had a fun trip and congrats on your guacamole victory. I’m sure it was scrumptious. I will look for that sunscreen. We’re trying to reduce our plastic consumption, but it can be difficult.
Thanks so much Steph! It is so difficult, plastic is everywhere, but I’m trying my best to do my tiny part of reducing.
YOU’RE BACK! That’s my favorite!
LOL to you aren’t going to start dressing in jewel tones or patterns. I get it (even though you look great in them). Love all the suits, though, and your hat and the adorable dress. You look fantastic in everything.
A guacamole making contest! That is so fun! Your offering looks scrumptious and it also looks like it is tomato-free, which — in my book — is the key to a good guacamole. Your guacamole-making companions sound like an interesting crew. Too many margs before the class????
Oh no, I hate to disappoint you, but there ARE TOMATOES in there! And no onions! So sorry my friend! I know that’s the opposite of what you want. There was cilantro and even a touch of serrano pepper (cue the obnoxious people yelling that there wasn’t jalapeno available)
Nicole, yes, I missed you!!! I’m glad you had a wonderful trip and it looks like such a beautiful place. You look gorgeous in jewel tones and your tankinis are so pretty. Your new LBD is perfect! I love that you are embracing yourself and you absolutely glow! Your guac looks delish – congrats on winning the contest!
I’m doing fine – trying hard to keep a positive attitude. The FIGS and your interview with Elisabeth helped.
Oh thank you so much, Michelle! xoxo
I just want to say that you look amazing and you can pull off all the looks!
I typically wear two piece bathing suits (shorts/skirt plus a tankini top) BUT when I used to wear one pieces, you just slide the suit to one side down there when you pee, you don’t have to take the whole thing off, unless nature is calling for something more!
Oh, interesting concept! I feel like after a couple of margaritas, though, there could be a lot of user error!
*shakes head sadly* I’m sorry to all my Canadian friends. So sorry.
I used to be a one-piece lady because I have never had a flat stomach and no one needs to see my mess. BUT. I moved over to tankinis a decade (or two?) ago and you’re so right about the bathroom situation. How do you deal with a wet swimsuit when you GOTTA GO? A two piece with more coverage is the answer.
EXACTLY ENGIE EXACTLY!!! Or pulling a wet swimsuit back up after using the bathroom, even if you DON’T get your swimsuit on the floor, how even do we do this?
Love all the colors in this post, Nicole! And wow! You look so extra radiant in color!! Rex will just have to get some bright trappings to keep up with you.
Congratulations on the guacamole win, and the early mornings by yourself, and those absolutely magical views. I’m sorry so many Americans are such a pill right now. How lovely to do this with your sweetie and good friends… I’ve always yearned to do this, but A is such a bear.
Today is an economic blackout/buy nothing day in the U.S., and it feels somehow weirdly freeing!
Is he really? I’m so surprised by that! Well, that’s too bad but at least the two of you travel together nicely!
Thank you so much, you are so sweet. Maybe I DO need to buy Rex something new and bright!
Not in a mean way (I rush to clarify 🙂 ). But his social battery can run low, so parties, evenings out (with plenty of advance notice) are ok–but a whole vacation with other people? Forget about it. I’d say this has been the biggest compromise in our relationship, because I LOVE people and CRAVE range.
That green colour is STUNNING. And that new black dress? SHUT THE FRONT DOOR. It’s perfect in so many ways. I do prefer one pieces but also don’t wear swimsuits that much because I get so cold in water these days. But I did go swimming like five times in 2024 which must be a record for me in adulthood. It’s sad because I grew up spending most of my summer in the water.
My favourite thing right this minute is the fact it is sunny outside and the solid sheet of ice that has been our driveway for the last month is slowly receding. Also, it is light now when we eat supper.
Your guest post was just…perfection. I consider myself so fortunate to have met you and I know I will be returning to that post again and again when I need a mental boost/reminder that there is always something in every day for which I can be thankful.
Just you wait, my friend, just you wait until PERIMENOPAUSE! Then you won’t be able to keep out of the water. I say this as a person who also used to get really cold in the water. Now I’m the first to dive in. Metaphorically, I wasn’t actually doing any diving. My affinity for swimming is one of the best things about perimenopause!
Congrats on the guacamole win! So yummy! And sunsets/sunrises over the water can’t be beat. But I’m just not much of a swimmer and I’ve only owned two swimsuits over the past 25 years. Not kidding. One is a tankini, still in amazing shape and the other is a ‘bikini’ that I bought for Maui in 2016. Loosely termed, as it is 2 pieces, but the bottom is more like boy shorts and the top is like a halter.
Bijoux, this surprises me! I had you pegged as a swimmer, I do not know why! Two swimsuits, wow! I probably (definitely) have way too many. But we do a lot of beachy vacations and I like to have choices!
I love the green on you! You look amazing and happy and healthy. Also need to find that sunscreen. I’m glad you are discussing all the body changes, I’m finding that pretty hard right now – I’m not sure I will even try my suits on before going away, Gah!
Anna, I’m right there with you. And I will say that for me, trying everything on and then discarding everything that didn’t work was strangely freeing. It’s so great to have a closet full of clothes that fit, are comfortable, and that you want to wear. I was really holding on to a version of myself that doesn’t exist! If you ever want to talk about it I’m here. I do think it’s something we feel is shameful to discuss and it might be better if we all support one another. xoxoxo my friend
Yay for vacay! Team Tankini here! One pieces are so awkward for all the reasons that you mention, and just not flattering to those of us with different sized tops and bottoms. Having a separate top and bottom solves that problem in a heartbeat. I know that black will always be your thing, and it should be, but the jewel tones look great on you as well! Don’t worry, black doesn’t care if you “cheat” on it once in a while.
I’m taking notes on sunscreen, and major props on the guac win!
Birchy, this is an excellent point – the mix and match aspect is great for sizing!!
Of COURSE you won the guac contest – one look at that guac tells me all I need to know.
I’m also a tankini girl; although these days it’s rare to find me in any swimwear. A one piece is just too cumbersome and YES, the bathroom situation is a nightmare while wearing one. Although, I generally tend toward swim shorts (not boy shorts and not jams) rather than a bikini bottom.
I had to google swim shorts! So they look like longer boy shorts, and they are fitted? They look comfy!
We went to Maui in 2021, and I was trying to protect my skin as much as possible from the tropical sun, since I take medication that makes me burn easily. Thankfully there are zero pictures of me in this outfit, because it was the most unflattering thing ever…shorts and a sunscreen type shirt, and then I realized that the shirt had zero support, so I had to wear my bathing suit under it, and all I have is a one piece. A one piece is fine if all I am doing is going to the pool to swim laps, but for vacation it is not good for just the reason you mention. I need to get a tankini, clearly. Or a mumu.
I love the blue on you.
Hahaha J! You’re like me – you love the sun but also you don’t want to wreck your skin. Maybe a bikini top underneath would work?
thanks for introducing me to tankinis, I had no idea what they were, and I don’t think I’ve seen them before. wooo! new world of beach clothing.
did you go with a group of friends? that’s so nice. the last time I went to Mexico was for a wedding with a group of friends, and that was epic! I just met with this friend again over zoom last friday and that chat brought so many good memories.
guacamole? what’s the secret then, other than a good avocado? 😉
Coco, yes, we went with another couple who we have travelled with a lot. It’s so great to have friends that travel well together.
Maybe the secret ingredient for a good avocado is love? I really don’t know!
Nicole, you and I are goth twins. I am all about the black, especially when traveling with a carry on, as it can be mixed and “matched” easily. Actually as I typed that, I just realized that I am wearing a colored top. Hm. I did branch out and buy a very substantial (read sport bra top and high waste complete butt cover bottoms) swimsuit in red (!!) a few years ago, and to be honest, I have worn it probably a total of 2 times. I usually just swim in my running clothes, and do not go to the beach often. However, I am at the beach now, and although it is not very hot, I did bring the swimsuit as I did not want to look like a raggamuffin in public. So maybe it will get use number 3 soon.
It looks like you had a great time in Mexico and I love that you won the guac challenge! I hate being around obnoxious loud tourists and am glad that you, the polite one, won. I was in Annecy and four guys came walking down the street loudly talking in English about what they were going to have for dinner and I wanted to shout at them to shut up, but did not want to have two wrongs not make a right. It was tempting though.
Yes, “loud” would very much describe these people.
Black is the best colour because everything matches it! Except navy, I guess.
Well navy kind of matches it too, except it looks like you accidentally put on two different colors, so it is not a good look!
Hi, welcome back! When I saw the title, I had in mind a very different kind of tankini – yours are smokin’! It looks like you had a great time, and I would give just about anything to sample your guac and tortilla chips – on this side of the Atlantic they almost always taste like regret ;-). I agree completely that black *is* the best clothing colour, though I added in navy a few years ago and that has become a mainstay too.
“taste like regret” – hahaha!!!
Thanks Tamara! I bought a couple of tankini tops that were a little longer and more fitted as well, and those were great for swimming in too.
Well first of all- I LOVED your guest post on Elisabeth’s blog! Her month of gratitude was extremely helpful. Now we just need to somehow continue on with that attitude for… a long time, sigh. Your perspective as a Canadian is interesting. i’m seriously thinking of getting a little button that says “I didn’t vote for him” to wear everywhere. ANYWAY. Tankinis are the BEST. One piece suits don’t fit me either (I have a long torso.) I’m more of a color person than black, but you look good in both! Oh, and congratulations- from now on we will be calling you the Guacamole Queen.
Thank you Jenny!
The four of us talked a lot about the whole situation on our vacation, as we were vastly outnumbered, given the accents and vast array of stars and stripes-themed clothing. We met only one other Canadian couple and two British couples. And we wondered what the general American public thinks of all of this, I don’t think the majority of people (that we encountered) realize how terribly offensive and upsetting this is to Canadians. I think there seems to be a (hopefully small) percentage who think that the whole 51st state thing is a great idea and we should be so lucky. Mostly, though, I feel like perhaps there is so much going on domestically that we are just a tiny blip on the radar, and it’s not really thought about at all. I have no real idea, but that’s the feeling I get. That button you mention could be worn in any number of countries to the wearer’s benefit, given EVERYTHING!
The green and blue tankini tops go amazingly with your hair! I love the hats, but I just can’t wear them – I look stupid in them and they make my head hot. I try to stay under umbrellas as much as possible though. Love your husband’s suggestion about Black Friday and Boxing Day – kind AND practical (AND self-preserving!)
I also love a good umbrella! Thank you! xo
Tankini’s are the best invention, ever! I love them too, ,for the same reasons as you. I have a plethora of tops, with many black bottoms that I rotate.
Congrats on the guac challenge–it does look lovely. When shall we see you on the Food Network in one of those chef challenges? Soon, I hope. Your trip looks lovely—the sunrises, the margaritas, and time with your honey and friends. What could be better?
Oh, I gotta look into that mineral sunscreen!
It was such a great time, Suz! You’re right, what could be better!
I’m so happy you’re back! I used to be a tankini girl but now I’m firmly in my one-piece era and I love it so very much. I find them to be a lot more flattering on my body type than tankinis. The bathroom situation isn’t my favorite but if I may be TMI, sometimes it’s easiest to push it to one side. 😉 Or else I try really hard only to go the bathroom when I’m not dealing with a wet bathing suit (I am way too good at holding it; it’s a problem) and just push it down to my knees.
Congrats on winning the guacamole challenge – that must have been such a fun surprise! Yay!
Sorry things felt tense and awkward in Mexico. 🙁 I heard that Canadian flag sales are way up and the left-wing party there is getting more and more support. I hate that the US is becoming a laughingstock, but my heart swells to think about all of the Canadian pride. <3
Well, the Liberal Party has been in power for many years so there is no change there BUT the provinces are all banding together in a way that feels very buoying. And there is definitely a feeling of “anything but American” when it comes to shopping right now; personally I am avoiding buying anything made in the US if at all possible. Sometimes it’s not possible, but if there’s an alternative I’m going for it!
You’re the second person to mention that bathroom/ swimsuit hack!
That’s good to hear! I thought I heard that some right-wingers (or however they’re called in Canada!) were gaining a ton of support there, and I was like, “EVEN CANADA???”
Well, but you have to remember, Canada’s right-wing is more like US middle-of-the-road!
Nicole, you are glowing in these pictures. I’m so glad you had time in the sun and the water…and I’m also so sorry about the (expletive deleted) Americans who encroached on your enjoyment. I no longer own a swimsuit – super-long story – but you look amazing in yours. Jewel tones ftw. 🙂
Really, not even one swimsuit Anne? But how do you swim? I guess you don’t! Thank you for the very kind words, you’re so sweet.
It sounds like a wonderful trip, Nicole, and you look wonderful in your tankini. As I said elswhere, it’s all about what makes us feel good and comfortable! <3 Beautiful sunsets, btw!
Thanks so much San!